Why Brendan Rodgers will be desperate to win the FA Cup - and avoid joining Roy Hodgson in the Liverpool FC history books
They might say the magic of the FA Cup is well and truly dead, but Brendan Rodgers will be hoping it can at least sprinkle a little stardust on his Liverpool career.
The Reds boss will have been consumed with the race for fourth place in recent months and with the financial demands of the game now, he could be forgiven for prioritising.
But when it is all said and done and the history books are written, Skyâs Race for Fourth place wonât matter one jot - but winning the FA Cup will.
Because the Ulsterman will avoid becoming the first Liverpool boss, besides Roy Hodgson, to fail to win a trophy in the first three years of his reign for over 50 years. The last manager failing to do so being Phil Taylor in the mid-1950s.
Granted, Hodgson wasn't at the club three years, but his name will remain in Liverpool's history books as the last manager to fail to win a trophy during his time at the club. Rodgers will want to avoid that.
For all the riches Champions League football has to offer, days out at Wembley and trophies in Liverpoolâs considerably sized cabinet will always be priceless.
And it is by trophies that a Liverpool manager is ultimately judged.
Rodgers will also be looking to ensure his young squad gets a taste for success, and winning a trophy can help his side breed confidence and push on in next seasonâs cup competitions. Rafa Benitez used to talk a lot about buying players with a âwinning mentalityâ - winning trophies develops that mentality in not just players but the manager as well.
Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Roy Evans, Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez and Dalglish, again, all secured silverware within the first three years of their reigns.
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