Unusually Ange Postecoglou parked the bus. But it’s Liverpool who could also be planning one other open-top parade. The Carabao Cup is fourth of their listing of silverware priorities, however they’re within the last and, with it, have the prospect to earn a first trophy under Arne Slot and retain the final one they lifted with Jürgen Klopp.
Not that this was insignificant. The celebrations, led by Slot, as Dominik Szoboszlai scored Liverpool’s third objective – confirming their assembly at Wembley, the place they may 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 marketing campaign their head coach declared he at all times wins a contest in his second season, nevertheless it won’t be this trophy, and his frustration on the finish was all too apparent as he accused his workforce of being far “too passive”. The lack of “Angeball”, or any semblance of struggle or depth, was surprising.
Spurs are nonetheless within the FA Cup, with a tough fourth-round tie away to Aston Villa, and are within the final 16 of the Europa League, so that they nonetheless have an opportunity of fulfilling Postecoglou’s pledge.
There had been hypothesis that dropping this semi-final would price him his job. The expectation is that it’ll not, Spurs are dedicated to him this marketing campaign, and really the Europa League – with the prize of a Champions League place – is much extra significant.
But this can damage. Lots. And not least due to what Slot has carried out with Liverpool, the place he has been such an assured, spectacular successor to Klopp. The Dutchman was, after all, Spurs’ first selection as their head coach in the summertime of 2023. He held talks however then signed a brand new deal at Feyenoord, with Postecoglou finally employed.
The reality is Spurs, in entrance of 6,000 of their followers, have been by no means on this sport. Not for a minute. Yes, they’re depleted (with 10 accidents however nonetheless with eight internationals of their workforce) and sure, they have been at all times up towards it in taking a slender result in the house of the most effective workforce in Europe at current, however this was removed from the “are you not entertained”, attacking techniques that Postecoglou pledged he wouldn’t veer away from.
His earlier absolutism has been divisive, resulting in reward that he’s decided to do it his manner and much more criticism that he’s so unbending. He bent on this event and Spurs snapped.
There was an inevitability about Liverpool’s win and, given Spurs’ techniques, it was worrying for them how they apparently set out defensively and nonetheless received thumped. Their anticipated objectives? It was an astonishingly, unambitious season-low of simply 0.18 (towards Liverpool’s 3.82), with simply 5 photographs in complete.
Their earlier worse? That was 0.71 towards Arsenal, once they had 15 photographs. Son Heung-min did strike the crossbar right here – when it was 3-0 – however Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher didn’t have a shot to avoid wasting.
How can that be? It fed the assumption that Spurs proceed to choke within the large video games even when – till now – beneath Postecoglou they’ve at all times no less than given it a go. Even in conceding six at residence to Liverpool within 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 sufficient, nevertheless it merely didn’t appear like that.
Spurs defended far deeper than traditional, for a begin. Maybe they have been pressured again. But, once more, it appeared like they sat in and positively didn’t decide to a excessive defensive position. And once they did break it was not in numbers. On one event Richarlison – misplaced to a calf harm earlier than half-time – attacked nevertheless it was solely him and Dejan Kulusevski towards eight Liverpool gamers who ran again.
Later Kulusevski ran the ball into the nook. It was nonetheless within the first half.
In midfield the intent was that Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma would give them extra of a stable base. But they have been overrun. In defence there was a debut for brand new signing Kevin Danso – with the opposite new signing Mathys Tel changing Richarlison additional ahead – and whereas he began properly he, too, was finally overwhelmed.
It additionally doesn’t assist that 21-year-old goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky is rash and doesn’t unfold confidence whereas Archie Gray was – once more – performed out of place. He began at right-back and switched to left-back and was caught ball-watching for Liverpool’s opening objective.
That objective, in fact, was a collective failure, which sums up the state of Spurs. The ball was sloppily given away by Bissouma and everybody was sluggish to react earlier than Mohamed Salah’s cross ran by way of to Cody Gakpo, who scored for the seventh successive sport at Anfield. Postecoglou turned and shook his head.
That objective solely drew the tie degree, however already it felt over as a contest. And so, quickly after half-time, Kinsky conceded a penalty as he rushed from objective to carry down Darwin Nunez and Salah beat him powerfully from the spot. It was his twenty sixth objective of the marketing campaign and there was an excellent better roar from the Kop as he tapped the Liverpool badge on his chest.
