Arne Slot after Liverpool thrash Spurs in Carabao Cup: ‘Reaching a final should always be special’ | OneFootball

Arne Slot hailed his team’s professionalism after Liverpool cruised through to the Carabao Cup final with a 4-0 win over Spurs.

Liverpool booked their place in the Carabao Cup final with a dominant 4-0 win over Tottenham, overturning a first-leg deficit in emphatic fashion.

The result secured a 4-1 aggregate victory and marked a milestone for head coach Slot, who has reached a final in his first season in charge.

Cody Gakpo got Liverpool off to the perfect start, leveling the tie in the first half with a sharp finish at the near post. After the break, the Reds took complete control. Mohamed Salah fired a penalty into the top corner after Antonin Kinsky brought down Darwin Nunez, before Dominik Szoboszlai added a composed finish.

Virgil van Dijk then capped off the performance with a powerful header from a corner.

The victory sets up a Wembley showdown with Newcastle United on March 16, as Liverpool aim to defend the trophy they won last season.

The Reds, 10-time winners of the competition, are no strangers to this stage and will look to add another piece of silverware to their collection.

While Slot acknowledged the significance of the occasion, he also recognised the challenge ahead.

“We are in this business to play finals,” he said. “We already know how difficult the final is going to be because we faced Newcastle already and they were very impressive yesterday as well. But, there are many games to be played before this final and this is where our focus should be” he said.

“I think we’ve had some big nights here already, but reaching a final is always special. Tonight was one of those special moments.”

Liverpool’s relentless work ethic was on full display in the victory, limiting Tottenham to just one dangerous attempt all game, a late effort from Heung-Min Son that struck the bar. Slot praised his team’s discipline and intensity.

“We were very impressive,” he said. “Tottenham can always create chances, but it took them 80 minutes to have a shot. That says everything about our work rate.”

Liverpool’s progression keeps their hopes of a quadruple alive, with the Carabao Cup potentially becoming Slot’s first trophy at the club.

With their Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League ambitions still intact, the Reds will be aiming to make this the first of many successes under their new head coach.