This season, Liverpool came agonizingly close to performing the greatest ever footballing achievement, only to miss out on the two biggest prizes in the space of six days, replicating Arsenal in the end.
The Reds were on the verge of completing an unprecedented quadruple by adding the Premier League and Champions League to their two domestic cup victories, the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, which they won after two goalless draws at Wembley Stadium.
And, with Aston Villa leading Manchester City for long stretches on the last day of the Premier League season, it looked like a goal for Liverpool at home against Wolves would be enough to clinch the title in dramatic circumstances for the second time in three years.
However, despite winning 3-1, all dreams of a quadruple were dashed as City rallied from behind to defeat Villa, ending any hopes of a quadruple. Still, against Real Madrid on Saturday night, Jurgen Klopp’s team had a chance to cap the season on a high by winning their eighth European Cup/Champions League.
In a game overshadowed by unfortunate events that caused the kick-off to be delayed by 36 minutes, Vinicius Junior’s second-half goal proved to be the difference between the two teams in Paris, with Los Blancos enjoying their 14th win in Europe’s best club championship.
As a result, Liverpool only won the FA Cup and League Cup during the 2021/22 season. Arsenal achieved the domestic cup double 29 years ago under George Graham, when they defeated Sheffield Wednesday in both finals.
Of course, this isn’t the first time the Merseyside giants have won both of the aforementioned trophies in the same season. They did so in 2000/01, beating Arsenal in the FA Cup final despite it, but they also added the UEFA Cup – now known as the Europa League – to their collection.
In addition, Man City’s domestic cup double was part of a treble-winning season in which they also won the Premier League. However, history shows that winning the FA Cup and League Cup in the same season is a rare feat in English football.
Chelsea are the only other team to win the domestic cup double in a single season, as Jose Mourinho’s side were on course to win the quadruple until they drew against Arsenal in early May, which crowned Manchester United champions, before losing to Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final.
