Unusually Ange Postecoglou parked the bus. But it’s Liverpool who is also planning one different open-top parade. The Carabao Cup is fourth of their itemizing of silverware priorities, nonetheless they’re inside the final and, with it, have the prospect to earn a first trophy under Arne Slot and retain the ultimate one they lifted with Jürgen Klopp.
Not that this was insignificant. The celebrations, led by Slot, as Dominik Szoboszlai scored Liverpool’s third goal – confirming their meeting at Wembley, the place they might face Newcastle United – have been unbridled. Anfield bounced and Postecoglou was goaded with chants of being sacked.
For Tottenham Hotspur the wait continues. Earlier this advertising and marketing marketing campaign their head coach declared he always wins a contest in his second season, nonetheless it gained’t be this trophy, and his frustration on the end was all too obvious as he accused his workforce of being far “too passive”. The lack of “Angeball”, or any semblance of battle or depth, was shocking.
Spurs are nonetheless inside the FA Cup, with a tricky fourth-round tie away to Aston Villa, and are inside the closing 16 of the Europa League, in order that they nonetheless have a possibility of fulfilling Postecoglou’s pledge.
There had been speculation that dropping this semi-final would value him his job. The expectation is that it’ll not, Spurs are devoted to him this advertising and marketing marketing campaign, and actually the Europa League – with the prize of a Champions League place – is far additional important.
But this will harm. Lots. And not least as a result of what Slot has carried out with Liverpool, the place he has been such an assured, spectacular successor to Klopp. The Dutchman was, in any case, Spurs’ first choice as their head coach within the summertime of 2023. He held talks nonetheless then signed a model new deal at Feyenoord, with Postecoglou lastly employed.
The actuality is Spurs, in entrance of 6,000 of their followers, have been in no way on this sport. Not for a minute. Yes, they’re depleted (with 10 accidents nonetheless nonetheless with eight internationals of their workforce) and positive, they’ve been always up in the direction of it in taking a slender end in the home of the simplest workforce in Europe at present, nonetheless this was faraway from the “are you not entertained”, attacking strategies that Postecoglou pledged he wouldn’t veer away from.
His earlier absolutism has been divisive, leading to reward that he’s determined to do it his method and far more criticism that he’s so unbending. He bent on this occasion and Spurs snapped.
There was an inevitability about Liverpool’s win and, given Spurs’ strategies, it was worrying for them how they apparently set out defensively and nonetheless obtained thumped. Their anticipated aims? It was an astonishingly, unambitious season-low of merely 0.18 (in the direction of Liverpool’s 3.82), with merely 5 images in full.
Their earlier worse? That was 0.71 in the direction of Arsenal, as soon as that they had 15 images. Son Heung-min did strike the crossbar proper right here – when it was 3-0 – nonetheless Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher didn’t have a shot to keep away from losing.
How can that be? It fed the belief that Spurs proceed to choke inside the giant video video games even when – until now – beneath Postecoglou they’ve always at least given it a go. Even in conceding six at residence to Liverpool inside the Premier League earlier this season they scored three.
“Our intent was to go out and play the same way as we play every week,” Postecoglou later protested. Fair adequate, nonetheless it merely didn’t seem like that.
Spurs defended far deeper than conventional, for a start. Maybe they’ve been pressured once more. But, as soon as extra, it appeared like they sat in and positively didn’t resolve to a extreme defensive place. And as soon as they did break it was not in numbers. On one occasion Richarlison – misplaced to a calf hurt sooner than half-time – attacked nonetheless it was solely him and Dejan Kulusevski in the direction of eight Liverpool avid gamers who ran once more.
Later Kulusevski ran the ball into the nook. It was nonetheless inside the first half.
In midfield the intent was that Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma would give them additional of a steady base. But they’ve been overrun. In defence there was a debut for model new signing Kevin Danso – with the alternative new signing Mathys Tel altering Richarlison extra forward – and whereas he started correctly he, too, was lastly overwhelmed.
It moreover doesn’t help that 21-year-old goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky is rash and doesn’t unfold confidence whereas Archie Gray was – as soon as extra – carried out misplaced. He started at right-back and switched to left-back and was caught ball-watching for Liverpool’s opening goal.
That goal, actually, was a collective failure, which sums up the state of Spurs. The ball was sloppily given away by Bissouma and all people was sluggish to react sooner than Mohamed Salah’s cross ran by means of to Cody Gakpo, who scored for the seventh successive sport at Anfield. Postecoglou turned and shook his head.
That goal solely drew the tie diploma, nonetheless already it felt over as a contest. And so, shortly after half-time, Kinsky conceded a penalty as he rushed from goal to hold down Darwin Nunez and Salah beat him powerfully from the spot. It was his twenty sixth goal of the advertising and marketing marketing campaign and there was a superb higher roar from the Kop as he tapped the Liverpool badge on his chest.
That put Liverpool ahead and already it felt like a question of what variety of they’d ranking. Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch every struck a publish – Kinsky had earlier tipped a Salah effort onto the crossbar – sooner than Spurs have been carved open and Szoboszlai side-footed residence the third goal.
