---
title: "Should we really care about Liverpool being out of the FA Cup?"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/should-we-really-care-about-liverpool-being-out-of-the-fa-cup/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Articles"
published: "2020-03-04T16:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-03-04T16:00:00Z"
---

# Should we really care about Liverpool being out of the FA Cup?

Liverpool’s FA Cup exit should be seen as nothing more than a minor pain, rather than a disaster.

The Reds went out of the competition on Tuesday night, losing 2-0 away to Chelsea, experiencing a second defeat in three days.

There was plenty of [negativity](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-chelsea-fa-cup-17857914) from some Liverpool fans after the game, mainly because their dreams of winning the treble this season came to an end.

This is wholly understandable to an extent, with any fan no doubt keen to see this side win as much as possible, but there has been an overreaction.

The FA Cup is up there with the least of the Reds’ priorities these days, and being eliminated isn’t going to define this season.

There was a time when it was the best competition in the world – when winning it felt huge. Michael Owen’s late goal against Arsenal in 2001 will forever be a memorable moment, as was Steven Gerrard’s virtuoso performance against West Ham five years later.

As the years have passed, though, the FA Cup has felt more like a chore than anything, with Jurgen Klopp seemingly not a huge admirer of it. He has fielded youngsters at every opportunity, not yet reaching the quarter-finals.

While his starting line-up was stronger on Tuesday night, there was still a lack of urgency about the team performance, as well as the manager’s, suggesting his stance hasn’t really changed.

It will infuriate some, I’m sure, because of the aforementioned treble dream going up in smoke, but Liverpool simply have bigger fish to fry.

The Premier League title is still yet to be won, even though some seem to think it is. Twelve points are still required to guarantee glory, and in Klopp’s head, I fully believe Saturday’s visit of Bournemouth is far more important than the Chelsea game, and rightly so.

There is also the huge Champions League meeting with Atletico Madrid to come next Wednesday – playing a full-strength team at Stamford Bridge could have had a knock-on effect with that game, with key men potentially picking up injuries or lacking legs by the time the match arrives.

It is sad that the FA Cup doesn’t mean more these days, but it lost that spark a long time ago.

Can you name the last five winners? Who scored in the final of those games? These used to be easy to rattle off, but that is no longer the case.

I understand the frustration at missing out on the treble – every fan should want to win every competition they play in – but forgive me if I’m also not remotely heartbroken to have been knocked out.

Liverpool became the best team on the planet by excelling in the Premier League and the Champions League, and essentially not concentrating seriously on the FA Cup and the League Cup.

If the Reds drop points at Bournemouth and go out to Atletico, there will be a reason to panic – for now, though, this overreaction must stop.