Liverpool FC

Kelleher made his 16th start of 2024-25 as Spurs were vanquished and, previewing Sunday’s next outing, the goalkeeper opened up on the hunger shared throughout the Liverpool squad for more.

“In the last few seasons we have obviously got to some finals. I think it’s just the mentality in the whole group is always spot on,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.

“We want to win every game we’re involved in, and I think that’s kind of the mentality – game by game. Obviously we’re a difficult team to beat in cup competitions. We want to win every competition we’re in. It’s that mentality to go out and win every game.

“We’re happy with the League Cup now we’re in the final. That’s a few weeks away now so that’ll be on the backburner. Focus will go towards the cup and the league as well.

“We have important games in both, all focus will be on that, we won’t take anything for granted and we want [the chance] to get more trophies than just the League Cup.”

Plymouth currently prop up England’s second tier but come in to the clash with the Reds having inflicted only a sixth league defeat of the season on play-off-chasing West Bromwich Albion last time out.

Miron Muslic’s team already have a Premier League scalp in the FA Cup, too, having won 1-0 away at Brentford in round three.

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“I think obviously it’s going to be difficult,” said Kelleher. “It’s obviously a massive game for them, us coming there is going to be huge. They’re going to be ready.

“The fans are going to be ready for us. It’s going to be a tough game. We want to go there and get a win, and we need to be ready for a tough game as well.

“Maybe they’re not having the best season but that kind of goes out of the window in a cup tie. They might see it as a chance to ignite their season and get something going, especially with us coming into town.

“It’s going to be a massive day for them. We know they’ll be well up for it.”

Slot shuffled his squad when the Reds eased past Accrington Stanley 4-0 at Anfield in the previous round last month.

The Reds will seek to retain the trophy against Newcastle United at Wembley next month after overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit in the last-four tie versus Spurs.

Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah (penalty), Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk were the goalscorers during a dominant performance.

Take a look at fresh views of a memorable night in L4 in the free Inside Anfield video below.

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…

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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.

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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.

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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.

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"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."