Liverpool will win Capital One Cup, says Jurgen Klopp
'Manchester City or Everton, I don't care,' says manager as Merseysiders book their place at Wembley next month after a dramatic penalty-shootout win against Stoke City at Anfield
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Your support makes all the difference.Jurgen Klopp has promised Liverpool will win the Capital One Cup regardless of who they play.
Klopp watched his side beat Stoke City on penalties on Tuesday night to reach the final at Wembley next month as the German targets silverware in his first season on Merseyside.
Manchester City and Everton play in the second semi-final tonight and, while Klopp says he would relish a clash with the Toffees, he believes his side will beat either side.
“Manchester City or Everton, I don’t care – we will win the cup,” Klopp said after Simon Mignolet’s two saves in the shootout edged past Mark Hughes’s battling side at Anfield.
“Liverpool is a wonderful city and they deserve it.
“We have been here four months now and I can only say the best about Liverpool. It’s great to live here and live in the surroundings to meet people – even when you meet Everton fans.”
If Everton defend their 2-1 lead from the first leg of their semi-final against City then the Merseyside neighbours will meet in the League Cup for the first time since 1987. It is a prospect Klopp relishes.
“Maybe I shouldn’t say this but everyone up until now has been very friendly – they like that I am here as we don’t have much success. If we meet each other then for Liverpool it is a great final.”
Stoke were the better side for long spells, levelling the tie on aggregate through Marko Arnautovic in the first half. But Joe Allen’s decisive penalty sent Liverpool into the final.
“That was a special game,” said Klopp. “It was a real good game from my side against a very difficult opponent, who changed their style to play old Stoke football - [Jack] Butland to [Peter] Crouch and then the game starts. They made it very difficult to defend, so we had a few problems, although they didn't have too many opportunities.”
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