Liverpool have stormed into the Carabao Cup final with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of their semi-final clash at Anfield, securing a 4-1 aggregate win. Liverpool’s emphatic Anfield win overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit and set up a showdown with Newcastle United at Wembley on March 16.
Cody Gakpo ignited Liverpool’s comeback in the 34th minute, finishing off a Mohamed Salah cross with a precise right-footed shot. Salah then doubled the lead from the penalty spot early in the second half after Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky fouled Darwin Nunez. Dominik Szoboszlai added a third, and Virgil van Dijk capped off the rout with a powerful header, ensuring a comfortable passage to the final.
Newcastle, who eliminated Arsenal with a 4-0 aggregate win, will be seeking their first major domestic trophy since 1955. Eddie Howe’s side have demonstrated their quality with a resounding victory over Arsenal and will pose a formidable challenge to Liverpool at Wembley.
For Liverpool, the final represents another opportunity to add silverware in what has been a promising first season under manager Arne Slot. With the team leading the Premier League, competing in the Champions League round of 16, and still in the FA Cup, the Reds remain in contention for an unprecedented quadruple.
Cody Gakpo acknowledged the significance of reaching the final but stressed the importance of staying focused: “We are in one final, but we have a lot to play for still. We have to stay calm and focus to reach as much as possible.”
In contrast, Tottenham’s exit marks another disappointing chapter in their pursuit of silverware, extending their trophy drought that dates back to their League Cup triumph in 2008. The result will likely intensify scrutiny on manager Ange Postecoglou, with Spurs struggling for consistency in the Premier League and failing to register a single shot on target in the match, according to Opta.