Liverpool FC

Arne Slot’s team booked their ticket to a Wembley showpiece in the League Cup by beating Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 (4-1 on aggregate) at Anfield on Thursday evening.

With the Reds competing for success on four different fronts, focus has, however, immediately turned to Sunday’s FA Cup tie at Plymouth Argyle.

The players undertook a recovery session in Kirkby in the first step towards the trip to Home Park, with part of the programme a workout on bike equipment provided by the club’s digital fitness partner, Peloton.

Take a look in our images from the training ground below…

Shop LFC's new spring training range here

Photos by Nikki Dyer

The Reds clinched a place in next month’s Wembley final – where they will face Newcastle United – by beating Spurs 4-0 on Thursday.

Afterwards, we spoke to head coach Arne Slot and Conor Bradley about a convincing performance that featured goals by Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk.

And at pitchside there was analysis from current and former Liverpool defenders Gemma Bonner and Phil Thompson.

The Reds set up a Wembley final against Newcastle United in March as they overturned a 1-0 deficit in the last four at Anfield on Thursday night.

Goals from Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah (penalty), Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk ensured Arne Slot’s men advanced to the showpiece.

Subscribers can watch the best of the action and a replay of the whole game below, and find more post-match content at video.liverpoolfc.com.

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The midfielder was on the scoresheet in the second half of Thursday night’s dominant display at Anfield that sent the Reds through to the competition’s final.

And Szoboszlai narrowly finished ahead of fellow goalscorer Mohamed Salah in our Match Centre poll of supporters to decide the team’s star man.

Trailing by one goal from the first leg of the last-four clash, the Reds ensured their defence of the trophy will continue to the showpiece.

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After an opening strike from Cody Gakpo on Thursday evening, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk were all on target in the second half to wrap up an emphatic victory.

See how it unfolded in images below…

Arne Slot’s side trailed 1-0 from the first leg of the semi-final but dominated Thursday’s second leg from first whistle to last, with Cody Gakpo’s first-half goal being added to after the break by a Mohamed Salah penalty and further strikes from Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk.

The Reds will therefore now look to retain the trophy they won last season when they meet Newcastle United at Wembley on Sunday March 16.

Shop LFC Retail's Carabao Cup final range now

Team news

Slot made four changes from last weekend’s win at AFC Bournemouth, with Caoimhin Kelleher starting in goal.

Conor Bradley came in for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez replaced Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz.

Liverpool: Kelleher, Van Dijk (Quansah, 84), Konate, Szoboszlai, Nunez (Jota, 72), Salah (Elliott, 82), Jones (Mac Allister, 72), Gakpo (Diaz, 82), Robertson, Gravenberch, Bradley.

Unused substitutes: Jaros, Endo, Chiesa, Tsimikas.

First half

An atmosphere befitting the occasion set the backdrop but the early breakthrough the home crowd craved was not forthcoming.

But Liverpool’s grip on the game tightened as the half wore on and a flurry of opportunities arrived around the half-hour mark.

Nunez first saw a shot blocked by Archie Gray before the No.9 rose well but could only direct his header from Gakpo’s cross straight at Antonin Kinsky.

Szoboszlai then swept Salah’s pass beyond Kinsky but was flagged offside and Salah volleyed a deep Andy Robertson delivery over the crossbar.

But, 34 minutes in, Tottenham could hold out no more as Gakpo’s fifth Carabao Cup goal of the season, and 16th overall, cancelled out their first-leg advantage.

Salah was the provider, his outside-of-the-boot cross finding its way to Gakpo, who drilled home a controlled half-volley.

The pressure on Spurs’ goal was incessant until the break but the visitors made it to half-time level in the tie.

Second half

Liverpool simply picked up where they left off after the restart and Kinsky somehow denied Gakpo from point-blank range after Szoboszlai had glanced Robertson’s corner on.

Kinsky erred soon after, however, as the goalkeeper brought Nunez down after being beaten to Salah’s teasing pass by the Uruguayan. A penalty was awarded and Salah buried his kick into the top corner.

The Reds kept on coming and Nunez fired Bradley’s cut-back into the side-netting before a fierce left-footed drive by Gakpo kissed the outside of the post.

Ryan Gravenberch then struck the foot of the post from 20 yards but, moments later, the outcome was put beyond any doubt as Szoboszlai coolly rounded off a lovely move.

Substitute Mac Allister fed Bradley, whose underlapping surge was not tracked, and the right-back slipped in Szoboszlai, who slotted past Kinsky with ease.

And Liverpool were not done there as Van Dijk towered above Tottenham’s defence to head in number four and rubber-stamp his team’s place in the final.

Attendance: 60,395

Caoimhin Kelleher is named in goal for the Reds at Anfield, while Conor Bradley comes into the back line in the absence of the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Elsewhere, Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez are also included in Arne Slot’s XI, with Alisson Becker, Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister the other players making way from the weekend win at Bournemouth.

Liverpool: Kelleher, Van Dijk, Konate, Szoboszlai, Nunez, Salah, Jones, Gakpo, Robertson, Gravenberch, Bradley.

The captain and his Reds teammates are looking to reverse the 1-0 first-leg defeat they suffered on the road last month and progress to the competition's showpiece at Wembley once more.

In his column in the matchday programme, the No.4 writes: "There are certain games which will always get the blood pumping as a player and a semi-final under the lights at Anfield against a very good team is definitely one of those.

"We understand the challenge we face against Tottenham Hotspur. The league table tells us they have not had the best of times recently, but this is a team that has a lot of very good players, and there is absolutely no chance that we will underestimate them.

"We were all disappointed with the way the first leg ended. That was a really frustrating night for us, but I said after the game that it was only half-time in the tie and that we would do everything we could to be ready for the second leg. Now it's here and we are excited to get going.

