Few managers have bemoaned the presence of the League Cup quite like Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
It was only a mere matter of months ago the German was complaining about the scheduling and demands of a two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final.
“I think it would be better with one game absolutely, but obviously what I say is not too important," Klopp claimed after the Reds quarter final victory over Leicester City.
"If there are two games, then we will play two games. But it would be helpful if there was only one, true."
His concerns stemmed from the player welfare argument, a long-running debate over whether the physical demands on top flight footballers are too much given some have to compete on four fronts.
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For Liverpool's stars that is still very much the case as the Reds are technically still in contention for what would surely go down as the greatest achievement in British football were they to win a historic quadruple.
Klopp's assistant Pepijn Lijnders spoke after the semi-final win over Arsenal that to become a "true legend" at Liverpool "you need to go for the national cups as well."
At times, it has undeniably felt like Klopp has intentionally taken his eye off of domestic silverware in pursuit of the biggest honours like the Premier League and Champions League.
With one of each of those now under his belt, this season presents the perfect time for Klopp to divert his attention towards the domestic cup competitions - of which he currently has won zero during his seven year reign.
Klopp is no stranger to sending out a heavily weakened team for domestic cup games.
The quarter-final of the Carabao Cup against Premier League opposition saw him make 10 changes from the previous league game, including adding three academy players to his starting line-up with a further five on the bench.
The Liverpool boss was grilled earlier on in the season over whether Liverpool's success so far in the League Cup this campaign is because it is the first year under the German they have tried to win it.
Klopp responded: "No, it is not true.
"The situation is always around what time of the year is it? Who is available? How many games have they played?
"I cannot just pick a team by looking at the full squad on paper and just pick an 11 for the game based on that.
"We have to consider a lot of things and we always did that, but you need a lot of luck in certain times and specific moments.
"We have never had that and we have always had really tricky draws on top of that early on and in games we could not line up a Premier League team [in the cup] three days before [a Premier League game]."
He went on to insist that he wants to "go for everything."
"It hasn't always been unlucky but it is not always the easiest draw. So it is all good, we want to go for everything," Klopp added.
"It doesn't mean we have won this already but we will be there at the end of February but unfortunately the opponent will as well."
Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea are the opponent waiting for them under the Wembley arch come Sunday afternoon.
No club has won more League Cups than Liverpool, their eight crowns sit proudly among their honours list.
None have been won by a manager who has re-shaped their entire modern history and while Klopp's legacy will not be shaped by a League Cup win - it certainly wouldn't do it any damage.
