Liverpool will face Newcastle United in the final of EFL Cup after overturning a first-leg deficit to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 on aggregate following a 4-0 win in their semi-final second leg at Anfield.
Cody Gakpo got the ball rolling for Liverpool shortly after the half-hour mark, before Mohamed Salah was reliable as ever from the penalty spot in the early stages of the second half.
Dominik Szoboszlai took advantage of a faltering Spurs rearguard soon after, and skipper Virgil van Dijk added another with 10 minutes remaining in an all-round dominant display from Arne Slot's men.
Ange Postecoglou's side were unable to get a grip of the game from start to finish, with all of the big chances going to the hosts, as Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch were also denied by the woodwork after the interval.
Manager Slot will be delighted at getting the job done with such ease, and the Liverpool faithful can now look forward to a trip to Wembley on March 16.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
On a night very reminiscent of the Champions League final back in 2019, when Spurs barely laid a glove on Liverpool in Madrid, the same occurred again this evening, as Postecoglou's side froze on the big occasion.
Spurs failed to register a shot on target all evening, and squandered the best opportunity they have had since reaching the final of this competition in 2021 to add some much-needed silverware to their trophy cabinet.
In particular, the midfield three for Spurs, which surprisingly did not include first-leg goalscorer Lucas Bergvall, were utterly overawed by the occasion, with Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma being dragged off just moments into the second half.
For Liverpool though, they were once again dominant in front of their home crowd under the lights, extending their unbeaten run at Anfield to 16 matches, and truth be told, the game should have been out of reach for Spurs much sooner than it was.
LIVERPOOL VS. SPURS HIGHLIGHTS
Gakpo goal vs. Spurs (34th min, Liverpool 1-0 Spurs)
Gakpo levels the tie! 🔴
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 6, 2025
He becomes the top scorer in this year's Carabao Cup 🥇 pic.twitter.com/ZA4TmXgEvz
A nerve-settling goal from Gakpo and Liverpool are level on aggregate! Bissouma concedes possession in an awful area, and the hosts quickly pounce, before Salah's cross finds Gakpo at the back post, and he beats a sluggish Antonin Kinsky, who should have got down quicker, in the Spurs goal.
Salah penalty vs. Spurs (51st min, Liverpool 2-0 Spurs)
Mohamed Salah converts the penalty to put Liverpool ahead in the tie! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/iWziWxsfZw
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 6, 2025
After squandering possession again in a dangerous area, Spurs are caught in behind with Darwin Nunez being taken down by Kinsky in the area, allowing Salah to step up and emphatically bury his penalty into the top corner to put the Reds ahead for the first time in the tie.
Szoboszlai goal vs. Spurs (75th min, Liverpool 3-0 Spurs)
Szoboszlai finishes off a fine a Liverpool move! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/L3htn77fzU
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 6, 2025
That's that! Liverpool are on their way to Wembley and the impressive Szoboszlai has got a well-deserved goal to put the cherry on top of a fine performance, linking up well with Alexis Mac Allister and Conor Bradley before sliding the ball beyond Kinsky.
Van Dijk goal vs. Spurs (80th min, Liverpool 4-0 Spurs)
Van Dijk rises highest to head home Liverpool's fourth 💥 pic.twitter.com/vyRGYeI8XF
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 6, 2025
It is another for Liverpool and it is the same forehead that fired them to glory in last season's EFL Cup final that has confirmed their place in another! Van Dijk rises highest from Mac Allister's corner, and with Kinsky hopelessly out of position, the Dutchman steers his header home easily to add some gloss to the scoreline.
MAN OF THE MATCH - DOMINIK SZOBOSZLAI
© Imago
Spurs' midfield could not get to grips with Szoboszlai all night, as the Hungarian played a central role in Liverpool's dominance for 90 minutes tonight.
Liverpool's number eight was also able to get his reward for a fine performance by adding the important third goal which put the home side out of sight, thanks to a fine finish beyond Kinsky.
LIVERPOOL VS. SPURS MATCH STATS
Possession: Liverpool 64%-36% Spurs
Shots: Liverpool 26-5 Spurs
Shots on target: Liverpool 10-0 Spurs
Corners: Liverpool 14-4 Spurs
Fouls: Liverpool 5-8 Spurs
BEST STATS
519 - Liverpool's two goals tonight take them to 519 goals in the League Cup, the outright most in the competition's history. Milk.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 6, 2025
10 - Mohamed Salah has now assisted 10 of Cody Gakpo's Liverpool goals, the third player he has 10+ Liverpool assists for along with Sadio Mané (17) and Roberto Firmino (14). Provider. pic.twitter.com/ejbDvNr76S
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 6, 2025
0 - Tottenham Hotspur tonight against Liverpool failed to register a single shot on target in a match for the first time under Ange Postecoglou. Limited. pic.twitter.com/s3lqKe3WTa
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 6, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Liverpool go to Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup at the weekend, before travelling to Goodison Park for the last time to face Everton in their next league assignment a few days later.
Spurs must regroup for their encounter with Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Sunday, before a hugely important clash with fellow strugglers Manchester United in the Premier League the weekend after.
Andrew Delaney
