Liverpool v. Tottenham Carabao Cup: will Reds make another final?

Jurgen Klopp once jokingly called himself a “world record-holder in winning semi-finals.” After destroying Tottenham in the Premier League, Arne Slot and Liverpool have a real chance of progressing to Wembley when the two clubs meet in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Wednesday.

Slot has some major boots to fill in respect of Klopp’s last four success….

2016 versus VILLARREAL (3-1 on aggregate) EUROPA LEAGUE 2016

A memorable comeback against his old club Dortmund booked a semi-final place against the Yellow Submarine. Klopp’s troops were decent in the first leg but Alberto Moreno went missing late on to concede the advantage. 

A raucous Anfield saw a dominant second leg – barring another Moreno howler that should have been given as a penalty. It was only when Adam Lallana scored a late third that hearts could calm down for a place in Basle against the kings of the competition, Sevilla. It didn’t end well….

2024 versus Fulham (3-2 on aggregate) CARABAO CUP SEMI-FINALS

Fulham had their chances in the first leg at Anfield, taking the lead through Willian’s strike and then catching Liverpool on the break as they did recently in that 2-2 thriller in the League. However, Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo stepped up in the second half to build a slender lead. 

When Bernd Leno let Luiz Diaz’s shot squirm under his arm at Craven Cottage, the tie was virtually done despite a late home rally by former Red Harry Wilson.

2016 versus STOKE CITY 1-1 on aggregate (6-5 on penalties) CAPITAL ONE CUP SEMI-FINAL

 After taking a one-goal lead into the second leg at home after a Jordan Ibe (remember him?) strike, Liverpool huffed and puffed in an attritional second leg. Marko Arnautovic’s first-half stoppage-time strike levelled things up as it got nervy. 

Simon Mignolet saved two spot-kicks in the shootout and Joe Allen netted the sudden-death winner to send Anfield delirious. “I didn’t see one shot,” admitted the German during the nerve-wracking finale. Yep. He never watches pens…..

2019 LIVERPOOL 2 MONTERREY 1 CLUB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL

It was assumed Liverpool would roll over their Mexican opponents to have a fourth crack at a title that had eluded them in the 1980s. However, a Virgil van Dijk injury meant Jordan Henderson had to play as an emergency centre-back. Naby Keita scored a beauty to open up the game for the Reds, but Monterrey threatened to take control when Funes Mori  equalized.

Klopp sent the cavalry on and TAA duly obliged with a beautiful curling pass into the path of Bobby Firmino to seal the deal.

“All you need is Alisson Becker, Alisson Becker,” said – or sang – the manager.

2022 versus ARSENAL (2-0 on aggregate) CARABAO CUP SEMI-FINAL

Liverpool were without AFCON- bound Mo Salah and Sadio Mane for both legs of the first trophy of their four-pronged attack on all competitions. Unsurprisingly, they missed both badly and Takumi Minamino blazed the best chance of the home game over the bar in a frustrating stalemate. 

Ben White laughed at the Japanese’s profligacy, but the Gunners were crestfallen at the Emirates after a Diogo Jota brace sent Liverpool to Wembley. They would survive three disallowed Chelsea goals in the final to claim a record ninth League Cup.

2018 versus ROMA (7-6 on aggregate) CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL

Having disposed of favorites Manchester City 5-1 in the quarter-finals, Liverpool left Roma in ruins after just two-thirds of the first leg. The Italians were insanely open with a high line, and the Red Arrows stormed into the spaces to grab a 5-0 lead. 

Irritatingly, they left the door open with two late concessions after two-goal Salah came off. In Rome, there was never any prospect of being knocked out when Gini Wijnaldum outjumped Alisson to make it 2-1 on the night. Despite a late gladiatorial push by the hosts, the Reds hung on and were back for a shot at number 6. Success would have to wait 12 months.

2019 versus BARCELONA (4-3 on aggregate) CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL

 Liverpool were somehow 3-0 down after a first leg in which Lionel Messi scored a sublime free kick. Before the return, the official FC Barcelona Twitter suggested the Spaniards would score at least once which would mean Liverpool needed six. As Julia Roberts once famously said on screen, “Big mistake”.

“The world outside is saying it is not possible. And let’s be honest, it’s probably impossible. But because it’s you? Because it’s you, we have a chance,” said Klopp in his pre-match talk. Divock Orgi netted after seven minutes to give Anfield lift off and bagged the winner after Wijnaldum rose to the occasion with two quickfire goals. That Trent corner to Origi for the winner was pure gold. So were the medals three weeks later in Madrid.

2017 EFL Cup versus SOUTHAMPTON (0-2 on aggregate)

Liverpool were walloped 1-0 in the first leg at St Mary’s against a Southampton that included an imperious Virgil van Dijk. “We needed Loris Karius to save our lives two or three times. It could and should have been 2-0, 3-0,” blasted Klopp. 

The second leg wasn’t much better at Anfield as the Reds struggled without  Mane to lean on. Shane Long netted a deserved winner and the nightmare January continued as they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship side Wolves at Anfield.

2022 LIVERPOOL 3 MANCHESTER CITY 2 FA CUP SEMI-FINAL

Liverpool were beginning to motor for the final lap on the quadruple when they met Pep’s team for a second time in six days following a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Etihad in the EPL.

Ibou Konate’s header from a corner started the party and was quickly followed by Mane robbing Zack Steffen. The Senegalese then scored an absolute pearler for the third. “The first half was one of the best we ever played,” enthused Klopp.

Jack Grealish grabbed one back immediately after the break, but the Reds survived with two crucial Alisson saves from Gabriel until a late Bernardo Silva slide-in set up a furious finale. 

2022 versus VILLARREAL (5-2 on aggregate) CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL

Liverpool were imperious in the first leg against Unai Emery’s Villarreal, who had knocked out Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. An Estupinan own goal and a Mane strike was scant reward for a match that the Reds controlled from start to finish.

The lack of a third almost came back to bite them in Spain when Klopp’s troops fell into bad habits of going behind and were pulled apart for 45 minutes to go two down.

The Reds had more threat when Luis Diaz came on with Fabinho shooting through Rulli and the Colombian nodding in a second. Mane rounded it all off and life was sweet again. Until Paris at least.

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