“I noticed the same thing” – Arne Slot appreciated Virgil van Dijk’s actions during Liverpool’s intense victory over Tottenham.

Arne Slot has shared what delighted him most about Liverpool’s commanding 4-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. The Reds overturned a 1-0 aggregate deficit to secure their spot in the League Cup final on Thursday night.

Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Virgil van Dijk all found the net as Liverpool dominated Ange Postecoglou’s side. With 64% possession, Spurs failed to register a single shot on target.

However, rather than focusing on his team’s attacking prowess, Slot was most impressed by their relentless work rate and ability to nullify Tottenham’s usually dangerous attack.

“Yeah, very impressive. I don’t think it’s surprising to say Tottenham have been conceding goals because of their injury problems,” Slot said. “That’s likely the main reason for their defensive struggles.

“But they always manage to create and score goals. For us to control the game so well that they only had their first shot on target after 80 minutes says less about Tottenham and more about our work rate without the ball. That’s what stood out to me. Facing a team that is so strong in attack and restricting them to just one shot is a real achievement.”

Liverpool have now booked a place at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final, which takes place on Sunday, March 16. To mark the occasion, the Liverpool Echo will release a special print edition for £3.50, featuring interviews, analysis, and a look at the road to the final. Fans can pre-order the Ultimate Guide to the Carabao Cup Final 2025 for home delivery or purchase it in stores across Merseyside, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland from March 5, 2025.

Additionally, Slot praised his team’s mentality, highlighting a moment when Virgil van Dijk was seen urging his teammates to quickly restart play after taking the lead in the first half.

“I noticed that too. It was a moment that summed up how we played the entire game,” Slot said. “The intensity was incredible. The players were ready, the fans were ready.

“We all had one goal—to reach the final. That mentality was there from start to finish, and that moment captured

it perfectly.”