Liverpool are flying under head coach Arne Slot and triumph in the Carabao Cup would present the Dutch manager with a first piece of silverware at Anfield.

His side are also sitting six points clear at the top of the Premier League, still in the FA Cup and through to the Champions League last 16. So, 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.

Liverpool arrived in the second leg with work to do, having trailed after the first leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but they got it done without ever really getting out of third gear.

Their frontline was a constant threat – with Cody Gakpo’s opener coming after Dominik Szoboszlai’s slotted effort was chalked off for offside and Mohamed Salah saw his rising effort tipped over the bar after sending one just wide of the post – while Caoimhin Kelleher was untested at the other end.

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.

Liverpool now have the opportunity to make it back-to-back EFL Cups when they face a confident Newcastle side at Wembley next month.