Dietmar Hamann: Why Liverpool should forget top-four target

Dietmar Hamann says Liverpool should target the League Cup ahead of a top-four finish this season.

The Reds are six points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur ahead of their clash against Arsenal at Anfield in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

Jurgen Klopp’s side edged closer to the League Cup final thanks to a 1-0 victory over Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium in the first leg of their semi-final clash.

Former Liverpool midfielder Hamann, who won the League Cup twice during his Reds career, believes Klopp should focus his side’s efforts on winning the cup competition ahead of securing the final Champions League spot.

“Winning the League Cup is more important than finishing in the top four,” Hamann told talkSPORT.

“I know it is a lot of money and if you want to attract the best players you have got to be in the Champions League, but winning the League Cup will get that monkey off Klopp’s back in the first season.

“If they win the League Cup, this could start something big.”

Liverpool have only won five of their 12 Premier League games under Klopp since the former Borussia Dortmund manager took over the reins from Brendan Rodgers in October.

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Liverpool have won the League Cup on seven previous occasions but haven’t lifted the Capital One Cup since 2012.