It's all about the trophy, anything else is a bonus - by Simon Ward

Now the league is out of the way, its time for another cup final. Magic.
 
Some have said it is a season defining game. Some said it is a chance of qualifying for next years Champions League. Others think it is a great chance to help us attract players, or to maybe put us back on the map amongst Europe’s elite (are Seville on that map by the way?).
 
I say forget all of that. None of it matters. The only thing that Wednesday means to me is that it is a chance to win a trophy – a big one – and that is what has made Liverpool great over the years. It is not the European Cup, or the League, but it is the next best thing to both of them, and it is not only what it means for next season that makes it important.
 
Shanks, Sir Bob and Geraaaarrrd, Gerard Houllier have all led us to winning this competition, along with legends Tommy Smith, the mighty Emlyn Hughes and Robbie Fowler lifting the trophy. Even for a club with our history it would be an incredible achievement to see Klopp and Milner join that list.
 
Why? Well this season has been all over the place really. It began with the arrival of eight new players for around £80m, some wanted by the manager and some not, Gerrard had left as well as one of our top players leaving for Man City, and the arrival of a brand new backroom staff as well. Three months later, Rodgers was sacked, so were the staff, and a new manager brought in. Even in the modern age of the premier league that is massive change, and despite Klopp’s popularity, engagement with the fans, excellent pedigree, and demeanour with the press, it basically made the whole summer upheaval seem like a waste of time.
 
To add to this, our best forward Daniel Sturridge was injured again and hardly kicked a ball until February, more recently central defender Sakho has been banned for a failed drug test and at times Steven Caulker was our centre forward.
 
You couldn’t make it up.
 
The current format of the UEFA Cup is also widely criticised and has recently become the competition no one wants to qualify for, or play a full strength team in, because of the Sunday/Thursday/Sunday routine of games. It is looked at as a hinderance to finishing in the top four, instead of an additional chance to win a trophy (or in FSGs language – gain more revenue)
 
So, is a league finish of eighth a surprise in those circumstances? Not for me.
 
Even this season, after such a fantastic run to the final and some of the most memorable nights in Anfield history, Liverpool fans seem divided about whether we should qualify for next seasons UEFA Cup or not, if we lose on Wednesday.
 
Time for a reality check. Liverpool FC have won just one trophy in the last ten years. It is the closest thing to a drought since before Bill Shankly arrived. The 26 years without a league title, along with the so near so far race in 2014 makes the title every fans dream, and ever lasting memories of Istanbul make winning it six times an ultimate ambition. Mine too.
 
But with only one League Cup win since 2006, how are LFC fans so arrogant about what competitions we should or should not try to win? I would bet money on it that many of the fans that did not want us to finish 6^th or 7^th to qualify for next years UEFA CUP, wanted the same outcome last year. If that had happened, say we finished 7^th or 8^th, then the United 2-0 and Coutinho’s memorable goal at Old Trafford would not have happened. Neither would the wonderful crazy mental madness of beating Dortmund 4-3. Or the Villarreal comeback and Klopp orchestrating the fans cheers at the end of another fantastic European night.
 
 
We are a big club because of our trophy winning history, our fan base and our memories of big European Nights under the lights at Anfield. This is why we have big expectations every season because we know what success feels like and we yearn for it again.
 
Looking at the bigger picture though, it is FSGs 6^th season in charge and we have finished below where we did last season. We have also finished 6th or belowfor the 6^th time out of 7 seasons. Since arriving as the saviours after driving the H&G cowboys out of town, FSG have hired and fired a DOF, created a flawed Transfer committee to build a squad, sacked and hired three managers, while implementing a restricted financial model for transfers, plus we have sold quality players like Torres, Suarez and Sterling for massive fees.
 
The result is we have not consistently improved our performance in the league since they arrived, thanks to a poor and chequered history of football decisions during the last 5 or so years. (Oh, and after their predecessors were battered (rightfully) for not progressing the new stadium during their three year stay, even though it has taken them nearly 6 years, FSG are being lauded for adding 8500 extra seats and a giant structure across the Liverpool skyline. Is it that great? Or does it appear so because the other lot were so shit?? Better late than never I suppose)
 
So when I look at where we are now and the lack of progress since 2010, with just one trophy since 2006 and the false dawns we have had every summer, getting to a European final this season is a massive bonus. It is huge, it is brilliant.
 
Not brilliant for the future, not for next season, not because we might get in the Champions League and not for who we might sign on the back of it, because none of that is guaranteed (even with a top manager in place like Klopp). It is brilliant because we are just one game away from winning a trophy, a giant trophy, lifted three times before by Liverpool legends, on the back of three fantastic Anfield nights, on the road to Basel. It is brilliant because after the circumstances of this season we really shouldn’t be there. It is brilliant because we have beaten teams who are better than us on the way.
 
Winning the UEFA Cup would be amazing, because winning trophies is what Liverpool are all about. Whatever that means for next season can wait until August because we are just one win away from gathering another cup in May. That is brilliant.
 
Thats what matters at Liverpool. 
 

Simon Ward

@SiWard2505