That put Liverpool forward and already it felt like a query of what number of they’d rating. Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch each struck a publish – Kinsky had earlier tipped a Salah effort onto the crossbar – earlier than Spurs have been carved open and Szoboszlai side-footed residence the third objective.
After Son’s shot, Liverpool went straight down the opposite finish 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, speaking to 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 techniques:
“It was different to what we were expecting, but it was difficult in the first half to break them down.”
On Arne Slot:
“I am sure he is buzzing with it. It is his first attempt to get there [Wembley] and he has got there. I am happy for him and he has been unbelievable since he has come 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 techniques
“Yes, they have had injuries but there are still enough players there to cause Liverpool some problems. There have been defeats to Ipswich, Leicester, Crystal Palace and Everton. Everyone seems to find a way of beating this Tottenham side.
“The manager baffles me with his tactics. I think he is completely lost in what he is trying to do. This is what I do. You have to adapt and you have to change. If you have not got the personnel you want then you have to make sure your tactics 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 honest to say Liverpool dominated from start to finish. He looks lonely there on his own. He is going through a challenging time. The players have to give more than they are giving at this moment in time. The senior players.
“Son is someone we have talked about for years and years in this Premier League and how good he has been. But when the going gets tough, and we have all been through it, you have to look to your senior players and help them young players.
“But believe me, that was a low, low night for Spurs.”
10:26 PM GMT
Completely one-sided match
Jamie Carragher has simply stated on Sky that League Two Accrington Stanley posed extra of a risk towards Liverpool within the third spherical of the FA Cup than Tottenham did tonight.
10:24 PM GMT
The ideas of Ange Postecoglou
“Ultimately Liverpool fully deserved the victory tonight. They were the better team. We just were not able to get a grip in any part of the game defensively or with the ball. They were too good for us.
“We allowed them to get into the game, we were not aggressive as we needed to be. Again, we did not start the game off on the right foot, it allowed them to get comfortable. Once they got comfortable, it was difficult for us to get some control back.
“We definitely needed to be braver with and without the ball. It is easier said than done in a place like this. I guess it is a very good Liverpool team in a good spell of form and very settled. It is what we needed to do and we did not 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 expected more from Tottenham tonight. I cannot get my head around them not having one shot on target in a semi final.
“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 never in doubt before the game. It is Tottenham! When do Tottenham ever win a big game? When do Tottenham ever go and surprise, win against the odds?
“The odds were massively in favour against Liverpool, they are at Anfield, they are the best team in the country, possibly the best team in Europe right now. But it is not just this Spurs team. They never shock you, never do something out of the ordinary.
“I am trying to remember the last big game they won: it was probably that semi-final against Ajax in the Champions League. I was in the stadium that night and I do not want to take it away from Tottenham, but they were very lucky! They were battered for most of the game, it was a freak and they got two goals in the last 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 objective of the season
8 – Mohamed Salah has scored eight penalties in all competitions this season, probably the most by a Liverpool participant in a 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 last for Liverpool
10:15 PM GMT
Next month’s League Cup last
10:12 PM GMT
On their approach to Wembley
10:12 PM GMT
Zero
0 – Tottenham Hotspur tonight towards Liverpool didn’t register a single shot on course in a match for the primary 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 really, really damaging that performance. I knew it was going to be a tough task but did I expect it to be like that? I thought there would be more of a fight from the players.
“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 received Liverpool’s fourth
26 – Since making his Liverpool debut in January 2018, Virgil van Dijk has extra objectives in all competitions than another Premier League defender (26). Colossus. pic.twitter.com/0T9KIPOoz8
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 6, 2025
10:07 PM GMT
Jamie Redknapp on Sky
“I cannot remember a team in my lifetime go down with less of a fight with what Tottenham did today. Not having one shot on target in the semi-final of a second leg when you are trying to change the course of the history?
“I feel sorry for those players. I think Djed Spence played 14 different positions tonight. I have never seen anything like it. You have young players, you are meant to protect them.
