Wembley-bound Liverpool swat aside toothless Spurs

Cody Gakpo confirmed his position as the Carabao Cup king with the first goal that set holders Liverpool on their way back to Wembley after overturning a first-leg deficit to beat a hapless Tottenham 4-1 on aggregate.

The Netherlands international's tenth goal in his last ten games at Anfield was his fifth in five matches in this competition and his League Cup career haul of nine is the most of any player in the squad.

But everyone plays second fiddle to Mohamed Salah and the Egyptian's 26th goal of the campaign from the penalty spot proved the decisive one, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk further adding to Spurs’ pain and sending head coach Arne Slot into a cup final in his first season.

Slot's predecessor Jurgen Klopp achieved the same, only to lose to Manchester City, but next month Liverpool will be firm favourites on 16 March against Newcastle, who have not won a domestic trophy for 70 years despite reaching two of the last three Carabao Cup finals.

Tottenham’s one-goal advantage actually worked against them as manager Ange Postecoglou, under scrutiny due to their poor performance in the Premier League, opted to attempt to defend, but the tactic of sitting deep patently did not work as giving up a massive amount of possession put them under huge pressure.

It was a dangerous strategy on a ground where Spurs have not kept a clean sheet for 13 years and new signing Kevin Danso, on loan from Lens, had a baptism of fire up against the recalled Darwin Nunez.

It was also not the night for goalkeeper Anton Kinsky, who impressed on debut in the first leg, to look unconvincing under crosses, despite making a couple of good saves.

A patched-up Spurs looked like they did not know how to handle the occasion, but former