Like all those other final defeats, for Liverpool the 2016 League Cup Final will shortly be treated like it did not happen at all. Such is the life of the losing finalist.
Whatever the mandate was when he took over in October, reviving demoralized players who you must publicly support while privately asking yourself how much they can swell the transfer kitty in the summer requires more diplomacy.
Klopp must somehow make these players believe there is glory in finishing fifth in the Premier League. That won’t take as much effort as winning the Bundesliga with Dortmund, but it’s still an unenviable task.
The Europa League may prove to be a lifeline should Liverpool make it to the Basel final, but the doubters Klopp wanted to become believers do not fancy the chances of getting that far.
