Blog: Four crucial days, two huge games

Here we are, then. We're in the midst of a huge week for Liverpool Football Club, as two games which could define the early months of Jürgen Klopp's managerial reign approach in a matter of days.

Thursday night's clash with Augsburg in the last 32 of the Europa League is the next step on our quest to win a European competition this season. As well as that, it provides a viable route through to next season's Champions League should we go all the way. The tie is finely balanced at 0-0 after the first leg, which took place in Germany last week.

But Sunday's Capital One Cup final with Manchester City at Wembley takes on significance too, as it represents Klopp's first direct chance to secure a maiden piece of silverware at Anfield.

First trophies are important to the confidence of a squad - especially one as young as ours - and the taste of winning is valuable when it comes to opportunities to secure further honours down the line.

Of course, that old adage of taking one game at a time is particularly important over the next few days. Since the Augsburg tie appears first in the calendar, it's only logical to look at our chances of securing a win over the Bundesliga outfit before turning attention elsewhere.

As mentioned, a challenging first leg in Germany ended with a decent result from a Liverpool point of view. Though the tie is finely poised at 0-0 going into the return at Anfield, we've relied upon home advantage to pull us through before.

Only a win will do, but given we were unlucky not to take an advantage into the second leg in the first place we have great reason to be confident. It's important we keep things tight and avoid conceding an away goal - as any kind of score draw will take the visitors through - but you can't help but feel as though we've come through our toughest squad issues of the season. Let's hope I haven't jinxed it!

While some players may be rested between the first and second matches, we're starting to feel the benefit of players returning from injury.

Key squad members such as Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho have now had another week's worth of recuperation under their belts - since we haven't played since last Thursday - so we're in good shape. Whether either or both players feature in the Augsburg tie remains to be seen, but whatever happens both men will be needed to start the game against City which follows on Sunday.

We've already shown what we can do to Manchester City this season. A fantastic 4-1 win at the Etihad Stadium was our most memorable performance under Klopp's guidance so far, and there's every reason to believe we can repeat that feat.

City could not live with Liverpool's tactical set up on that November evening, and though Manuel Pellegrini may be able to learn from that experience and prepare as such, rest assured Klopp will have more up his sleeve for Sunday afternoon too.

The short period between matches may provide a sticking point, but at the end of the day, we're setting up for a cup final. There can be no excuses, it's time to deliver. Let's get behind our boys and cheer them home.

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