ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL // Liverpool cruised into the Carabao Cup final with Arne Slot reaching a showpiece Wembley occasion at the first time of asking. Spurs held a 1-0 lead before kick-off but that didn't last long.
Cody Gakpo found the back of the Tottenham net in the first half to give his side a thoroughly deserved lead. While by half-time it was only 1-0 on the night and 1-1 on aggregate, it didn't take long for Liverpool to go in front. Darwin Nunez was fouled inside the penalty area and Mohamed Salah emphatically fired a shot into the top corner.
Dominik Szoboszlai capped the win with a third goal after 75 minutes and from that point, while Son Heung-min did crash a shot off the crossbar, Liverpool was heading to Wembley. Virgil van Dijk headed home a fourth and Arne Slot's superb start to life on Merseyside goes on.
Winners
Given a go from the off, Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez both did their chances of playing more minutes in the coming weeks no harm. The pair impressed in their positions and helped pen Tottenham back in its own half.
Gakpo did his chances of winning the Carabao Cup Golden Boot no harm by moving into the top scorer position and Arne Slot has made a final with Liverpool at the first time of asking. All around, it was a good night's work.
Losers
Richarlison was involved in a mini-confrontation with Virgil van Dijk early on and then booed every time he went near the ball. The former Everton striker was kept quiet by Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate and by half-time had gone off injured. Spurs won't be glad of their latest setback with so many players sidelined at the moment.
The home crowd, though, took great delight in the Brazilian's misfortune. As he thumped the grass, The Kop watched on as his exit from the game was confirmed.
Player ratings
Caoimhin Kelleher (6). The Liverpool goalkeeper barely touched the ball in the first half and that didn't change much in the second either. With his feet, he was good, but he was never put under any real pressure. It took 74 minutes for him to use his hands. He only doesn't score more highly because he didn't have chance.
Conor Bradley (7). Typically strong in his forward running, it was another good showing from the Irishman. Already having gone in hard on Kylian Mbappe this season, he did the same thing to Son Heung-min here (albeit in a different part of the pitch). Quiet-ish going forward but he didn't need to be any louder.
Ibrahima Konate (7). Up against the physical Richarlison, Konate relished the battle and gave the former Everton man no time on the ball. He is always front-footed and aggressive but can step that up a notch when required.
he home crowd was very glad he did against an old foe, though he had to do less than a half against the Spurs number nine before he limped off injured. In possession, he played a few risky passes but without the ball he was very solid.
Virgil van Dijk (8). Got involved with Richarlison early on when there was no need to rile the Brazilian. After that, though, the duel was only beer going to have one outcome. Van Dijk was the clear winner. He strolled through the game with or without Richarlison on the field and even found time to score a goal.
Andy Robertson (7). Chosen ahead of Kostas Tsimikas after a strong showing against Bournemouth last weekend, Robertson played well again up against the tricky Dejan Kulusevski. He didn't give his opposite number much but his distribution could have been better at times.
Ryan Gravenberch (8). At this point, excellence is expected, but it shouldn't be underestimated. Gravenberch screened his defense really well and produced his trademark turn a couple of times. The Dutch midfielder has so much class at the base of the Liverpool midfield and Rodrigo Bentancur and co just couldn't rob him.
Curtis Jones (7). Shuttling around the midfield and progressing the ball slowly upfield with neat passing, this was a good performance from Jones. He lost the ball a couple of times but that tended to come from him being passed it while surrounded by bodies. Generally, he kept it and progressed it forward.
Dominik Szoboszlai (8). A creative hub in the middle of the field, Szoboszlai was heavily involved in the build-up for his side. The Hungarian is so powerful with his off-the-ball work but so delicate and deft with what he does in possession.
Mohamed Salah (8). Forced Antonin Kinsky into a good save with a half-volley in the first half but wasn't hugely involved near the goal, where he is always a threat. His penalty, with Nunez being fouled after latching onto his perfect pass, was perfect, smashed into the top corner. As ever, when the moments that mattered came around, he was there to deliver.
Darwin Nunez (8). He didn't have many chances to score but the Uruguayan worked the two Spurs center-backs really hard, creating space with his runs and chasing and harrying the opposition. He won the spot kick that Salah converted and played well overall. He still needs to score more but he looked really confident and suited to this game.
Cody Gakpo (8). Opened the scoring for his team with a good near-post finish. The Dutchman has a good record in the Carabao Cup: that's five in five games this season, moving him ahead of Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus. Plenty of defensive work on top of that.
Substitutes
Diogo Jota (6). He had one chance to score but put it wide. He loves playing against Spurs and should get a more sustained opportunity in the team at the weekend in Plymouth.