In a stunning display of dominance, Liverpool overturned a first-leg deficit to thrash Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final at Anfield on Thursday night. After trailing 1-0 from the first leg, the Reds showcased their attacking prowess and tactical superiority, securing a place in the final against Newcastle United on March 16.
Manager Arne Slot made four changes to the lineup from last weekend’s victory over AFC Bournemouth, most notably placing Caoimhin Kelleher in goal. Conor Bradley replaced the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez came in for Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz.
The match kicked off with an electric atmosphere, but despite the home crowd’s anticipation, Liverpool struggled to find the breakthrough in the early stages. However, as the first half progressed, the Reds began to assert their dominance, creating a flurry of opportunities.
Darwin Nunez was particularly active, seeing a shot blocked by Archie Gray and directing a header straight at Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky from Cody Gakpo’s cross. Szoboszlai had a goal ruled out for offside, and Salah couldn’t convert a volley from an Andy Robertson delivery.
Finally, in the 34th minute, Liverpool’s pressure paid off. Gakpo, who has been in sensational form this season, netted his fifth EFL Cup goal. A beautiful outside-of-the-boot cross from Salah found Gakpo, who expertly controlled the ball and drove it home, leveling the tie at 1-1.
As the second half commenced, Liverpool continued their relentless assault. Kinsky made a remarkable save to deny Gakpo from close range, but the momentum shifted decisively when Kinsky brought down Nunez following a clever pass from Salah. The resulting penalty was confidently converted by Salah, sending the Anfield crowd into raptures.
The Reds were not finished yet. Nunez nearly added to the scoreline, firing a shot into the side-netting, while Gakpo struck the outside of the post with a fierce drive. Liverpool’s persistence bore fruit again when Dominik Szoboszlai rounded off a flowing move, finishing calmly after a slick exchange involving Bradley.
In a fitting conclusion to a dominant performance, Virgil van Dijk capped the night with a towering header, sealing the victory at 4-0 and ensuring Liverpool’s place in the final.
With this emphatic win, the Reds will look to defend their EFL Cup title against Newcastle United at Wembley, buoyed by their attacking form and unwavering spirit. Liverpool fans can look forward to an exciting showdown as their team aims to add another piece of silverware to their growing collection.