“Archie Gray and [Lucas] Bergvall, they are young men and trying their best. But I am looking at the experienced players today to lead and try and set the tempo. They did not do that 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 a lot. We knew we had to come back from 1-0 behind so we went out there and tried to create as many chances as possible. With the quality we have, we know we are going to get big chances and hopefully score. Very big performance from the whole team and a great win.
“The fans were fantastic like always. They helped us a lot today, they gave us extra energy time and time again. We are very happy with these fans.
“We are on the right track but we have to take it day by day, step by step. We are in one final, but we have a lot to play for still. We have to focus to reach as much as possible.
“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 course: 10-0
Corners: 14-4
Touches in opposition field: 55-8
09:57 PM GMT
Full time
There is the ultimate 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 may play within the League Cup last, and can meet Newcastle within the last subsequent month.
09:55 PM GMT
90+1 minutes: Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 (4-1 agg)
Son shoots from simply exterior the Liverpool field however his curling effort goes simply 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 probability for Liverpool. Szoboszlai flicks in a pleasant cross from a free-kick which Jota meets however his header goes huge. He is often so good in these positions and so good together with his head however not a lot on this event.
Liverpool’s last change sees captain van Dijk go off to a standing ovation, changed by Quansha.
09:48 PM GMT
84 minutes: Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 (4-1 agg)
Liverpool are operating riot. Jota is the most recent to have a shot, which is deflected huge for a nook. Some Tottenham followers have seen sufficient, already leaving their seats to start out the lengthy journey residence to north London.
The longer this second leg has gone on, the extra Spurs’ first leg win over Liverpool has appeared just like the shock results of the season.
The Spurs followers have seen sufficient. They’re all heading to that bus Ange parked. It’s been parked so badly it’s most 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 changed by Elliott and Diaz.
09:44 PM GMT
GOAL! Van Dijk provides one other for Liverpool
4-0 on the night time, 4-1 on combination. Liverpool have wasted so many corners tonight however not this one. It is shipped right into a harmful space by Mac Allister and there’s no stopping a strong header from van Dijk.
09:44 PM GMT
79 minutes: Liverpool 3 Tottenham 0 (3-1 agg)
Liverpool are pouring ahead. Robertson is in house within the left-hand channel and, with Gakpo occupying Porro, he has house to tackle a shot, which is deflected behind for an additional 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 however almost will get a objective again for the guests. He has house on the left and, from a slender angle contained in the field, fires a shot in the direction of objective that smashes into the bar.
09:39 PM GMT
GOAL! Szoboszlai provides Liverpool’s third
A elegant objective for the hosts. Mac Allister picks it up simply inside his personal half and picks out the within marauding run of Bradley. The Northern Irishman performs a first-time move inside to Szoboszlai, who takes one contact and slides it previous Kinsky into the underside nook. Liverpool now lead 3-1 on combination.
Liverpool have been purring, particularly within the second half. The transfer for the third summed it up. Bradley and Szoboszlai have been excellent. It’s not simply Liverpool’s high quality on the ball that stands out, however the pace with which they get it again.
09:38 PM GMT
74 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Gravenberch hits the publish. Moments after he truly didn’t make the most of a by way of ball into Jota, the Dutchman strikes from ranger and smashes into the skin of Kinsky’s proper publish.
09:36 PM GMT
73 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Postecoglou have to be ecstatic his aspect remains to be just one objective from forcing extra-time. They’ve been outclassed. The guests at the moment are counting 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 however the flag is as much as say it went out earlier than it reached Kelleher. Gray appeared perplexed at that call as he felt the ball had not gone out.
Liverpool are making their first two modifications of the night time as Nunez and Jones are changed by Jota and Mac Allister.
09:34 PM GMT
69 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Salah performs the ball ahead to Szoboszlai down the proper and he spots Gakpo in house out on the left. Bergvall crucially intercepts for the guests however the hosts have a nook. Konate wins the header nevertheless 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 aspect of the Liverpool field however his shot misses the goal. He hit it powerfully however Kelleher had it coated at his close to publish.
09:27 PM GMT
63 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Nearly a 3rd for Liverpool. Jones finds Gakpo on the left-hand aspect of the field and the Dutchman fires a shot throughout objective. Kinsky will get his fingertips to it and the shot hits the skin of the far publish.