After Son’s shot, Liverpool went straight down the alternative end with the imperious Virgil van Dijk heading in a nook. It summed up the gulf.
10:36 PM GMT
Liverpool’s 4 goalscorers
10:32 PM GMT
More from Postecoglou, chatting with ITV
10:31 PM GMT
Conor Bradley chatting with BBC Radio 5 Live
“I loved it. We knew it was going to be a difficult game. Buzzing to get through to the final.”
On Tottenham’s strategies:
“It was different to what we were expecting, but it was difficult in the first half to break them down.”
On Arne Slot:
“I’m positive he’s buzzing with it. It is his first try and get there [Wembley] and he has received there. I’m blissful for him and he has been unbelievable since he has are available in.
“He has developed me a lot and I am really happy to play under him.”
10:30 PM GMT
Sky’s Jamie Redknapp on Tottenham’s strategies
“Yes, they’ve had accidents however there are nonetheless sufficient gamers there to trigger Liverpool some issues. There have been defeats to Ipswich, Leicester, Crystal Palace and Everton. Everyone appears to discover a means of beating this Tottenham aspect.
“The supervisor baffles me along with his techniques. I feel he’s utterly misplaced in what he’s attempting to do. This is what I do. You should adapt and you must change. If you haven’t received the personnel you need then you must be certain that your techniques are spot on.
“Look at Newcastle, Eddie Howe showed how you beat an Arsenal side by going man-to-man and being aggressive. Newcastle will not give Liverpool the respect Tottenham gave them. Tottenham showed them far too much respect.”
10:28 PM GMT
Michael Dawson on Sky
“Ange [Postecoglou] was very trustworthy to say Liverpool dominated from begin to end. He seems lonely there on his personal. He goes by way of a difficult time. The gamers have to present greater than they’re giving at this second in time. The senior gamers.
“Son is somebody we now have talked about for years and years on this Premier League and the way good he has been. But when the going will get powerful, and we now have all been by way of it, you must look to your senior gamers and assist them younger gamers.
“But believe me, that was a low, low night for Spurs.”
10:26 PM GMT
Completely one-sided match
Jamie Carragher has merely acknowledged on Sky that League Two Accrington Stanley posed additional of a danger in the direction of Liverpool inside the third spherical of the FA Cup than Tottenham did tonight.
10:24 PM GMT
The concepts of Ange Postecoglou
“Ultimately Liverpool totally deserved the victory tonight. They have been the higher workforce. We simply weren’t capable of get a grip in any a part of the sport defensively or with the ball. They have been too good for us.
“We allowed them to get into the sport, we weren’t aggressive as we wanted to be. Again, we didn’t begin the sport off on the proper foot, it allowed them to get comfy. Once they received comfy, it was troublesome for us to get some management again.
“We undoubtedly wanted to be braver with and with out the ball. It is simpler stated than finished in a spot like this. I assume it’s a excellent Liverpool workforce in a very good spell of kind and really settled. It is what we wanted to do and we didn’t do it.
“We did not have a great first half and were very much in the game. We knew the first 15 to 20 minutes of the second half, we needed to keep it solid in terms of our decision-making. To give them a second goal was disappointing. But we never got to grips with any part of the game today. They were too good for us.”
10:22 PM GMT
Virgil van Dijk chatting with ITV
10:20 PM GMT
More from Jamie Redknapp on Sky
“We anticipated extra from Tottenham tonight. I can’t get my head round them not having one shot on the right track in a semi closing.
“I know it is difficult because you have a one-goal lead and you are coming to Anfield, but in the first half they are trying to play it out from the back, the goalkeeper is edgy and the midfield never showed any courage to get on the ball and make things happen. They were so abject and it was not the inexperienced players, it was the experienced ones.”
10:18 PM GMT
Jamie Carragher on Sky
“It was by no means unsure earlier than the sport. It is Tottenham! When do Tottenham ever win an enormous recreation? When do Tottenham ever go and shock, win in opposition to the percentages?
“The odds have been massively in favour in opposition to Liverpool, they’re at Anfield, they’re the very best workforce within the nation, probably the very best workforce in Europe proper now. But it’s not simply this Spurs workforce. They by no means shock you, by no means do one thing out of the unusual.
“I’m attempting to recollect the final massive recreation they gained: it was most likely that semi-final in opposition to Ajax within the Champions League. I used to be within the stadium that night time and I don’t need to take it away from Tottenham, however they have been very fortunate! They have been battered for a lot of the recreation, it was a freak they usually received two objectives within the final minute.
“Whenever they go into a big game as a club, nobody ever believes they are going to win. That is not me as a Liverpool fan, those Tottenham fans there tonight – not one of them believed they were going to win and to go Wembley! They just won’t.”
