Mignolet: Liverpool Are Focused On Augsburg, Not League Cup Final

While most fans are looking ahead with anticipation towards Liverpool's first cup final in four years, the clash against Manchester City for the League Cup trophy happening next weekend, Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet says that the team is focused instead on the upcoming return fixture against FC Augsburg. The Europa League starts to get interesting in the knockout round, and earning a place in the round of 16 would be the highest Liverpool have gone in Europe since Kenny Dalglish's brief second tenure with the team.

"There is no point in looking forward to the League Cup final," Mignolet said.

"We are professional footballers and you just have to take every game as it comes. The next game is always the most important. It is a cliche but it is as true as it can be.

"With all the games we have been playing we are used to playing two games in a week. We have seven days to recover - which is a change from what we have done recently.

"We have to get on with it, look at the things we can do better and then I am sure we can do the business at Anfield when we get the fans behind us."

After playing to a goalless stalemate in Germany on Thursday, Liverpool will like their chances at advancing when Augsburg comes to Anfield next week. With top four all but out of reach for the team now, and after getting eliminated from the FA Cup by West Ham, Klopp would do well to focus his attention on the two remaining competitions where Liverpool have a chance.

Particularly with many of the team's long-injured players available for the time being, making a deep run in the Europa League seems possible. Anything seems possible with a fit and firing Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho, and Roberto Firmino in the side.

So while fans get fired up about another trip to Wembley, it's good to know that the players and manager are taking a more pragmatic approach.

(But seriously: Wembley in 8 days, you guys!)