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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Samuel Meade

Sir Alex Ferguson's "impossible" warning and how Jurgen Klopp could leave him red-faced

Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp can tick one of the four boxes available to them.

Carabao Cup - done. Three more to go - two of which will need to be won domestically.

Reclaiming the Champions League they won in 2019 will be a huge achievement, but seeing off all before them in England in all competitions will be historic.

The Reds beats Chelsea in the first final of the season after 22 penalties, of which only one was missed.

Caoimhin Kelleher succeeded where Kepa Arrizabalaga failed and Liverpool are now eyeing all three pieces of silverware available in England.

They must first chase down Manchester City, who claimed what could be a crucial late win on Merseyside on Saturday evening.

The FA Cup is also still on their radar with the majority of the big hitters all still present in the competition.

How many trophies will Liverpool win this season ? Have your say in the comments!

Jurgen Klopp lifted the Carabao Cup for the first time on Sunday (Getty Images)

Klopp hadn't enjoyed domestic cup success until Sunday but could yet claim two in one season.

If the German were to do that, alongside toppling the current champions, it would rank as surely his most impressive feat yet.

It would also give Liverpool fans more bragging rights over their arch rivals Manchester United.

The treble of 1999 remains firmly in the memory of those at Old Trafford, but there was one treble that remained beyond even Sir Alex Ferguson.

So much so that he declared it an "impossible" achievement.

Fergie's take

You have to be in it to win it and across 26 years only twice did Ferguson's United have the opportunity.

In 2009 the Red Devils saw off Tottenham in a League Cup final shootout at Wembley whilst they also went on to win the Premier League, their third on the bounce.

However it was an FA Cup semi-final in which they came up unstuck as Everton got the better of them on penalties.

Prior to that you have to go back to 1994 and a year that so nearly was. United claimed the league title and the FA Cup with victory over Chelsea.

Aston Villa toppled Ferguson's side on a March afternoon however with a 3-1 victory at Wembley.

"All this talk about a unique treble has not come from us," claimed Ferguson after the match.

"I was always concerned about coming unstuck in a cup tie through any kind of unlucky break and that's how it has turned out."

For all the Scot's success even he proves how difficult it is to juggle several demands.

He failed in each of his last nine attempts to win the FA Cup, succeeding just twice in his final 15 years at Old Trafford.

Klopp is yet to win the competition whilst Pep Guardiola has lifted the trophy just once.

City debunk theory

It is the Catalan however who proved that Ferguson was, indeed, wrong. The domestic treble is possible and it is possible whilst dealing with the fiercest title race in modern memory.

In 2019, the year after Manchester City had recorded a record 100 points, they fended off Liverpool to retain their league crown.

They saw off Chelsea on penalties to retain their Carabao Cup and then topped it all off win an emphatic FA Cup win over Watford.

Pep Guardiola and Man City claimed a unique treble in 2019 (2019 AMA Sports Photo Agency)

The Hornets were beaten 6-0 at Wembley in such a manner that had some questioning whether such dominance was good for the English game.

In the process, Guardiola and City remain the only domestic treble winners ever.

He said after the achievement: "To be 10 months, play in all competitions, and to be the first [to win the treble], it means we have been consistent every few days during 10 months.

"I love the Champions League, but to do that is more difficult than to win the Champions League."

Liverpool's chance

Alongside City, Liverpool have set the standard in recent years.

It is the two teams who now own the majority of records that exist in the Premier League era with their relentless nature taking the game to new heights.

The momentum very much appears to be with the Reds, and much is always made of the second wind that can come from picking up a trophy in February.

Liverpool have won their last six in the league and look to have the most impressive and deep squad of Klopp's tenure.

Luis Diaz has provided a fresh injection following his January move from Porto and looks to be a star already.

The German also has no issues in talking up the team's ambitions which, if completed, would see him succeed where Ferguson couldn't.

"This is the start. We are not silly. You need luck. We have to survive, work hard and, we have to play on Wednesday again, which I cannot believe at this moment," Klopp said immediately after the win.

Whilst last month he also confessed: "We want to squeeze everything out of this season. We still have accept we may not get everything as a reward."

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