Liverpool’s quadruple chase in 2021-22: How Reds can one-up Manchester United’s treble
Liverpool is still chasing history in 2021-22, seeking an unprecedented quadruple of titles. The Reds are battling on four competitive fronts this season: the English Premier League, the UEFA Champions League, the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup (League Cup).
Jurgen Klopp’s team has three more chances to lift silverware through May after already clinching the first one, hoisting the Carabao Cup on Feb. 27. If the Reds can manage all four, they would be the first men’s team in England to win the three major domestic trophies plus the European crown.
Manchester City did their own quadruple in 2018-2019, including the Community Shield, but they were not champions of Europe; Manchester United won the Champions League in 1998-1999 and lifted the FA Cup in addition to the Premier League, but they were knocked out in the Fifth Round of the League Cup and never reached four trophies.
Outside of England, German side Bayern Munich won four trophies in 2012-2013, including the Champions League and the one-off DFL-Supercup (the equivalent of the Community Shield).
MORE: How many trophies have Liverpool won?
Looking back over half a century, Celtic’s famous Lisbon Lions (1966-67) bagged themselves five trophies in one season, including the then-European Cup (vs. Inter Milan), plus the Scottish title, the Scottish Cup, the Scottish League Cup and the local Glasgow Cup.
Here’s where Liverpool stands in each of the four competitions in which it is involved:
UEFA Champions League
Liverpool are looking like a good bet to get to the semifinals after beating Benfica 3-1 on the road in their quarterfinal first leg. The winner would face Villarreal (Spain) or Bayern Munich (Germany) in the final four.
The Reds started the tournament by winning all six of their group-stage matches in what many believed was the toughest Champions League group. Those victories came at home and away against AC Milan, Porto and Atletico Madrid, seeing the Reds safely through to the knockout stages with an average of one goal conceded per match — compared to 2.84 scored.
Liverpool then got by Italian champions Inter Milan in the Round of 16. An impressive 2-0 road win in the first leg in Italy gave Klopp’s men some wiggle room in the second leg at home, where they lost to Inter 1-0 but still went through 2-1 on aggregate goals.
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Carabao Cup
Liverpool picked up its first trophy of the season on Feb. 27 in the Carabao Cup Final. The Reds needed penalty kicks to knock off Chelsea at Wembley, hoisting its record ninth trophy after an epic shootout that ended with the goalkeepers taking shots.
The match finished 0-0 after extra time, but it was an entertaining scoreless draw with both sides scoring goals that were disallowed after video review.
It may not be the last tournament battle between the 2nd and 3rd place teams in the Premier League table: They could yet meet in the FA Cup and Champions League if both continue to advance.
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FA Cup
The next challenge for Liverpool in this competition comes on Saturday, April 16 (10 a.m. ET kickoff) with an FA Cup semifinal match against Premier League leaders Man City.
Liverpool benefited from three straight home matches between the Third Round and Fifth Round, knocking off Shrewsbury Town (4-1), Cardiff City (3-1) and Norwich City (2-1) at Anfield. They went on the road to Championship side Nottingham Forest and won a slim 1-0 victory, now with by far the toughest test yet on the horizon.
The Reds last won the FA Cup in 2006 and last made it to the final in 2012. An eighth trophy in the competition would leave it tied for third all-time, well-behind Arsenal’s all-time best 14.
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Premier League
This might be the most difficult — although no longer unlikely — part of the 2021-22 quadruple challenge. The Reds are positioned well to capitalize as league leaders Manchester City continue to slip up.
Liverpool currently sits second, just one point point behind the leaders thanks to a fabulous run of 10 straight wins.
The April 10 head-to-head against Man City at the Etihad is expected to go a long way toward determining the league title winner.
Liverpool look to have the toughest remaining schedule compared to Manchester City, so even if they overtook the defending champions on April 10, there would still be plenty of work to do.