10:17 PM GMT
Great second for the ball boy
10:16 PM GMT
Salah’s twenty sixth goal of the season
8 – Mohamed Salah has scored eight penalties in all competitions this season, most likely essentially the most by a Liverpool participant in a advertising and marketing marketing campaign since Steven Gerrard scored 11 in 2013-14. Reliable. pic.twitter.com/4iH32xNsN9
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 6, 2025
10:15 PM GMT
Another League Cup final for Liverpool
10:15 PM GMT
Next month’s League Cup final
10:12 PM GMT
On their strategy to Wembley
10:12 PM GMT
Zero
0 – Tottenham Hotspur tonight in the direction of Liverpool didn’t register a single shot on the right track in a match for the first time beneath Ange Postecoglou. Limited. pic.twitter.com/s3lqKe3WTa
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 6, 2025
10:11 PM GMT
Sky’s Michael Dawson on Tottenham
“It was actually, actually damaging that efficiency. I knew it was going to be a tricky process however did I anticipate it to be like that? I assumed there could be extra of a combat from the gamers.
“It was always going to be backs against the wall but they [Tottenham] did not show any character in possession, out of possession and they did not how any desire to keep the ball out of the back of the net. To come here and get beat 4-0 without any fight and without a shot on target, it is a damaging performance.”
10:08 PM GMT
Van Dijk obtained Liverpool’s fourth
26 – Since making his Liverpool debut in January 2018, Virgil van Dijk has additional aims in all competitions than one other Premier League defender (26). Colossus. pic.twitter.com/0T9KIPOoz8
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 6, 2025
10:07 PM GMT
Jamie Redknapp on Sky
“I can’t bear in mind a workforce in my lifetime go down with much less of a combat with what Tottenham did at present. Not having one shot on the right track within the semi-final of a second leg when you’re attempting to vary the course of the historical past?
“I really feel sorry for these gamers. I feel Djed Spence performed 14 completely different positions tonight. I’ve by no means seen something prefer it. You have younger gamers, you are supposed to defend them.
“Archie Gray and [Lucas] Bergvall, they’re younger males and attempting their finest. But I’m trying on the skilled gamers at present to guide and attempt to set the tempo. They didn’t try this one bit.
“There have been some lows, Crystal Palace, Ipswich and Everton, this season. But when you look at that today, the scoreline? Just horrendous.”
10:02 PM GMT
Man of the match Cody Gakpo
“The stadium helped so much. We knew we needed to come again from 1-0 behind so we went on the market and tried to create as many possibilities as attainable. With the standard we now have, we all know we’re going to get massive possibilities and hopefully rating. Very massive efficiency from the entire workforce and an amazing win.
“The followers have been implausible like all the time. They helped us so much at present, they gave us additional power time and time once more. We are very proud of these followers.
“We are heading in the right direction however we now have to take it daily, step-by-step. We are in a single closing, however we now have so much to play for nonetheless. We should focus to succeed in as a lot as attainable.
“We are in a good flow at the moment, we have to keep going. It is about consistency. We have to keep the momentum.”
10:00 PM GMT
FT stats
Possession: Liverpool 64%-36% Tottenham
Shots: 26-5
Shots on the right track: 10-0
Corners: 14-4
Touches in opposition subject: 55-8
09:57 PM GMT
Full time
There is the final word whistle and the defending champions Liverpool are into back-to-back League Cup finals. They have booked their place at Wembley, a fifteenth time they might play inside the League Cup final, and might meet Newcastle inside the final subsequent month.
09:55 PM GMT
90+1 minutes: Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 (4-1 agg)
Son shoots from merely exterior the Liverpool subject nonetheless his curling effort goes merely over Kelleher’s bar. The Liverpool keeper had it coated.
09:54 PM GMT
90 minutes: Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 (4-1 agg)
There shall be three added minutes.
09:50 PM GMT
85 minutes: Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 (4-1 agg)
Another likelihood for Liverpool. Szoboszlai flicks in a nice cross from a free-kick which Jota meets nonetheless his header goes large. He is commonly so good in these positions and so good collectively along with his head nonetheless not so much on this occasion.
Liverpool’s final change sees captain van Dijk go off to a standing ovation, modified by Quansha.
09:48 PM GMT
84 minutes: Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 (4-1 agg)
Liverpool are working riot. Jota is the newest to have a shot, which is deflected large for a nook. Some Tottenham followers have seen adequate, already leaving their seats to start out out the prolonged journey residence to north London.
The longer this second leg has gone on, the additional Spurs’ first leg win over Liverpool has appeared similar to the shock outcomes of the season.
The Spurs followers have seen adequate. They’re all heading to that bus Ange parked. It’s been parked so badly it’s more than likely on a double yellow line.
09:46 PM GMT
82 minutes: Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 (4-1 agg)
Another double change for the hosts as Salah and Gakpo come off to rapturous applause and are modified by Elliott and Diaz.
09:44 PM GMT
GOAL! Van Dijk gives one different for Liverpool
4-0 on the night time time, 4-1 on mixture. Liverpool have wasted so many corners tonight nonetheless not this one. It is shipped proper right into a dangerous house by Mac Allister and there’s no stopping a powerful header from van Dijk.
09:44 PM GMT
79 minutes: Liverpool 3 Tottenham 0 (3-1 agg)
Liverpool are pouring forward. Robertson is in home inside the left-hand channel and, with Gakpo occupying Porro, he has home to deal with a shot, which is deflected behind for a further Liverpool nook…
09:42 PM GMT
78 minutes: Liverpool 3 Tottenham 0 (3-1 agg)
Son strikes the bar. He has been very quiet tonight nonetheless virtually will get a goal once more for the friends. He has home on the left and, from a slender angle contained within the subject, fires a shot within the route of goal that smashes into the bar.