09:25 PM GMT
61 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Gakpo picks out Szoboszlai within the centre of the field and he heads it in the direction of objective first time however it’s straight at Kinsky. He was just about on the penalty spot so to generate the ability from there to beat Kinsky would have been fairly some effort.
Moments later Bradley does brilliantly down the proper and picks out Nunez, whose first-time effort goes into the aspect netting.
09:22 PM GMT
59 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Bentancur shoots from vary however his effort goes excessive and huge. It would maybe have been extra 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 changing Sarr and Bissouma.
09:18 PM GMT
55 minutes: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 (2-1 agg)
Tel has barely touched the ball however he wins a nook off Konate on the right-hand aspect of the Liverpool field. Kulusevski sends it in however 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 photographs in 5 minutes earlier than profitable the penalty. To say a second was coming is an understatement. Spurs have to revert to their plan A or it’s throughout.
09:14 PM GMT
GOAL! Salah provides Liverpool the lead within the tie
Emphatic! Kinsky went the flawed manner however it could not have mattered even when he went the proper manner. Salah curls it proper into the highest left nook and celebrates in entrance of the Kop. That is his twenty sixth objective of the season.
09:13 PM GMT
PENALTY LIVERPOOL!
Salah performs the ball ahead to Nunez and he’s at all times going to get to it first forward of Kinsky. He performs it around the Tottenham keeper and is taken down. An straightforward choice for referee Craig Pawson and VAR shortly confirms that call.
09:11 PM GMT
46 minutes: Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (1-1 agg)
Liverpool almost get their second simply 30 seconds into this second half. The ball involves Salah on the right-hand aspect of the field. He cuts inside Spence and tries to beat Kinsky at his close to publish however the Tottenham keeper will get right down to his left to parry behind for a nook. Robertson’s first supply goes behind for an additional nook and his second finds Szoboszlai on the close to publish. The Hungarian’s flicked header is saved by Kinsky. It was straight at Kinsky nevertheless it got here previous quite a few our bodies and Gakpo was proper there to take benefit had Kinsky made a mistake/
09:09 PM GMT
Second half
We are again beneath manner at Anfield. The tie is degree at 1-1 as, in idea, we head into the ultimate 45 minutes of the tie. If it’s nonetheless degree on the finish of those 90 minutes, we’d go to further time and probably then penalties.
09:06 PM GMT
Corners
Liverpool had 9 of them within the first half however wasted just about each one. They didn’t style any good alternatives from any of the deliveries and Arne Slot will need to see his aspect take benefit extra of corners within the second half.
09:02 PM GMT
Jamie Carragher on Sky
“It has been a typical Liverpool performance 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 objective for Gakpo
08:59 PM GMT
HT stats
Possession: Liverpool 73%-27% Tottenham
Shots: 11-1
Shots on course: 4-0
Corners: 9-3
Touches in opposition field: 29-4
08:56 PM GMT
HT verdict
Postecoglou can have blended emotions. He’ll be content material the floodgates didn’t open after conceding, however he wants his aspect to start out creating possibilities. Unless he’s taking part in for penalties, after all. Has Ange ever parked the bus earlier than?
08:53 PM GMT
Half time
That is it for the primary half and Liverpool lead 1-0 on the night time courtesy of Gakpo’s objective and the tie is degree at 1-1.
08:51 PM GMT
45+5 minutes: Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (1-1 agg)
Bradley tries to pick Jones within the centre of the field however Spence does properly to go behind for an additional Liverpool nook. Can the hosts ship in a great supply? No they can’t as Szoboszlai’s outswinger finally ends up going out of the field. Arne Slot shall be very annoyed with the deliveries from corners tonight as none of them have truly led to a real alternative. It has to date been too straightforward for Tottenham to defend the corners.
08:48 PM GMT
45+3 minutes: Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (1-1 agg)
Tottenham cope with the preliminary nook however Kinsky makes a meal of the second cross from Szoboszlai. The Tottenham keeper is beneath no actual stress however he punches behind for an additional nook.
This time it’s Robertson to ship within the cross however as soon as once more Liverpool’s supply has allow them to down tonight as Tottenham can head away on the close to publish.
08:46 PM GMT
45 minutes: Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (1-1 agg)
Tel is approaching for his Tottenham debut, changing Richarlison.
