Liverpool 4-0 Tottenham (agg 4-1) – PLAYER RATINGS: Who was TERRIBLE for Spurs? Which Reds youngster is a phenomenal footballer? And who is our surprise man of the match?

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Liverpool booked their place in the Carabao Cup final after producing a dominant display to turn around the semi-final against Tottenham.

Having trailed 1-0 from the first leg, Arne Slot’s side brushed aside the visitors at Anfield to set a clash with Newcastle next month at Wembley.

Gakpo pulled Liverpool level in the tie in the 34th minute, with the Dutch forward firing a first time finish beyond Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.

Salah put the Reds ahead in the tie from the penalty spot in the second half after Kinsky brought down Darwin Nunez in the box.

Dominik Szoboszlai added a third following a sweeping move, before Virgil van Dijk headed in a fourth for the hosts.

Mail Sport’s LEWIS STEELE rates the players at Anfield as the Reds remain on track to claim a first piece of silverware under Slot.

Mohamed Salah was on target as Liverpool eased past Tottenham in the Carabao Cup

Cody Gakpo levelled the tie on the night before blowing Spurs away in the semi-final tie

Cody Gakpo levelled the tie on the night before blowing Spurs away in the semi-final tie

The result is a major blow to Tottenham's efforts to end the the club's lengthy trophy drought

The result is a major blow to Tottenham’s efforts to end the the club’s lengthy trophy drought

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1)

Caoimhin Kelleher – 6

Alisson was rested and, in truth, they could have picked any old codger out of the crowd to go in goal for Liverpool such was Spurs’ lack of threat.

Conor Bradley – 8.5

A phenomenal footballer and one that, when he plays, fans forget that Trent Alexander-Arnold is missing. A constant livewire down the right.

Ibrahima Konate – 7

Covers the front post so well and often bullies his men. Richarlison and then Tel did not have a sniff.

Virgil van Dijk – 8

Set the tempo when he left one on Richarlison in the opening minutes. He was up for the fight and, as is the norm, came out on top. Brilliant header for 4-0.

Andy Robertson – 7.5

Has been criticised by sections of the fanbase this season but the Scotland captain has been rock solid in the last fortnight.

Ryan Gravenberch – 7.5

Makes everything look easy. Wriggles out of tight spaces, starts attacks with punchy passes and shields the back four.

Curtis Jones – 7

Always a willing runner after getting the nod over Alexis Mac Allister, who was rested, and Jones buzzed around the midfield area with intent.

Mohamed Salah – 8

Pass for Nunez seconds before the striker won a penalty for 2-0 was inch perfect. Ball for Gakpo’s goal was beautiful, too. Goes without saying that he dispatched his spot-kick in style.

Dominik Szoboszlai – 7

Constantly found space in between the lines and caused all sorts of problems for Spurs. Never stops running when Liverpool are out of possession.

Cody Gakpo – 8

Has already matched his goal tally for last season with this his 16th of the season. The flying Dutchman is in red-hot form and now should target a 30-goal campaign.

Darwin Nunez – 8.5 (MOTM)

May not be the popular view but this was his best performance of the season. His runs in behind terrorised Spurs, his link-up play was much improved on the norm and he put in a mammoth shift off the ball.

Substitutes

Diogo Jota (for Nunez, 72min) – 6

Alexis Mac Allister (for Jones, 72min) – 6

Luis Diaz (for Gakpo, 82min)

Harvey Elliott (for Salah, 82min)

Jarell Quansah (for Van Dijk, 86min)

Subs not used: Jaros, Endo, Chiesa, Tsimikas.

Manager – Arne Slot – 7

Wembley awaits for the Dutchman in his first year in England. One trophy in the sights… with how many more to follow?

TOTTENHAM (4-3-3)

Antonin Kinsky – 4

Dealt well with a first-half onslaught overall but simply must save Gakpo’s strike for the opening goal. Gave away the penalty for 2-0.

Archie Gray – 5.5

Will learn a lot from this elongated run in the team but struggled against Gakpo and Robertson on that side.

Kevin Danso – 5

The new signing from Lens, once of MK Dons and Reading’s academies, did OK but this was the definition of ‘being thrown in at the deep end’.

Ben Davies – 6

Had a tough night up against the physical presence of Nunez and often had to cover for Spence when Salah had beaten him.

Djed Spence – 4.5

Got torn apart by Salah. Was excellent against Brentford last week but really struggled here.

Yves Bissouma – 5

Game passed him and his midfield colleagues by as Liverpool created wave after wave of attacks.

Rodrigo Bentancur – 4

Often lost possession cheaply and struggled to cope with Szoboszlai’s incisive runs off the ball. Terrible display.

Pape Matar Sarr – 5

Led the press for Spurs but was often played through too easily.

Dejan Kulusevski – 6

Was the most willing of the away side in terms of an attacking threat but end product was lacking.

Richarlison – 5

Picked a fight with Van Dijk in the first minutes and continued to scrap with the Liverpool captain until he went down injured late in the first half.

Heung-min Son – 4.5

Seems to have gone unnoticed just how much Son has declined this season. Totally ineffective here.

Substitutes

Mathys Tel (for Richarlison, 45min) – 6

Lucas Bergvall (for Sarr, 57min) – 6

Pedro Porro (for Bissouma, 57min) – 6

Mikey Moore (for Davies, 82min)

Subs not used: Austin, Reguilon, Casanova, Olusesi, Ajayi.

Manager – Ange Postecoglou – 5.5

His team were more compact at the back but toothless at the other end.

 

Referee: Craig Pawson 7.

Attendance: not provided.

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