09:39 PM GMT
GOAL! Szoboszlai gives Liverpool’s third
A elegant goal for the hosts. Mac Allister picks it up merely inside his private half and picks out the inside marauding run of Bradley. The Northern Irishman performs a first-time transfer inside to Szoboszlai, who takes one contact and slides it earlier Kinsky into the underside nook. Liverpool now lead 3-1 on mixture.
Liverpool have been purring, significantly inside the second half. The switch for the third summed it up. Bradley and Szoboszlai have been wonderful. It’s not merely Liverpool’s prime quality on the ball that stands out, nonetheless the tempo with which they get it once more.
09:38 PM GMT
74 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Gravenberch hits the publish. Moments after he really didn’t take advantage of a by means of ball into Jota, the Dutchman strikes from ranger and smashes into the pores and skin of Kinsky’s correct publish.
09:36 PM GMT
73 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Postecoglou should be ecstatic his facet stays to be only one goal from forcing extra-time. They’ve been outclassed. The friends in the intervening time are relying on some cup magic to shift the course of this tie.
09:36 PM GMT
72 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Gray sends in a cross that forces Kelleher to tip over the bar nonetheless the flag is as a lot as say it went out sooner than it reached Kelleher. Gray appeared perplexed at that decision as he felt the ball had not gone out.
Liverpool are making their first two modifications of the night time time as Nunez and Jones are modified by Jota and Mac Allister.
09:34 PM GMT
69 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Salah performs the ball forward to Szoboszlai down the right and he spots Gakpo in home out on the left. Bergvall crucially intercepts for the friends nonetheless the hosts have a nook. Konate wins the header nonetheless it goes over the bar.
09:32 PM GMT
67 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Spence fires a shot away from the right-hand facet of the Liverpool subject nonetheless his shot misses the aim. He hit it powerfully nonetheless Kelleher had it coated at his near publish.
09:27 PM GMT
63 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Nearly a third for Liverpool. Jones finds Gakpo on the left-hand facet of the sector and the Dutchman fires a shot all through goal. Kinsky will get his fingertips to it and the shot hits the pores and skin of the far publish.
09:25 PM GMT
61 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Gakpo picks out Szoboszlai inside the centre of the sector and he heads it within the route of goal first time nonetheless it’s straight at Kinsky. He was nearly on the penalty spot so to generate the flexibility from there to beat Kinsky would have been pretty some effort.
Moments later Bradley does brilliantly down the right and picks out Nunez, whose first-time effort goes into the facet netting.
09:22 PM GMT
59 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Bentancur shoots from differ nonetheless his effort goes extreme and big. It would perhaps have been additional apt on a rugby pitch than a soccer one.
09:20 PM GMT
57 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Double Tottenham change as Porro and Bergvall are altering Sarr and Bissouma.
09:18 PM GMT
55 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Tel has barely touched the ball nonetheless he wins a nook off Konate on the right-hand facet of the Liverpool subject. Kulusevski sends it in nonetheless Nunez heads emphatically away.
09:17 PM GMT
53 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Time for Ange-ball now? Liverpool had three images in 5 minutes sooner than worthwhile the penalty. To say a second was coming is an understatement. Spurs should revert to their plan A or it’s all through.
09:14 PM GMT
GOAL! Salah gives Liverpool the lead inside the tie
Emphatic! Kinsky went the flawed method nonetheless it couldn’t have mattered even when he went the right method. Salah curls it correct into the best left nook and celebrates in entrance of the Kop. That is his twenty sixth goal of the season.
09:13 PM GMT
PENALTY LIVERPOOL!
Salah performs the ball forward to Nunez and he’s always going to get to it first ahead of Kinsky. He performs it across the Tottenham keeper and is taken down. An simple selection for referee Craig Pawson and VAR shortly confirms that decision.
09:11 PM GMT
46 minutes: Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (1-1 agg)
Liverpool virtually get their second merely 30 seconds into this second half. The ball entails Salah on the right-hand facet of the sector. He cuts inside Spence and tries to beat Kinsky at his near publish nonetheless the Tottenham keeper will get proper right down to his left to parry behind for a nook. Robertson’s first provide goes behind for a further nook and his second finds Szoboszlai on the near publish. The Hungarian’s flicked header is saved by Kinsky. It was straight at Kinsky nonetheless it received right here earlier fairly a couple of our our bodies and Gakpo was correct there to take profit had Kinsky made a mistake/
09:09 PM GMT
Second half
We are once more beneath method at Anfield. The tie is diploma at 1-1 as, in concept, we head into the final word 45 minutes of the tie. If it’s nonetheless diploma on the end of these 90 minutes, we’d go to additional time and possibly then penalties.
09:06 PM GMT
Corners
Liverpool had 9 of them inside the first half nonetheless wasted nearly every one. They didn’t type any good options from any of the deliveries and Arne Slot might want to see his facet take profit additional of corners inside the second half.