There shall be seven added minutes on the finish of this primary half.
Another night time, one other harm for Spurs as Richarlison limps away. Whatever their conditioning coaching is, it most likely wants a revamp.
08:45 PM GMT
44 minutes: Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (1-1 agg)
Richarlison goes down however play is allowed to proceed. Gakpo goes previous Gray on the left-hand aspect of the field and stands up a cross to the again publish. Salah volleys into the bottom and Kinsky is pressured into a great save, tipping it onto the bar and over for a nook.
Tottenham are going to must make a change and a debutant is about to come back on.
08:42 PM GMT
42 minutes: Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (1-1 agg)
Kulusveski is in house exterior the Liverpool field and decides to shoot in the direction of the far nook however can’t maintain 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 ahead into the Tottenham field and he wins the hosts yet one more nook however, as but, they haven’t been capable of make the most of any of them and as soon as once more they can’t carve out a real alternative from a nook.
08:40 PM GMT
39 minutes: Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (1-1 agg)
Bradley places in a crunching problem on Son after which wins his aspect a nook off Spence. That deal with was harking back to Bradley’s on Mbappe towards Real Madrid earlier within the season. Tottenham cope with the nook.
08:34 PM GMT
GOAL! Gakpo brings the tie degree
Liverpool have the opening objective of the night time and we’re all sq. within the tie. Salah’s cross with the skin of his left foot from the right-hand aspect of the field comes by way of the field. Nunez tries to flick it on however misses. It involves Gakpo on the again publish, the place he smashes it first time previous Kinsky. Gakpo now has 10 objectives in his final 10 appearances at Anfield and has 5 on this competitors to date this season.
Gakpo is kind of the unsung hero at Anfield. He wasn’t a particular starter originally 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 also you anticipate Salah to take action a lot better however he wastes the prospect as he kicks out of play.
Bissouma then goes down for just a few moments trying like he’s struggling however he will get again on his ft.
08:31 PM GMT
31 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Liverpool have the ball at the back of the Tottenham web however the offside flag goes up. Salah performs it ahead into the field into the trail of Szoboszlai, who beats Kinsky however the flag is up. Replays present he was offside so no objective.
08:30 PM GMT
30 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Chance for Liverpool. Gakpo stands up a great cross from the left into the centre of the realm, the place Nunez meets it. He will get up properly and will get a good connection on it however it’s straight at Kinsky.
08:29 PM GMT
29 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
As within the first leg, it’s a extra pragmatic Spurs, prepared to drop deep and defend their penalty space. It’s a high-quality between resisting stress and alluring it, however – because it stands – Spurs are worthy of an outline not often used on this period. 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 however no penalty. VAR shortly checks however nothing going there.
08:28 PM GMT
26 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Salah’s move in the direction of Jones and Nunez contained in the Tottenham field is deflected and almost beats Kinsky however rolls simply huge of the far publish so Liverpool can have the nook. Liverpool completely waste it although as they take it brief and go miles backwards earlier than hoofing ahead nevertheless it involves nothing.
08:25 PM GMT
25 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Liverpool are dominating when it comes to possession (73%), photographs (three) and touches within the opposition field (12) however are but to get on the scoresheet tonight.
Tottenham have a nook however Liverpool then counter. The hosts take it into the Tottenham half however the guests cease the counter-attack.
08:22 PM GMT
21 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Bradley sends in a harmful ball to the again publish and, with Robertson proper behind him able to pounce, Gray heads behind beneath stress for a nook.
Szoboszlai sends it in however Richarlison is available to go away from hazard for the guests.
08:20 PM GMT
19 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Bradley is fouled and Liverpool have a great probability of whipping the ball into the Tottenham penalty space. Szoboszlai sends it in however he can’t beat the primary 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 in the Liverpool half which is able to give Tottenham the prospect to ship it into the Liverpool field. Son takes and Konate’s header comes off Bradley and behind for a Tottenham nook.
Son additionally takes the nook however Nunez heads away on the close to publish.
08:13 PM GMT
12 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Liverpool have their first nook of the night time as Davies blocks an tried Bradley cross on the right-hand aspect of the field. The hosts take it brief after which whip it in. It is flicked on on the close to publish after which Kinsky makes a meal of catching the ball and is fortunate that the ball doesn’t fall on the ft of a Liverpool participant six yards out.