Pick up your copy of the programme at Anfield tonight or order online here

"We have done well since that defeat in north London, negotiating some really tough fixtures well and keeping our focus and momentum going. Saturday's win over Bournemouth was a big one, an important one, and one we had to work really hard for.

"We knew beforehand that it would be a tough game given the run of form they have been on lately, and I want to give big credit to them for the way they pushed us all the way, even with all the injuries they had.

"For us to come away with a clean sheet and with the three points at a place like that was very satisfying, and shows the levels we must maintain in the coming games.

"As I have said many times before, this game is all about consistency, about showing up every day, every week. If you do that, and if you continue to work hard and stay calm and humble, and treat every opponent with the utmost respect, then you can be successful."

Van Dijk continues: "We effectively start the game a goal down, against a team that has attacking players that can really hurt you, so it is going to take a very good performance from us if we are to secure our place at Wembley. That's the primary aim, of course.

"I've spoken previously about the wonderful memories the Carabao Cup has given us – and me personally – in recent years, and we would all love to make some more.

"We are all desperate to be in next month's final. Hopefully, with a strong performance and with your incredible support behind us, we can make it another memorable Anfield night."

The Reds host Spurs at Anfield tonight in an 8pm GMT kick-off and are looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit, with a spot at Wembley next month awaiting the winner.

In his matchday programme column, Slot writes: "The equation tonight is pretty simple – we need to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg if we are to achieve our objective of reaching next month's final at Wembley, in the knowledge that Spurs will have the same ambition.

"When the prize is so big and two very good teams share the same aim, it usually guarantees a very competitive game of football and this is exactly what we are expecting.

"This is what we got at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the start of January so it makes sense that, if anything, the desire of everyone involved will only increase given how small the margins are and what is at stake.

"Of course, I was not at Liverpool the last time that the club reached a Wembley final in this competition last year, but I know how special that day was for the players, staff and supporters.

"I have no doubt given what happened on that occasion that it is a day which will be spoken about for many years to come, but our job now is to look to create new memories.

Pick up your copy of the programme at Anfield tonight or order online here

"For that to happen, we will need a big performance, and we will also need Anfield to do what it does best. I already have experience of what makes this stadium so special, but I am reliably informed that the atmosphere can be even better on nights like this so hopefully that will be the case.

"I would like to welcome Ange Postecoglou, his staff and the players and supporters of Tottenham to Anfield. It will be the third time our clubs have met already this season so we certainly know each other pretty well.

"I said before the first leg that what happened in our Premier League fixture would have no bearing on that fixture and it gave me no pleasure to be proven right. We were disappointed about a big decision that went against us of course, but Spurs showed a reaction on the night and scored a good goal, which leaves us with it all to do tonight because now it is our turn to react.

"This is why I was so pleased with our performance at Bournemouth at the weekend. Let me be clear, it was not perfect and – as is almost always true – there were definite areas for improvement.

"But in terms of effort, intensity, togetherness and mentality it was a real team performance, the kind of display that we are going to need to repeat tonight and also in the coming weeks and months.

"I said afterwards that what I want from the players and what they want from each other is that they fight in every single game from the first until the last second to get the maximum result and that's what the fans expect from them playing for this club.

"This is what we try to do in every single game and it is also necessary if you want to have any chance of a result in this league or the cup competitions. If we perform in this manner we do not get any guarantees of success, but it does create the kind of possibilities and opportunities that could potentially lead to success.

"This is what we are all working for so hopefully tonight we can take another step towards fulfilling the ambitions that we have and our supporters have. As ever, the best way of doing that is by staying together and giving everything we can for Liverpool."

Pick up your copy of the programme at Anfield tonight or order online here

The Reds will attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit and advance to Wembley when they host Spurs in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Thursday night.

Here are six things we spotted during our filming at the AXA Training Centre…

Watch Inside Training from Wednesday's session in full here

How do you like your eggs in the morning?

Well, in the case of Ibrahima Konate, now we know.

As our cameras captured the squad making their way in ahead of Wednesday’s session, we overheard just how the Liverpool No.5 prefers his breakfast eggs.

He is a confirmed ‘well done’ man…

Elsewhere, for Alexis Mac Allister it was something (very well) toasted; pancakes and fruit for Harvey Elliott.

Running the gauntlet

Darwin Nunez and Reds captain Virgil van Dijk were on the receiving end of a forfeit during the players’ gym work.

The pair had to brace for friendly digs as they ran through a gauntlet of their teammates.

Van Dijk at least had the comfort of being serenaded with a version of his fan song, while Nunez decided the best option was to go the quicker the better…

New threads on show

The day’s access in Kirkby provided a first sight of the full squad sporting their new Nike spring training kit range.

The refreshed collection – which comes in an ecru colourway featuring flashes of black and red – was first revealed last week and debuted by Dominik Szoboszlai and Van Dijk.

It will be worn for the remainder of 2024-25 and you can get your own right now at our official online store, the LFC Store app and in-store.

Looking good, gentlemen.

Indeed, he wasn’t the only one, with a group of Reds ratcheting up the competitiveness with a shooting drill that can be watched at greater length in Inside Training.

McConnell in the mix

Arne Slot was effusive in his praise of James McConnell after the midfielder’s performance in the Champions League tie at PSV Eindhoven a week ago.

The Reds head coach made a point of name-checking McConnell as one of the club’s younger players who would not be heading out on loan before the winter transfer deadline.

“He was also a player that hasn’t played in the last six or seven months 90 minutes because he was injured for a while. He impressed me a lot today,” Slot had said that night in the Netherlands.

And the 20-year-old was very much part of the matchday-minus-one work for the visit of Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham.