Jose Mourinho has shown Arne Slot the shortcut to success at Liverpool

Arne Slot cannot ignore Jose Mourinho claim as Liverpool given clear signal

The League Cup is offering more than just a chance of first silverware as Liverpool boss for Arne Slot

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Following the example of Jose Mourinho would normally be one of the last recommendations from supporters of any Liverpool boss. But Arne Slot would be wise to note a trend during the prickly Portuguese's time in the dugout in England.

Back in 2004/05, Mourinho's won his first silverware as Chelsea boss by beating the Reds in the League Cup final, sparking a period of domestic dominance by the Londoners.

During his second spell at Stamford Bridge, his first trophy was the League Cup, and it was the same when he switched to Manchester United. And no doubt Mourinho would claim it could have been at Tottenham Hotspur too, had he not been sacked shortly before the final against Manchester City in 2021.

The League Cup may by some distance be the least important of the four trophies Liverpool are chasing this season, Slot's much-changed line-ups for the wins over West Ham United and, on Wednesday, at Brighton evidence of the Dutchman being acutely aware of the pecking order of silverware.

But it's the first major trophy that can be won this season and, of course, therefore the earliest opportunity for Slot to earn his debut honour as Liverpool head coach. With the Reds now in the quarter-finals, they are already sighting a return to Wembley and a chance for a record-breaking 11th League Cup triumph.

While avoiding the remaining big guns when being paired with Southampton in the last eight, Liverpool are having do it the hard way. Should they lift the trophy in March, they'd have overcome Premier League opposition in each round - the first time such a feat would have been required.

It's not just Mourinho who understood the value of the League Cup. In terms of Liverpool managers, both Rafael Benitez and Jurgen Klopp reached the final in their first season - setting a foundation for what was to follow - and it was the first trophy won by Joe Fagan, Roy Evans, Gerard Houllier and, in his second spell in charge, Kenny Dalglish.

The draw, though, could have been kinder. With the Southampton tie taking place the week before Christmas, it means six of Liverpool's nine games in December are on the road with a Champions League trip to Spain against Girona joined by Premier League games at Newcastle United, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

The hectic festive schedule therefore represents a significant test of an impressive away record that has thus far seen Slot helm six wins and a draw from seven matches.

Rotation will be required to navigate that period. The League Cup, then, is offering more than just a trophy chance, with Liverpool's ongoing progress providing the opportunity of minutes for a number of fringe players who will be increasingly required over the coming weeks. With the exception of the November international break, Liverpool are in action every midweek until the end of the year.

Wataru Endo, Joe Gomez, Tyler Morton and, despite his difficult time in the closing moments, Jarell Quansah were all in need of minutes and can expect further openings in the next round, while Conor Bradley was able to shake off some signs of ring-rust having been sidelined for a few weeks with a knock.

The only real negative was the continued absence of Federico Chiesa, whose fitness issues meant he missed an obvious chance to further get up to speed with the English game.

Given the major Premier League and European assignments to come over the next six weeks, the League Cup can be placed on the backburner for now by Slot. But the Reds boss will know history suggests it can be a shortcut to success - both for the present and the future.

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