09:02 PM GMT
Jamie Carragher on Sky
“It has been a typical Liverpool efficiency at Anfield. The opposition have been suffocated.
“Successful passes in the final third for Spurs? Ten. For a [Ange] Postecoglou team, that is nowhere near enough.”
09:00 PM GMT
Another Anfield goal for Gakpo
08:59 PM GMT
HT stats
Possession: Liverpool 73%-27% Tottenham
Shots: 11-1
Shots on the right track: 4-0
Corners: 9-3
Touches in opposition subject: 29-4
08:56 PM GMT
HT verdict
Postecoglou can have blended feelings. He’ll be content material materials the floodgates didn’t open after conceding, nonetheless he needs his facet to start out out creating potentialities. Unless he’s participating in for penalties, in any case. Has Ange ever parked the bus sooner than?
08:53 PM GMT
Half time
That is it for the first half and Liverpool lead 1-0 on the night time time courtesy of Gakpo’s goal and the tie is diploma at 1-1.
08:51 PM GMT
45+5 minutes: Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (1-1 agg)
Bradley tries to select Jones inside the centre of the sector nonetheless Spence does correctly to go behind for a further Liverpool nook. Can the hosts ship in an amazing provide? No they’ll’t as Szoboszlai’s outswinger ends up going out of the sector. Arne Slot shall be very aggravated with the deliveries from corners tonight as none of them have really led to an actual different. It has so far been too simple for Tottenham to defend the corners.
08:48 PM GMT
45+3 minutes: Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (1-1 agg)
Tottenham deal with the preliminary nook nonetheless Kinsky makes a meal of the second cross from Szoboszlai. The Tottenham keeper is beneath no precise stress nonetheless he punches behind for a further nook.
This time it’s Robertson to ship inside the cross nonetheless as quickly as as soon as extra Liverpool’s provide has permit them to down tonight as Tottenham can head away on the near publish.
08:46 PM GMT
45 minutes: Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (1-1 agg)
Tel is approaching for his Tottenham debut, altering Richarlison.
There shall be seven added minutes on the end of this major half.
Another night time time, one different hurt for Spurs as Richarlison limps away. Whatever their conditioning teaching is, it more than likely needs a revamp.
08:45 PM GMT
44 minutes: Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (1-1 agg)
Richarlison goes down nonetheless play is allowed to proceed. Gakpo goes earlier Gray on the left-hand facet of the sector and stands up a cross to the once more publish. Salah volleys into the underside and Kinsky is pressured into an amazing save, tipping it onto the bar and over for a nook.
Tottenham are going to should make a change and a debutant is about to return again on.
08:42 PM GMT
42 minutes: Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (1-1 agg)
Kulusveski is in home exterior the Liverpool subject and decides to shoot within the route of the far nook nonetheless can’t keep his effort down and it goes crusing over Kelleher’s bar.
08:42 PM GMT
41 minutes: Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (1-1 agg)
Beautiful ft from Gravenberch permits him to take the ball forward into the Tottenham subject and he wins the hosts but yet another nook nonetheless, as however, they haven’t been able to take advantage of any of them and as quickly as as soon as extra they’ll’t carve out an actual different from a nook.
08:40 PM GMT
39 minutes: Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (1-1 agg)
Bradley locations in a crunching drawback on Son after which wins his facet a nook off Spence. That take care of was reminiscent of Bradley’s on Mbappe in the direction of Real Madrid earlier inside the season. Tottenham deal with the nook.
08:34 PM GMT
GOAL! Gakpo brings the tie diploma
Liverpool have the opening goal of the night time time and we’re all sq. inside the tie. Salah’s cross with the pores and skin of his left foot from the right-hand facet of the sector comes by means of the sector. Nunez tries to flick it on nonetheless misses. It entails Gakpo on the once more publish, the place he smashes it first time earlier Kinsky. Gakpo now has 10 aims in his closing 10 appearances at Anfield and has 5 on this rivals so far this season.
Gakpo is sort of the unsung hero at Anfield. He wasn’t a specific starter initially of the season. Now he’s undroppable.
08:33 PM GMT
33 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Jones wins a nook off Bissouma and takes it shortly. Robertson then picks out Salah on the far publish and likewise you anticipate Salah to take motion so much higher nonetheless he wastes the prospect as he kicks out of play.
Bissouma then goes down for only a few moments attempting like he’s struggling nonetheless he’ll get once more on his ft.
08:31 PM GMT
31 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Liverpool have the ball behind the Tottenham net nonetheless the offside flag goes up. Salah performs it forward into the sector into the path of Szoboszlai, who beats Kinsky nonetheless the flag is up. Replays current he was offside so no goal.
08:30 PM GMT
half-hour: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Chance for Liverpool. Gakpo stands up an amazing cross from the left into the centre of the realm, the place Nunez meets it. He will stand up correctly and can get a very good connection on it nonetheless it’s straight at Kinsky.
08:29 PM GMT
29 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
As inside the first leg, it’s a additional pragmatic Spurs, ready to drop deep and defend their penalty house. It’s a high-quality between resisting stress and alluring it, nonetheless – as a result of it stands – Spurs are worthy of a top level view not typically used on this era. Robust.
