Liverpool are flying under head coach Arne Slot and triumph in the EFL Cup would present the Dutch manager with a first piece of silverware at Anfield – with his side also sitting six points clear at the top of the Premier League, still in the FA Cup and cruising through to the Champions League last 16.
And while this would be seen as the least important of those four trophies, it could mark the beginning of a spectacular season for the Reds.
It was Liverpool who arrived in the second leg with work to do, having trailed after the first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But they got it done without ever really getting out of third gear.
Tottenham stuttered their way through the first 45 minutes and it felt like a matter of when, not if, the Reds would score to level the tie on aggregate.
Gakpo’s opener came after Szoboszlai had his slotted effort chalked off for offside, with Liverpool’s front line were a constant threat – Salah seeing his rising effort tipped over the bar after sending one just wide of the post – while Caoimhin Kelleher was untested at the other end.
The second half started much the same and once Salah had dispatched his penalty to give Liverpool the lead for the first time in the tie, the home supporters were already chanting about their trip to Wembley.
Goals for Szoboszlai and Van Dijk were just reward for a dominant performance and Liverpool have the opportunity to make it back-to-back EFL Cups when they face a confident Newcastle side at Wembley next month.
