In-form Liverpool once again flexed muscles at Anfield as they overturned the 1-0 deficit to advance into the final of the Carabao Cup following the 4-0 rout over Tottenham. Net finders — Gakpo, Salah, Szoboszlai, and Van Dijk established Wembley final clash on the 16th against Newcastle.
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It was complete dominance, suffocating in its intensity, with a near-impenetrable defense. Tottenham did not have a single shot on target until the closing minutes, which spoke volumes about the one-sided nature of the match.
With this win, Arne Slot became the first-ever manager to win the Europa Conference League in his first final in charge; he, however, still remains forward-looking: "Pleasant! But if you know me a little, [you know] my thoughts are already more on Sunday than on a final in a month. What pleased me the most was the performance today. Reaching a final should be special, and it should always be special. This club is used to playing in finals. We still work every day, trying to get better with players — and they want to get better every day — but we're also in this business for playing in finals.
Intensity that suffocated Tottenham Anyone who thought Spurs would come and park the bus was very much mistaken. This high press by Liverpool was simply overwhelming for visitors. The Reds controlled the game from the very first minute, fashioning a myriad of chances as Spurs barely had a chance to breathe.
The breakthrough finally came in the 34th minute, when Mohamed Salah, with his characteristic finesse, picked out Gakpo in the box. The Dutch forward did not disappoint; he struck with precision to bring the tie level on aggregate, with Anfield going into a frenzy.
After the break, Liverpool continued to pour it on. Salah-the game-changer he is-gained and slotted home a penalty to give his team the lead in the tie. The goal finally broke what little resistance Tottenham had managed.
Szoboszlai extended the lead with a clinical finish from a well-orchestrated move down the right flank, and Van Dijk sealed the rout with a commanding header, hammering the final nail in Spurs' coffin.
It was the perfect blueprint of what Arne Slot wants from his team: aggressive pressing, ruthless efficiency, and defensive solidity.
"The fact that we were so aggressive off the ball that it took them 80 minutes to have their first shot on target, that says nothing about Tottenham [but] it says a lot about our work rate off the ball. That stood out to me. Playing against a team so good at creating chances and conceding only one shot is, in the end, a great achievement."
Is Liverpool peaking at the right time?
Through this season, the squad of Arne Slot has grown remarkably. While adapting to a new coach and some changes in tactics, they have grown gradually into performance and consistency. And for Slot, there are two reasons for this.
"For me, there are two reasons we've become stronger. First, the more you play together, the better you understand what's expected. The first time I told them how to play out from the back against pressure from seven, nine, and 11, they probably thought, 'Okay, this has to be done.' But the more times you face it, the more natural it becomes."
Beyond chemistry, Slot points to physical conditioning as a big factor in the team's rise.
"I believe that the more games you play, the stronger you become physically. Some people think you get tired, but as long as you manage it well, I think players grow stronger by playing more games rather than getting fatigued."
It feels as though Liverpool are hitting their full stride at just the right moment. That final against Newcastle is going to be a real, real test, but their growth throughout the course of the season puts them well-placed for a scrap on silverware.
The importance of the Carabao Cup for Liverpool
While many make light of the Carabao Cup, in Liverpool's books, every trophy counts. Slot knows a thing or two about winning silverware and the obligation of the club to compete at the top level.
"If you come to this country, you know the history of the FA Cup and the League Cup. I also know-I think I am saying the right thing-that the FA Cup has a little bit more prestige than the Carabao Cup, but it's still a cup and a trophy to win. We won it last season and if you win a trophy the year before you have always got to take on the challenge of trying to win it again.