The last leg of the semi-final has returned to Anfield, and the chance to overturn that deficit and make our first final of the season is upon us. Tottenham lead the fixtures by just one goal, and Liverpool are fielding a strong enough squad that scoring more than one shouldn’t be an issue. Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa both return to the bench and Darwin Nunez is given a starting spot over Luis Diaz. Chaos is definitely back on the menu, boys.
Tottenham are also fielding a strong squad, with Richarlison and Son both in the starting XI, so this could prove to be a dicey but hopefully successful match for the Reds. James Maddison misses out and Antonin Kinsky returns to goal, so we need to be canny in how we set up and shoot after he successfully kept a clean sheet last leg.
First Half
And we’re off! Things get going quickly with Liverpool taking possession early on as they should, but Spurs are certainly up for it as Richarlison works towards goal but is stopped by Virgil about two minutes in. Both teams have settled into these first ten minutes, and while the Reds have gotten the closest to goal, nothing productive has been able to happen in the final third. Play gets stopped around the 13 minute mark as Ben Davies is treated for a cut on his scalp from clashing with the Spurs goalkeeper, but he’s moved off the pitch so play can resume, thankfully.
If anyone expected either team to start scoring right out of the gate, they’ve been mistaken, as of twenty minutes in, with both teams keeping threats at bay. Unfortunate for Liverpool who need to score at least two to get into the final and defend the one trophy they won last season. Mohamed Salah gets a little chip in towards goal, looking for someone to make contact but it takes a deflection before Darwin can get to it and the shot goes out of his reach and wide of the goal.
For a hot second there Dominik Szoboszlai put Liverpool ahead but his goal is ruled offside just as quickly as it was scored. The good news is that the Reds have been the only ones to get close enough to score, the bad news is that all of their efforts are ending up unlucky. Thankfully the spell is broken as CODY GAKPO scores! It’s 1-0 to the Reds! That chance has helped Anfield come alive as the aggregate is now tied and the momentum is in our favor.
There are seven minutes of added time to the end of the first half, that is already cut into by Richarlison coming off injured, just before Liverpool take a corner that doesn’t go much of anywhere. Liverpool are working hard to find that second goal before the break, but haven’t been able to get there.
Second Half
The second half gets under way with no changes made, and hopefully the squad got a little talking to about finding the goal. As soon as we kick off the Reds take control and Salah gets a shot but Kinsky’s hands send it wide for a corner. Thankfully the action is held in Spurs’ area, so Cody and Dom both get another chance to add to the scoreline but their efforts are cleared by opposing defenders.
Kinsky makes a dire error in the 48th minute, taking out Darwin by the ankles and earning the Reds a penalty! There is no question, no VAR, the clearest penalty there could be. Mo steps up to take it as usual and sends it home! 2-0 to the good guys! Again the stadium is invigorated and if the lads can keep this scoreline, we’re meeting Newcastle at Wembley for the final. A couple more goals wouldn’t hurt, though.
Spurs make two more changes, bringing on Lukas Bergvall and Pedro Porro for Ismaila Sarr and Yves Bissouma respectively. It would be nice for us to do some rotating here as well, give some of our attackers a rest, but that will likely come later (probably after scoring another insurance goal). Szoboszlai has another chance at goal, heading the ball after an assist from Gakpo but the ball falls right into the keeper’s hands.
The Reds are definitely trying to find that insurance goal, with Cody once again shooting towards goal but the effort just skims the face. This period has been all Liverpool thankfully, winning back balls and keeping control of the possession, but not without the Spurs efforts. The opposition though have been at least trying to play and win the ball, as opposed to pitching fits, throwing bodies around, and time wasting. Darwin has been at his backtracking best this match as well, winning the ball and drawing open space at just the right moments – a goal would cap off a great performance from the embattled striker.
The third goal hasn’t come yet but Slot makes a couple changes anyway, bringing on Diogo Jota and Alexis Mac Allister for Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez in the 71st minute. Knowing what a good finisher Jota is, that third goal is more likely now that he’s on the pitch. SZOBOSZLAI FINALLY GETS HIS GOAL! A beautiful lead up play by started by Mac Allister, gets the ball to Conor Bradley to set up the Hungarian captain and make it 3-0 to Liverpool!
Three minutes later? OH YES IT’S VIRGIL! Scoring a header off a corner to make it 4! This second half team is really showing up and showing out to cement that appearance in the final. Harvey Elliott and Luis Diaz come on just after, replacing Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah who have both earned their rest. Liverpool’s final change would be bringing off Virgil for Jarrell Quansah, with the captain receiving a standing ovation as he comes off.
Final Thoughts
WE’RE GOING TO WEMBLEY! Ange Postecoglu is probably getting sacked sooner than later, but we’re heading back to our southern home to face Newcastle on March 16th. Let’s go.