08:28 PM GMT
27 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Liverpool enchantment for a penalty as Nunez’s shot strikes Gray nonetheless no penalty. VAR shortly checks nonetheless nothing going there.
08:28 PM GMT
26 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Salah’s transfer within the route of Jones and Nunez contained within the Tottenham subject is deflected and virtually beats Kinsky nonetheless rolls merely large of the far publish so Liverpool can have the nook. Liverpool utterly waste it though as they take it transient and go miles backwards sooner than hoofing forward nonetheless it entails nothing.
08:25 PM GMT
25 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Liverpool are dominating in terms of possession (73%), images (three) and touches inside the opposition subject (12) nonetheless are however to get on the scoresheet tonight.
Tottenham have a nook nonetheless Liverpool then counter. The hosts take it into the Tottenham half nonetheless the friends stop the counter-attack.
08:22 PM GMT
21 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Bradley sends in a dangerous ball to the once more publish and, with Robertson correct behind him capable of pounce, Gray heads behind beneath stress for a nook.
Szoboszlai sends it in nonetheless Richarlison is on the market to go away from hazard for the friends.
08:20 PM GMT
19 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Bradley is fouled and Liverpool have an amazing likelihood of whipping the ball into the Tottenham penalty house. Szoboszlai sends it in nonetheless he can’t beat the first man as Spence heads away.
08:18 PM GMT
17 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Gravenberch is penalised for fouling Richarlison contained within the Liverpool half which is ready to give Tottenham the prospect to ship it into the Liverpool subject. Son takes and Konate’s header comes off Bradley and behind for a Tottenham nook.
Son moreover takes the nook nonetheless Nunez heads away on the near publish.
08:13 PM GMT
12 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Liverpool have their first nook of the night time time as Davies blocks an tried Bradley cross on the right-hand facet of the sector. The hosts take it transient after which whip it in. It is flicked on on the near publish after which Kinsky makes a meal of catching the ball and is lucky that the ball doesn’t fall on the ft of a Liverpool participant six yards out.
Play is then stopped so that Davies, who has blood coming down his forehead, can acquire some remedy after Kinsky had collided into him at that nook.
08:10 PM GMT
10 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Gray could also be very lucky. Deep in his private half his transfer is intercepted by Gakpo and the ball virtually goes straight to Nunez merely exterior the Tottenham subject nonetheless the friends are able to clear.
08:10 PM GMT
9 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Nunez is now once more on.
08:08 PM GMT
7 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
After a interval of stress from Liverpool contained within the Tottenham penalty house, Nunez has gone down and is receiving some remedy.
08:07 PM GMT
6 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Salah takes on a shot from merely contained within the Tottenham subject after the ball is laid once more to him by Szoboszlai and his deflected effort is saved by Kinsky. That deflection could have gone wherever.
08:05 PM GMT
4 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Salah performs a ball into the right channel on the lookout for Nunez nonetheless Kinsky is out of his goal to return again and acquire.
08:03 PM GMT
2 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Play is halted as Richarlison is down rolling spherical holding his face. He was scrapping with van Dijk. When Richarlison will get lastly will stand up he confronts van Dijk as soon as extra and the Liverpool captain merely shrugs him off. Referee Craig Pawson steps in to have a phrase with every avid gamers.
Ex-Everton striker Richarlison attempting to deal with Anfield single-handed is a daring thought. He’s clearly come for a battle with Van Dijk. Not sure they’re within the similar weight division, nonetheless the Brazilian is up for it.
08:00 PM GMT
Kick-off
We are beneath method at Anfield. Who will likely be part of Newcastle inside the final at Wembley subsequent month?
07:58 PM GMT
Kick-off fast approaching
Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we’re merely moments away from kick-off at Anfield.
07:57 PM GMT
Arne Slot chatting with Sky
“With Darwin [Nunez] and Curtis [Jones], two gamers are coming in who didn’t play final week. It goes to be three or 4 months of many video games and you can not do it with 11.
“If one among them will get injured, then one among these doesn’t have any recreation load in any respect. That is why it is very important rotate a bit, however not an excessive amount of since you need to hold the core of the gamers.
“We all know what is at stake. We and Tottenham want to reach the final. They are one goal up and that makes it tougher for us, but the home fans are there for us.”
07:56 PM GMT
Reminder of the teams
Liverpool: Kelleher, Bradley, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai, Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.
Substitutes: Jaros, Endo, Diaz, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Quansah.
Tottenham: Kinsky, Gray, Danso, Davies, Spence, Bentancur, Bissouma, Sarr, Kulusevski, Richarlison, Son.
Substitutes: Austin, Porro, Reguilon, Bergvall, Ajayi, Cassanova, Olusesi, Moore, Tel.
07:50 PM GMT
Sky’s Jamie Carragher on Ryan Gravenberch
07:47 PM GMT
Ange Postecoglou chatting with Sky
“It was our goalkeeper we threw in [on debut] within the first leg so it’s one thing we’re doing frequently due to our scenario.
“Kevin [Danso] has are available in and he has settled in rather well. He is fairly calm, matured and an skilled man. We are placing him in at present.
