Published: 11:43, 30 October 2025 | Updated: 11:43, 30 October 2025

Of all his missteps of late, this was Arne Slot's first full face-plant - picking a team to exit the Carabao Cup.

Forget the temptation to label it 'disrespectful' to the competition. The Carabao Cup will be just fine without this version of Liverpool. No, this was an act of self-harm. The only thing Slot disrespected were the proud cup traditions of his club. It was also a massive miscalculation in the context of their faltering season.

Unlike the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup can help a campaign, not hinder. Much like the sponsor's juice, it energises a season, benefiting undoubtedly from its place in the calendar.

It comes at a time when the season feels alive with possibility. A run fuels feel-good and rhythm, for those on the pitch and in the stands. It can shape the narrative of a season, filling the early pages with adventure and the promise of a happy ending.

One of the biggest problems facing the FA Cup is that, by the time it comes around, the...