Liverpool’s Road to the 2025 Carabao Cup Final

Liverpool have navigated a series of challenging fixtures to book their place in the 2025 Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United. Under the guidance of manager Arne Slot, the Reds displayed attacking flair and resilience in defense, dispatching several Premier League rivals on their way to Wembley. Here’s how their journey unfolded:

Round three: a five-star start against West Ham

25/09/24 – Liverpool 5–1 West Ham United

Liverpool’s campaign began in style at Anfield, where they romped to a 5–1 victory over West Ham. An early own goal from Jarell Quansah briefly put the Hammers ahead, but the Reds quickly responded. Diogo Jota netted twice (25', 49'), and Mohamed Salah (74') added another before Cody Gakpo struck a late brace (90', 90') to seal an emphatic win.

Round four: edging past Brighton in a thriller

30/10/24 – Brighton & Hove Albion 2–3 Liverpool

Brighton provided a stern test at the Amex Stadium. Liverpool raced to a 2–0 lead after halftime with goals from Gakpo (46', 63'). The home side rallied late, pulling two back through Simon Adingra (81') and Tariq Lamptey (90'). Luis Díaz’s 85th-minute strike proved decisive, giving Liverpool a 3–2 victory in a pulsating encounter.

Quarterfinal: overcoming a second-half scare at Southampton

18/12/24 – Southampton 1–2 Liverpool

Liverpool faced another tricky away fixture at St. Mary’s Stadium. Goals from Darwin Núñez (23') and Harvey Elliott (32') gave the Reds a comfortable first-half advantage. Cameron Archer (59') pulled one back for the Saints, creating a tense final half-hour. However, Liverpool’s defense stood firm to secure a 2–1 win and a spot in the semifinals.

Semifinal first leg: narrow defeat at Tottenham

08/01/25 – Tottenham Hotspur 1–0 Liverpool

A trip to North London proved challenging, as Liverpool struggled to break down Spurs. Lucas Bergvall’s late strike (86') condemned the Reds to their first loss of the competition. Despite the setback, Liverpool remained hopeful of overturning the deficit in the second leg at Anfield.

Semifinal second leg: an emphatic comeback

06/02/25 – Liverpool 4–0 Tottenham Hotspur

Anfield roared as Liverpool delivered a resounding response, overturning the first-leg deficit with a 4–0 triumph. Cody Gakpo opened the scoring in the 34th minute, while Mohamed Salah doubled the lead from the penalty spot (51'). Dominik Szoboszlai (75') and Virgil van Dijk (80') completed the rout, sealing a 4–1 aggregate victory and sending Liverpool into the Carabao Cup final.

Wembley awaits

Liverpool’s run to the final showcased their attacking prowess, with key contributions from Gakpo, Salah, Núñez, and Szoboszlai. Manager Arne Slot’s tactics have combined defensive solidity with a high-intensity offense, culminating in a showdown with Newcastle United. The Magpies, seeking their first major domestic trophy since 1955, will present a stern challenge.

As Liverpool look to lift the Carabao Cup for a record-extending 10th time, fans can expect a thrilling final at Wembley. Both teams enter with momentum and belief, promising a spectacle worthy of England’s prestigious league cup competition. Liverpool fans need to book their EFL Cup final tickets quickly before there are all sold out.