Play is then stopped in order that Davies, who has blood coming down his brow, can obtain some therapy after Kinsky had collided into him at that nook.
08:10 PM GMT
10 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Gray may be very fortunate. Deep in his personal half his move is intercepted by Gakpo and the ball almost goes straight to Nunez simply exterior the Tottenham field however the guests are capable of clear.
08:10 PM GMT
9 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Nunez is now again on.
08:08 PM GMT
7 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
After a interval of stress from Liverpool contained in the Tottenham penalty space, Nunez has gone down and is receiving some therapy.
08:07 PM GMT
6 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Salah takes on a shot from simply contained in the Tottenham field after the ball is laid again to him by Szoboszlai and his deflected effort is saved by Kinsky. That deflection may have gone wherever.
08:05 PM GMT
4 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Salah performs a ball into the proper channel looking for Nunez however Kinsky is out of his objective to come back and collect.
08:03 PM GMT
2 minutes: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0 (0-1 agg)
Play is halted as Richarlison is down rolling round holding his face. He was scrapping with van Dijk. When Richarlison will get finally will get up he confronts van Dijk once more and the Liverpool captain simply shrugs him off. Referee Craig Pawson steps in to have a phrase with each gamers.
Ex-Everton striker Richarlison making an attempt to tackle Anfield single-handed is a daring thought. He’s clearly come for a battle with Van Dijk. Not certain they’re in the identical weight division, however the Brazilian is up for it.
08:00 PM GMT
Kick-off
We are beneath manner at Anfield. Who will be a part of Newcastle within the last at Wembley subsequent month?
07:58 PM GMT
Kick-off quick approaching
Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we’re simply moments away from kick-off at Anfield.
07:57 PM GMT
Arne Slot speaking to Sky
“With Darwin [Nunez] and Curtis [Jones], two players are coming in who did not play last week. It is going to be three or four months of many games and you cannot do it with 11.
“If one of them gets injured, then one of these does not have any game load at all. That is why it is important to rotate a bit, but not too much because you want to keep the core of the players.
“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 groups
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 speaking to Sky
“It was our goalkeeper we threw in [on debut] in the first leg so it is something we are doing regularly because of our situation.
“Kevin [Danso] has come in and he has settled in really well. He is pretty calm, matured and an experienced guy. We are putting him in today.
“It depends on the game. Brentford, we had to do things differently because of the nature of the game. We are not going to sit back and let them come at us, we have to try and play our football.
“It is a semi-final of a competition where there is a big prize. Irrespective of who you are playing and where you are playing. So give the best of yourself and enjoy it because the alternative is sitting on the couch and listening to some mug like me instead of being involved. We are involved tonight and that is the main thing.
“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 name to Mathys Tel that proves Ange Postecoglou’s pulling energy
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 but Mathys Tel is the most recent participant to have fallen for the seductive phone method of the Tottenham Hotspur head coach.
Chairman Daniel Levy may have saved himself an airfare by placing Tel straight on the cellphone with Postecoglou, somewhat than boarding a airplane to Germany to get the cold shoulder from the French teenager.
A few hours speaking to and exchanging messages with Postecoglou made up Tel’s thoughts to such an extent that Postecoglou confidently declared the ahead will certainly make his mortgage transfer everlasting on the finish of the season.
Postecoglou has proved himself to be Tottenham’s easy talker, not solely convincing Tel to swap Bayern Munich for a membership 14th within the Premier League desk, but additionally wooing the likes of James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.
For extra from Matt Law, click here.
07:32 PM GMT
Premier League considers slicing winter switch window to 2 weeks
Premier League golf equipment are contemplating lowering the winter switch window to 2 weeks and shutting the summer time switch window earlier than the start of the season.
The proposal to cut back it from its present size has been raised in talks between golf equipment for the reason that finish of the newest window on Monday, which ran from January 1 to February 3. The intention is that it minimises disruption to managers and their squads as soon as the video games start.