“It depends upon the sport. Brentford, we needed to do issues in a different way due to the character of the sport. We should not going to sit down again and allow them to come at us, we now have to attempt to play our soccer.
“It is a semi-final of a contest the place there’s a massive prize. Irrespective of who you’re enjoying and the place you’re enjoying. So give the very best of your self and revel in it as a result of the choice is sitting on the sofa and listening to some mug like me as a substitute of being concerned. We are concerned tonight and that’s the most important factor.
“Every game is big for us. The league game on Sunday was big for us, the last European game was big for us. It shows we are doing something right, because we are on the verge of doing something special.”
07:45 PM GMT
Hosts gearing up
07:43 PM GMT
Sky’s Alan Smith on Darwin Nunez
07:40 PM GMT
Tottenham debut for Danso
07:37 PM GMT
Phone identify to Mathys Tel that proves Ange Postecoglou’s pulling power
Everybody has seen the social media clips, the memes and heard the awkward interviews of Ange Postecoglou snapping at questions he has not appreciated, and however Mathys Tel is the newest participant to have fallen for the seductive telephone technique of the Tottenham Hotspur head coach.
Chairman Daniel Levy could have saved himself an airfare by putting Tel straight on the cellphone with Postecoglou, considerably than boarding a airplane to Germany to get the cold shoulder from the French teenager.
A couple of hours chatting with and exchanging messages with Postecoglou made up Tel’s ideas to such an extent that Postecoglou confidently declared the forward will definitely make his mortgage switch eternal on the end of the season.
Postecoglou has proved himself to be Tottenham’s simple talker, not solely convincing Tel to swap Bayern Munich for a membership 14th inside the Premier League desk, however moreover wooing the likes of James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.
For additional from Matt Law, click here.
07:32 PM GMT
Premier League considers slicing winter swap window to 2 weeks
Premier League golf gear are considering decreasing the winter swap window to 2 weeks and shutting the summer season swap window sooner than the beginning of the season.
The proposal to chop again it from its current dimension has been raised in talks between golf gear given that end of the most recent window on Monday, which ran from January 1 to February 3. The intention is that it minimises disruption to managers and their squads as quickly because the video video games begin.
The summer season window ended sooner than the start of the season in 2018 and 2019, nonetheless this was abandoned on account of completely different leagues in Europe saved their window open until the tip of August. Since then Saudi Arabia’s Pro League has develop right into a critical have an effect on on the market and it’s extra prone to be open for the whole scope of the window – as laid out by Fifa.
The debate over the timing of swap dwelling home windows occurred at a gathering of sporting directors of the 20 Premier League golf gear on Thursday. The householders and chief executives will decide whether or not or not the proposal has any likelihood of going to a vote.
Our chief soccer creator Sam Wallace has the exclusive story.
07:28 PM GMT
Jamie Carragher on Sky
07:24 PM GMT
Full workforce info
Liverpool make 4 modifications to the facet that beat Bournemouth 2-0 closing day journey inside the league. Darwin Nunez, Curtis Jones, Conor Bradley and Caoimhin Kelleher come into the start XI. Trent Alexander-Arnold is injured whereas Alisson has been rested.
Liverpool: Kelleher, Bradley, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai, Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.
Substitutes: Jaros, Endo, Diaz, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Quansah.
Tottenham make two modifications to the facet that beat Brentford 2-0 on the weekend. New signing Kevin Danso begins in defence, altering Pedro Porro, and Pape Sarr replaces Mikey Moore. Mathys Tel, who joined on mortgage from Bayern Munich on deadline day, is on the bench.
Tottenham: Kinsky, Gray, Danso, Davies, Spence, Bentancur, Bissouma, Sarr, Kulusevski, Richarlison, Son.
Substitutes: Austin, Porro, Reguilon, Bergvall, Ajayi, Cassanova, Olusesi, Moore, Tel.
07:21 PM GMT
Conor Bradley chatting with Sky
07:18 PM GMT
Visitors arriving
07:14 PM GMT
Alisson rested
An on the spot debut labored for Antonin Kinsky inside the first leg. [Ange] Postecoglou is hoping Kevin Danso repeats the trick.
The supervisor who vowed he would in no way change his style did truly embrace pragmatism inside the first leg. Presumably he shall be a lot much less gung-ho at Anfield too. Liverpool will hope not.
Liverpool are suggesting Alisson has merely been ‘rested’. Suspicious minds will uncover that onerous to understand given the next sport is Plymouth away. But hey-ho. That’s the official line.
Arne Slot saved a straight face when saying solely Trent Alexander-Arnold was the high-profile absentee ahead of the game. Clearly the Dutchman is sort of the poker participant.
07:12 PM GMT
Jamie Redknapp on Sky
“It feels bit extra low key this one. Ange Postecoglou has stated all season he doesn’t change, the workforce appears robust.
“There is a little bit of spice from the first leg, Liverpool feeling hard done by thinking [Lucas] Bergvall should have been sent off. It should be a great atmosphere tonight.”
