Liverpool put four past Spurs to set up EFL Cup final with Newcastle

Liverpool defeated Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 on aggregate to qualify for the 2024/25 English Football League (EFL) final. 

Goals from Cody Gakpo, Mohammed Salah, Dominic Szoboslai and Virgil Van Dijk sealed victory for the Reds in the second leg of the semi-final at Anfield on Thursday.

In January, Tottenham won the first leg of the encounter, which was held in London, through a last-grasp strike from Lucas Bergvall.

However, Spurs had no such luck in the return leg and were utterly outplayed by Liverpool’s superior punch power.

Gakpo scored the first goal of the game in the 30th minute. A brief lapse in concentration from Yves Bissouma presented Liverpool with an opportunity, which Gakpo took emphatically.

A few minutes after halftime, Antonin Kinsky, Tottenham goalkeeper, fouled Darwin Nunez in the away team’s goal area, and Salah doubled the lead from the resulting penalty.

Szoboslai added the third in the 75th minute after he was played through on goal by Connor Bradley. The Hungarian midfielder tucked the ball neatly past Kinsky in goal.

Five minutes later, Van Dijk completed the rout with a towering header off a corner kick delivered by Alexis MacAllister.

Liverpool will face Newcastle United in the EFL Cup Final at the Wembley Stadium on March 16.

Newcastle defeated Arsenal 4-0 on aggregate to qualify for the final.