Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur may have differing priorities this season, but Arne Slot’s team are grasping at every opportunity that comes their way. This one-sided second leg of a Carabao Cup semi-final demonstrated as much.
This competition ranks fourth on Liverpool’s list of silverware ambitions this term and yet the celebrations that greeted a comfortable victory to secure a first final under Slot only underlined that this is a side full of winners still desperate to win more.
The meeting with Newcastle United under the Wembley arch on March 16 is set to be a lively one. It will be the first cup final between the two clubs since the 1974 FA Cup showpiece and both teams will be determined to secure the trophy for different reasons.
The decisive penalty
The clinching moment of this cup tie came in the 51st minute when the Kop tried to suck the ball into the goal. They didn’t need to, though. For it was Mohamed Salah who had the ball at his feet and his thumping penalty into the top corner brought up his 25th goal of the season and put Liverpool ahead on aggregate.
Cody Gakpo had scored in the first half and further goals from Dominic Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk made this look, rightly so, like a trouncing. That Slot could take off three of his goalscorers, affording each of them their own standing ovation from the home crowd, highlighted the ease with which Liverpool made it into a record 15th final in this competition.
Spurs caught between two stools
Tottenham didn’t travel with the confidence of a team that held a one-goal, first-leg advantage. It seemed Ange Postecoglou’s players were caught between two stools; but they didn’t defend well and neither did they attack with enough panache either.
Heung-min Son’s late effort that crashed against the crossbar was the visitors' only proper chance. They finished the game without a shot on target.
Few may have given Tottenham a chance of seeing this through against the best team in Europe at present, however, this was a particularly insipid way to fall short. Clearly, they didn’t want to play the occasion.
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Story of the game
Earlier this season, Postecoglou declared he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club but it will not be this one. They are still in the FA Cup, with a tricky fourth round tie away to Aston Villa on Sunday, and are in the last 16 of the Europa League, so they still have a chance.
But they were never in this game. Of course it should be recognised that while the Spurs head coach was counting how many players he had available, his Liverpool counterpart was trying to choose which of his players to leave out of the matchday squad. Yet this result went far beyond injuries.
Richarlison going off before half time was hardly ideal for Tottenham, but the former Everton striker had done little to that point to warrant a starting berth. His involvement totalled a few early altercations with Van Dijk that were petty to say the least.
It did mean that the travelling supporters packed into the bottom tier of the Anfield Road stand got to see their two new outfield signings: Kevin Danso started at centre back and Mathys Tel came on for the stricken Brazilian.
However, this was Liverpool’s show. They turned up the heat as the first half progressed and came to camp in the Spurs half. Postecoglou’s side were more defensive than usual but it hardly mattered to their hosts.
They had the ball in the net for what they thought was 1-0 when Salah fizzed a pass up the right channel for Szoboszlai to sweep home but the midfielder was offside. It was inconsequential, though.
Liverpool’s press caused Tottenham problems and when Yves Bissouma lost the ball, it was quickly worked wide to Salah. His cross with the outside of his boot found Darwin Nunez, who flicked it on for Gakpo. The Dutch striker was able to release a shot that Antonin Kinsky really should have kept out.
Gakpo’s 16th goal of the campaign had levelled the tie and Kinsky getting his fingertips to a Salah volley that kissed the crossbar prevented them from going ahead before half time.
Still, Slot’s men were just as threatening straight after the interval. Three times they went close inside 90 seconds, with Kinksy repelling a Szoboszlai header being one of them. The Tottenham ‘keeper erred soon after, though.
Salah played a teasing ball into the area for Nunez and as the Uruguayan tried to take the ball around Kinsky, he was felled. An outstretched arm from the ‘keeper was naive and Nunez certainly was looking for it. The penalty kick was emphatically dispatched by Liverpool’s master marksman.
Tottenham were still in it but, in truth, they weren’t. They pressed a little higher knowing they simply had to score next but that only afforded Liverpool more space in which to attack; Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch both hitting the upright showed as much.
Liverpool apply the gloss
The home side pushed on in the 75th minute with a fine third goal. Substitute Alexis Mac Allister carried forward and fed the ball to Conor Bradley. The full back played a first-time cross into Szoboszlai’s path and he finished beneath Kinsky from ten yards.
Van Dijk headed home from a Mac Allister delivery to apply the gloss to this one-sided cup match. Now they have the chance to earn a first trophy under Slot and retain the last one they lifted with Jurgen Klopp.
