Liverpool secured a commanding victory over Tottenham in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final, overcoming a 1-0 deficit. Virgil van Dijk dominated the match, scoring a crucial goal and receiving a standing ovation from the Anfield crowd. Cody Gakpo continued his impressive form, scoring another goal, while Darwin Nunez offered a strong presence upfront. Conor Bradley also impressed with his defensive contributions and an assist.
There's nothing quite like a visiting former Everton player to rile the Anfield crowd, particularly one with a reputation for being a wind-up merchant and a penchant for scoring important goals against Liverpool . So Richarlison's card was already marked before he unwisely chose to pick a fight with Reds skipper Virgil van Dijk early in the piece. In mitigation, the Tottenham forward had good reason to grumble having been accidentally caught by an elbow to the chin from the Liverpool skipper.
But he really should have known a lot better than to continue his battle with Van Dijk, who walked away from the moans of Richarlison and later feigned an offer of help when, not for the first time, his opponent was prone on the turf. The Tottenham man departed before half-time with a calf problem, leaving Van Dijk to continue dominating the visiting attack and then cap a magnificent performance by heading in the fourth goal. Job done, Van Dijk was afforded a standing ovation when substituted in the closing moments, with his fellow defenders Ibrahima Konate, Andy Robertson and Conor Bradley joining in the applause. It was that kind of evening for the Liverpool captain. Meanwhile, there are few truly nailed-on events in football. But Cody Gakpo scoring here was perhaps as close as is possible. The Liverpool striker’s love of netting in the League Cup and at Anfield combined with his well-taken effort to convert Mohamed Salah’s cross at the far post to drag Arne Slot’s side back on level terms in the tie 11 minutes before the interval. Gakpo has now scored in each of his last seven home appearances and has 10 goals in as many games at Anfield. It also meant he has matched his total of 16 for the whole of last season and now has nine in the League Cup as a Liverpool player, more than any of the present squad. If the Dutchman, with his effort, physicality and quality, has long become a feature down the left, the central striking role remains very much up for grabs. And Darwin Nunez did his cause no harm here. Recalled to the starting line-up, he provided a focal point to the attack, held the ball up well and his height was important at defending set-pieces. His performance was rewarded by his part in the second goal, racing on to Salah’s pass and drawing a foul from Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky for a penalty converted by the Egyptian, who now has 13 goals for Liverpool against Spurs – equalling the best such tally of Ian Rush. There was a little history created by Liverpool here. While they had previously overcome first-leg arrears in a League Cup semi-final, they had faltered on the three occasions when they were looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit. In some ways, this was good practice for the challenge to come in the Champions League, with the revamped league format now making way for the traditional two-legged knockout stages. And what will have pleased Arne Slot was the performance of the supporting cast. Along with Nunez, Curtis Jones – in for Alexis Mac Allister – was composed in a deeper midfield role, while goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, untested with his hands, was confident with the ball at his feet. Conor Bradley, though, was the standout, his defensive resolve encapsulated by one crunching tackle on Son Heung-Min that brought the home supporters to their feet while his continued forward forays saw him assist the third goal. With Liverpool’s success meaning there is no let-up in the schedule, the Reds are going to need all their players firing and on form. The FA Cup fourth round tie at Plymouth Argyle will be further evidence of that
Liverpool Tottenham League Cup Virgil Van Dijk Cody Gakpo Darwin Nunez Conor Bradley
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