LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom — Liverpool delivered a dominant 4-0 performance on Thursday to overturn a first-leg deficit and secure their place in the League Cup final, piling further pressure on Tottenham Hotspur’s embattled manager Ange Postecoglou.
Goals from Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Virgil van Dijk sealed a commanding victory at Anfield, setting up a Wembley showdown with Newcastle United on March 16. As Liverpool continues its pursuit of silverware on multiple fronts, Tottenham’s struggles have intensified, with Postecoglou’s future looking increasingly uncertain.
Liverpool’s Relentless March Toward Glory
Arne Slot’s Liverpool has been a force to reckon with, remaining in contention for an unprecedented quadruple. Sitting six points clear at the top of the Premier League, safely into the Champions League knockout stages, and with a favorable FA Cup tie against Plymouth looming, the Reds are on course for a landmark season under their new manager.
Despite the League Cup often being overshadowed by bigger competitions, Slot’s approach demonstrated his hunger for immediate success. He fielded a near-full-strength side, with only the customary goalkeeper rotation seeing Caoimhin Kelleher replace Alisson Becker. That decision paid off, as Liverpool dismantled Spurs with a ruthless attacking display.
Tottenham’s Trophy Drought Continues
For Spurs, the defeat extended a frustrating 16-year wait for a major trophy, with Postecoglou’s first season in charge now facing mounting criticism. Tottenham’s injury-hit squad struggled to contain Liverpool’s relentless attack, and their defensive frailties were brutally exposed.
New signing Kevin Danso was thrown into the deep end to reinforce Tottenham’s backline, while Mathys Tel made an unexpected debut after Richarlison suffered an injury. Already missing key attacking figures, including James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, and Timo Werner, Spurs were blunt in the final third and outclassed at the other end.
Speculation surrounding Postecoglou’s job security is growing, with reports suggesting the Australian could be in trouble if Tottenham falters in their FA Cup clash against Aston Villa. With the club languishing in mid-table, another failure could prompt swift action from the board.
A Statement Performance at Anfield
Liverpool took time to settle into their rhythm, but once they did, Spurs had no answers. Szoboszlai thought he had opened the scoring but was ruled offside, only for Gakpo to break the deadlock minutes later by converting Salah’s cross—his fifth goal in the competition.
Salah doubled Liverpool’s lead from the penalty spot early in the second half after Darwin Núñez was fouled, firing his 26th goal of the season into the top corner. Szoboszlai added a third, latching onto a pass from Connor Bradley, who excelled in the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Van Dijk wrapped up the rout with a towering header from a corner, capping a miserable night for Spurs.
Wembley Awaits
Liverpool now turns its attention to Newcastle, who reached the final after convincingly dispatching Arsenal. The Magpies, eager to end a 56-year wait for a major trophy, will face the daunting task of stopping Slot’s high-flying side at Wembley.
As one club edges closer to glory, another continues its downward spiral. With silverware slipping further away, Tottenham faces a crossroads—will Postecoglou be given time to turn things around, or is change on the horizon?