07:09 PM GMT
Hosts arriving
07:05 PM GMT
Slot’s self-assuredness rising by the week
Arne Slot’s self-assuredness as Liverpool supervisor is rising by the week. Indeed, one wonders if the occasional wry smile when persistently quizzed on Liverpool’s swap protection, doable vulnerability inside the event of accidents and potential distractions introduced on by contract ‘rebels’ hides a stage of bemusement.
Liverpool’s outcomes and performances are compelling proof that these accountable for the soccer operations know what they’re doing, creating the very best circumstances for a worthwhile season. Slot believes the membership’s work off the pitch may be most lovely assessed as a result of necessities being delivered on it.
“I have to steal something Jürgen said. It is also very important that the fans leave the stadium thinking: ‘When do they play again?’ I like that sentence a lot because I would love us as managers being judged more on that than only on trophies,” acknowledged Slot.
“How do they play? Is it good to look at them? Are the followers trying ahead to the following recreation already? I agree that we’re extra principally judged on the trophies we win, however I choose myself and the gamers on work fee and the standard they bring about throughout each single recreation. Jürgen was so unfortunate that he performed in opposition to City and over 90 factors was not sufficient. How can that occur?
“For me, the only thing that is important is that every time the players go out they work very hard and try to win every single game. And do this in a certain playing style. That is where my main focus is on and I have been long enough in this job that if you focus on trophies or results, that’s not going to be very successful. We have to focus on how we play. It sounds so simple, but to work as hard as this team does, every three days is far from simple. That is where my main focus is on and not on how many trophies or even if we win a trophy. But I do want to win the League Cup.”
07:01 PM GMT
Tottenham workforce info
07:00 PM GMT
Liverpool workforce info
06:55 PM GMT
Slot aiming to hitch Clough, Fagan, Mourinho and Guardiola
What hyperlinks Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest, Joe Fagan at Liverpool, Jose Mourinho at Chelsea and Pep Guardiola at Manchester City?
For all 4, worthwhile the League Cup was the first stop on the freeway to history-making dominance, with the league title following three months later.
Arne Slot hopes to hitch that select group by making the League Cup the first of many following his arrival in English soccer. That may make clear why he baulked on the suggestion Thursday’s semi-final in the direction of Tottenham Hotspurs ranks fourth on his priority itemizing amid a title and Champions League quest.
Slot is efficiently two wins away from replicating Jürgen Klopp’s final 12 months at Anfield, with a great deal of scope to eclipse it. To downplay the significance of the ‘lesser’ rivals would advocate Liverpool managers are judged to a greater customary than most others.
“I think people were a bit worried about what will happen after Jürgen. So now we’re already in the situation where if we win the League Cup it is not enough anymore?” smiled Slot, suggesting with tongue in his cheek that upon his appointment there have been some who considered ending tenth in his first season would have been an affordable start.
Reaching a final in his debut 12 months, Slot argued, could be a notable achievement.
“It cannot be underestimated,” he acknowledged. “Maybe some of these players are already used to Wembley, but it would be my first time to go to Wembley. If you go to England people are talking about Wembley as an iconic stadium, especially if it’s a final. So you can be sure that we as a team want to win that game [on Thursday] to go to Wembley.”
06:48 PM GMT
A spot at Wembley up for grabs
Liverpool welcome Tottenham to Anfield in search of to overturn a 1-0 deficit inside the League Cup semi-finals. Ange Postecoglou’s facet gained the first leg 1-0 in north London closing month after a controversial late winner from Lucas Bergvall.
Liverpool, who’re aiming to defend their league Cup crown after beating Chelsea 1-0 inside the final closing 12 months, are six elements clear on the prime of the Premier League with a sport in hand after beating Bournemouth 2-0 on the weekend and topped the Champions League group part. They are moreover into the FA Cup fourth spherical, which implies they’re nonetheless stopping on all 4 fronts. They gained’t have Trent Alexander-Arnold on the market tonight after he went off injured inside the second half of Liverpool’s win at Bournemouth.
“He [Alexander-Arnold] is going to miss the [Tottenham] game,” acknowledged Arne Slot. “We have to see whether he is able to play on Sunday but what we do know is that he is not available for tomorrow. He left the pitch with a bit of pain in his leg but he is already on the [training] pitch, not with the team but with the rehab coach, so let’s see how long it is going to take.”
Tottenham, whose closing trophy received right here 17 years previously, come into tonight’s match off the once more of a 2-0 away win at Brentford inside the league on Sunday. Postecoglou has confirmed that centre-back Micky van de Ven gained’t be on the market tonight. The Dutch defender made his return from a hamstring hurt in the direction of Elfsborg per week previously nonetheless missed the win at Brentford. Cristian Romero will even miss out as will Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson and Guglielmo Vicario. They may though hand debuts to new signings Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel, who signed inside the previous few days of the swap window. Postecoglou was requested about Tel doable performing having initially reportedly turning down a switch to Tottenham.
“I think people need to understand that you are talking about a 19-year-old who has to make a major decision for his career and it is not that he rejected us or rejected anyone else. I think he just wanted to be comfortable with his decision. I do not think he wanted to be pushed in a certain direction and it is credit to him. I had a conversation with him and it was purely around the football and I think he will find a really good place for him here.”
Team info to watch shortly.
