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Though there were only 34 minutes on the clock at Anfield when Liverpool drew level on aggregate in their Carabao Cup semifinal tie before eventually winning 4-0 — Gakpo’s strike had cancelled out Lucas Bergvall’s first-leg match-winner — Van Dijk knew there was still work to be done.
Perhaps it is that insatiable hunger for more, that sets this Liverpool team apart from the rest this season.
Not content with having climbed to the summit of both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League tables in recent months, Arne Slot’s men are now just 90 minutes away from potentially lifting the first trophy of what could be a truly historic campaign, with second-half goals from Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Van Dijk setting up a date with Newcastle United in the final at Wembley.
Even before kick-off, there was a palpable sense of expectation around Anfield, with supporters queueing in their droves to welcome the team coach to the stadium while, on the terraces, the atmosphere was akin to a European night.
Liverpool might harbour ambitions of yielding more prestigious silverware this term, but this is a club whose very foundations are built on winning, and, with every passing week, Slot’s team looked increasingly capable of upholding that proud tradition.
The contrast between Liverpool and their visitors on Thursday night was stark. Tottenham arrived on Merseyside off the back of consecutive victories over Elfsborg and Brentford, though they had won only three of their previous 10.
Shorn of both confidence and quality — with 10 first-team players missing Thursday’s clash through injury — Tottenham struggled to lay a glove on Liverpool in the first half, managing only 27% possession and just one shot compared to Liverpool’s 11.
Slot had commented pre-match …
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