Liverpool vs Tottenham LIVE: Carabao Cup semi-final result and reaction as Reds run riot to secure place at Wembley
Liverpool 4-0 Tottenham: The Reds overturned a one-goal deficit versus Spurs to cruise into league cup final
Liverpool came from behind to thrash Tottenham in the Carabao Cup semi-finals as they defeated Ange Postecoglou’s side 4-0 at Anfield to book their place at Wembley.
Tottenham were on the back foot from the get-go as Liverpool suffocated the visitors forcing them deep into their own half and making it difficult to play out. Mistakes in midfield allowed the Reds to turn the ball over and find Mohamed Salah on the right wing. His cross found Cody Gakpo whose first-time shot put Liverpool ahead in the game, level in the tie.
The second goal came after the break. Salah feeding Darwin Nunez into the box and the forward getting brought down by goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky. Salah converted from the spot and Liverpool’s dominance became assurance.
Dominik Szoboszlai added a third and Virgil van Dijk headed in the fourth to secure Liverpool’s spot at Wembley. They were too good for Tottenham on the night and set up a meeting with Newcastle next month.
Relive the action from Anfield with our live blog below:
Will Postecoglou change his style of play?
Ange Postecoglou has been adamant that he does not want to adapt his style of play and that he wants Spurs to be aggressive and on the front foot.
Yet, over the last few matches his team have played deeper and have been more defensively solid which could indicate how they’ll play tonight.
When asked if he has changed his philosophy, Postecoglou replied: “It depends, it's whether you want to pay attention.
“It depends what you think that philosophy is. My philosophy to try to win games of football.
“We're going to try to win a game of football tomorrow night, which will get us to the final of a cup, which will be a great opportunity for us.
“If people haven’t understood my philosophy after 26 years of management, then I don't think anything I say now is going to change any of that."
Why did Tel move to Tottenham?
Ange Postecoglou tried to play down the expectation on new forward Mathys Tel and explained a bit more about how his move to Spurs came about.
"People need to understand that you are talking about a 19-year-old player who has to make a major decision about his career. It’s not so much that he rejected us or anyone else,” Postecoglou said.
“Rightly so, he was getting as much information as possible. More than anything, I think he just wanted to be comfortable with the decision. The sense I get was he didn’t want to be pushed in a certain direction.
“I think it is credit to him that he took his time and spoke to the right people. I had a conversation with him and mine was purely about football. I think he will find a really great place for him in terms of where he is in his career. He obviously wants to play and we have already shown that, irrespective of age, you will get an opportunity here.
“And I think the way we play would suit him and certainly with what we have in the next few months and more importantly what we are building beyond I thought it would be a perfect fit for his next step.
“At the same time, I think it was right to take as long as he did and he was totally comfortable with it."
'Losing Radu was a big blow'
Ange Postecoglou says that new defensive signing Kevin Danso will play at some point tonight due to the fact Radu Dragusin is injured
The Spurs boss said: "He will play. Whether he starts or not we will take a look because we have another game three days later and that has been our existence for quite a while now.
“You are right, Ben [Davies], Archie [Gray], Pedro [Porro] has played every minute of football we have had for the last three months, but the boys are handling it okay and the performances are still stacking up.
“It’s great to get Kevin in. He is ready to play. Whether he starts or he comes on we will make a decision. It’s really important he is part of it now because losing Radu was a massive blow so having him available is good."
Mathys Tel could be thrown straight into Liverpool v Tottenham. This is what he’ll bring
Last season the Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel used Mathys Tel almost exclusively as an impact substitute, a player who could be charged up and sent on to give the game a jolt.
Tel racked up three goals and one assist off the bench in Bayern’s first five league games, but he was made to wait until March for his first Bundesliga start.
When the day finally came, away at Freiburg, he scored an eye-catching goal which fizzed through the air and dipped into the far corner, and yet he was back on the bench the following weekend.
What Mathys Tel will bring to Tottenham against Liverpool
Spurs taking it easy with Romero and Van de Ven
Ange Postecoglou has been juggling injuries in his defensive line all season.
Radu Dragusin is the latest defender to pick up a knock and as such the manager doesn’t want to rush back those players come to the end of their recovery periods.
"With Micky [van de Ven] and [Cristian] Romero to a certain extent, I feel we have to be a bit more conservative with them," said Postecoglou.
"Micky got through the [Europa League] game alright but I don't think he feels ready for that step up to the Premier League, the intensity of it. Same with Romero.
"I made the decision that I don't want to risk losing these guys."
Danso to make debut
Ange Postevcoglou will hand an FA Cup debut to Kevin Danso who joined the club during the January Transfer Window.
"In terms of availability from last week, everyone is fine and got through OK - so no issues there," said boss Postecoglou.
"Kevin [Danso] and Mathys [Tel] are both available. They have trained and are cleared to play so they are all good."
Postecoglou added Danso will definitely play in the game due to the club's defensive problems.
Arne Slot on Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool’s No.1 right back is missing tonight’s match and here’s the manager explaining why.
Of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Arne Slot said: "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's 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."
Ignore the controversy, Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham have made one thing clear
It’s a bit premature to say this was a night when Tottenham’s young team came of age, but this 1-0 victory over Liverpool was an impressive show of maturity when they most needed it.
An 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall appropriately settled it, crowning the fine work of fellow teenager Archie Gray. Ange Postecoglou couldn’t be more effusive afterwards, and that’s understandable. It might well save Tottenham’s season, just as Liverpool’s has a slight sense of lag.
The Premier League leaders were still very energised about the controversial Bergvall goal that won this Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, with complaints that the goalscorer should have had a second booking, eventually seeing Arne Slot unusually lose his cool.
Ignore the controversy, Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham have made one thing clear
Liverpool vs Tottenham prediction
A lot will depend on the starting elevens fielded by each manager, but the home advantage and superior quality should eventually tell for Liverpool against an injury-hit Spurs.
Liverpool 3-1 Tottenham (Reds progress 3-2 on aggregate)
Spurs early team news
Spurs have no new injury concerns after their win on Sunday, but they are still in the midst of a crisis, with Cristian Romero, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, Destiny Udogie and Guigliemo Vicario all out for at least a couple more weeks.
Timo Werner, Brennan Johnson and Radu Dragusin are also out, while Micky van de Ven could make his return after missing the Brentford game, though Postecoglou said that he may need “another week of training to be ready in another week”.
Postecoglou will also hope winter signing Kevin Danso will be registered in time to play, and he could potentially make his debut.
Predicted Tottenham XI: Kinsky; Porro, Gray, Danso, Spence; Bissouma, Bentancur; Moore, Kulusevski, Son; Richarlison.
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