Liverpool told to prioritise Carabao Cup over Club World Cup to gain ‘psychological’ edge over Man City by Trevor Sinclair

Trevor Sinclair believes Liverpool should prioritise the Carabao Cup over the Club World Cup next month, as winning the domestic trophy would give them a huge boost in their pursuit of the Premier League title.

Jurgen Klopp has been hit with a big dilemma ahead of the Reds' manic two-month fixture pile-up.

Liverpool are set to play two games in 24 hours in two different continents, with their Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Aston Villa confirmed for December 17, while their Club World Cup semi-final is scheduled to take place the following day.

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The club have confirmed they will ‘utilise two playing squads simultaneously’, which will see one group of players make the 7,000-mile round trip to Qatar while another stays at home to battle for a place in the Carabao Cup semis.

It has been widely claimed the Reds plan to send a stronger team to the Middle East to try and add a first Club World Cup title to their trophy cabinet.

But the Reds have history in the formerly-named League Cup – they are the most successful team in the competition's 59-year history with eight wins, and have made the final a record 12 times.

And Sinclair believes the morale boost of lifting a domestic trophy, plus keeping their best players at home rather than endure the long trip to Qatar, would be hugely beneficial to Liverpool's Premier League title pursuit – just as it was to Manchester City last season.

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Speaking to talkSPORT hosts Jim White and Natalie Sawyer, the former City star said: “Looking at the Club World Cup and looking at the Carabao Cup, I feel Liverpool should stay at home and try and win that domestic cup.

“It’s got heritage, it’s got history, it’s actually worth something.

“Maybe not in monetary terms – £4.5million to £100,000, there’s no relation there, it’s a lot better financially to win the Club World Cup.

“But I feel Liverpool fans will want to win the Carabao Cup and get the psychological difference and little bit of one-upmanship against Man City leading into the end of the season.

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“For Man City, the spirit and camaraderie they got from winning that trophy last season helped them massively [in the title race against Liverpool].

“I’m sure Liverpool will make the right decision based on what they feel is more important.

“But from a fan’s perspective, if it was Man City in this scenario I would like to think they’d keep the majority of their players at home to try and win the Carabao Cup.”

Watch a clip of Trevor Sinclair on talkSPORT above