The summer time window ended earlier than the beginning of the season in 2018 and 2019, however this was deserted as a result of different leagues in Europe saved their window open till the tip of August. Since then Saudi Arabia’s Pro League has develop into a serious affect out there and it’s more likely to be open for the total scope of the window – as laid out by Fifa.
The debate over the timing of switch home windows occurred at a gathering of sporting administrators of the 20 Premier League golf equipment on Thursday. The homeowners and chief executives will determine whether or not the proposal has any probability of going to a vote.
Our chief soccer author Sam Wallace has the exclusive story.
07:28 PM GMT
Jamie Carragher on Sky
07:24 PM GMT
Full workforce information
Liverpool make 4 modifications to the aspect that beat Bournemouth 2-0 final day trip within the league. Darwin Nunez, Curtis Jones, Conor Bradley and Caoimhin Kelleher come into the beginning XI. Trent Alexander-Arnold is injured while 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 aspect that beat Brentford 2-0 on the weekend. New signing Kevin Danso begins in defence, changing 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 within the first leg. [Ange] Postecoglou is hoping Kevin Danso repeats the trick.
The supervisor who vowed he would by no means change his fashion did actually embrace pragmatism within the first leg. Presumably he shall be much less gung-ho at Anfield too. Liverpool will hope not.
Liverpool are suggesting Alisson has merely been ‘rested’. Suspicious minds will discover that onerous to grasp given the following 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 forward of the sport. Clearly the Dutchman is kind of the poker participant.
07:12 PM GMT
Jamie Redknapp on Sky
“It feels bit more low key this one. Ange Postecoglou has said all season he does not change, the team seems strong.
“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 switch coverage, doable vulnerability within the occasion of accidents and potential distractions brought on by contract ‘rebels’ hides a level of bemusement.
Liverpool’s outcomes and performances are compelling proof that these accountable for the soccer operations know what they’re doing, creating the best circumstances for a profitable season. Slot believes the membership’s work off the pitch might be most pretty assessed due to the requirements 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,” stated Slot.
“How do they play? Is it nice to watch them? Are the fans looking forward to the next game already? I agree that we are more mostly judged on the trophies we win, but I judge myself and the players on work rate and the quality they bring during every single game. Jürgen was so unlucky that he played against City and over 90 points was not enough. How can that happen?
“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 information
07:00 PM GMT
Liverpool workforce information
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, profitable the League Cup was the primary cease on the highway to history-making dominance, with the league title following three months later.
Arne Slot hopes to hitch that choose group by making the League Cup the primary of many following his arrival in English soccer. That could clarify why he baulked on the suggestion Thursday’s semi-final towards Tottenham Hotspurs ranks fourth on his precedence listing amid a title and Champions League quest.
Slot is successfully two wins away from replicating Jürgen Klopp’s last 12 months at Anfield, with loads of scope to eclipse it. To downplay the importance of the ‘lesser’ competitors would recommend Liverpool managers are judged to a better 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 thought of ending tenth in his first season would have been an inexpensive begin.
Reaching a last in his debut 12 months, Slot argued, can be a notable achievement.
“It cannot be underestimated,” he stated. “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 seeking to overturn a 1-0 deficit within the League Cup semi-finals. Ange Postecoglou’s aspect gained the primary leg 1-0 in north London final month after a controversial late winner from Lucas Bergvall.
Liverpool, who’re aiming to defend their league Cup crown after beating Chelsea 1-0 within the last final 12 months, are six factors 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 section. They are additionally into the FA Cup fourth spherical, which means they’re nonetheless preventing on all 4 fronts. They won’t have Trent Alexander-Arnold out there tonight after he went off injured within the second half of Liverpool’s win at Bournemouth.
“He [Alexander-Arnold] is going to miss the [Tottenham] game,” stated 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 final trophy got here 17 years in the past, come into tonight’s match off the again of a 2-0 away win at Brentford within the league on Sunday. Postecoglou has confirmed that centre-back Micky van de Ven won’t be out there tonight. The Dutch defender made his return from a hamstring harm towards Elfsborg per week in the past however missed the win at Brentford. Cristian Romero will even miss out as will Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson and Guglielmo Vicario. They would possibly although hand debuts to new signings Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel, who signed within the last few days of the switch window. Postecoglou was requested about Tel doable performing having initially reportedly turning down a transfer 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 information to observe shortly.
