Liverpool reached the Carabao Cup final after a rout over Tottenham.
Cody Gakpo pulled the hosts level in the tie with a first-time volley to open the scoring after Darwin Nunez failed to connect with Mohamed Salah’s cross.
The Reds went ahead early in the second half when they were awarded a penalty for Antonin Kinsky’s foul on Nunez, allowing Salah to convert.
Dominik Szoboszlai added a third during the game’s final quarter with a cool finish from a through ball by substitute Alexis Mac Allister’s through ball.
The Argentine later provided a second assist to round off a comprehensive win as his left-sided corner was met by Virgil van Dijk’s powered header.
Arne Slot’s side will now take on Newcastle United at Wembley on March 16.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
Anfield South awaits again
For a third time in four years, the Carabao Cup is calling Liverpool’s name.
Kopites were already preparing for a record 15th showpiece appearance in the competition as early as the start of the second half against Tottenham.
Their visitors had approached Thursday’s semi-final encounter in a fashion not too dissimilar to Southampton’s win here during the 2017 edition.
Then as now, they held a slender advantage from the first leg and set about trying to defend that one-goal lead while frustrating the Anfield faithful.
Ange Postecoglou even nominated Richarlison as the hosts’ tormentor in chief until the former Everton man’s premature withdrawal through injury.
Even if the Brazilian had remained on the pitch in totality, the Reds would still have found a way to break down the Lilywhites’ resolve to a Wembley return.
Another trip to ‘Anfield South’ beckons and formidable though Newcastle may be, it is difficult to see anyone laying a glove on Arne Slot’s winning machine.
As Postecoglou might say, it’s just who they are.
Gakpo more than a cup specialist
Comparisons between Slot and Jurgen Klopp will continue to be made after Liverpool’s current head coach emulated his predecessor’s final milestone.
The Dutchman may continue to do things differently, but there are some inescapable parallels as he prepares for a maiden outing at Wembley.
Cody Gakpo took on added importance during last season’s Carabao Cup run with four goals to propel his team into a showpiece beneath the famous arch.
He narrowly missed out being crowned the tournament’s top scorer by a solitary goal but earned that distinction with his rifled opener against Spurs.
That fifth strike saw him pull clear of Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus and one-time Anfield alum Tom Ince, now at Watford, as his closest challengers.
Gakpo’s latest heroics also laid claim to another feat in racking up his seventh consecutive goal in as many appearances on home soil for Liverpool.
Proof, were it needed, that he is far more than just a cup specialist.
Slot now spoilt for choice
Previously, injuries had threatened to derail Slot’s debut season.
Be it Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota or Trent Alexander-Arnold, each setback forced him to contend with unwanted selection headaches at regular intervals.
They often arrived at less than ideal moments, too, with the goalkeeper’s six-week absence forcing him out of a pivotal run towards the end of last year.
Alisson, however, found himself omitted for Tottenham’s visit out of choice rather than necessity as Slot was able to utlise his squad’s full compliment.
Only Alexander-Arnold, currently nursing a thigh problem, constituted the sole casualty in Liverpool’s ranks as they targeted a return to Wembley’s arch.
It offered Slot the luxury of being able to deploy three otherwise automatic starters in Alexis Mac Allister, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota for cameo spells..
The trio all made substitute appearances in the second half with the game already out of Spurs’ reach while avoiding unduly expending their energies.
Heading into another defining period of the season, with one trophy already up for grabs, the Liverpool boss is now increasingly spoilt for choice.