Arne Slot has been introduced to all manner of Liverpool anthems that tap into the club's rich history since his Anfield arrival last summer. But as the final whistle sounded to confirm his team's passage to the Carabao Cup final here against Tottenham, the head coach was given a fresh one to savour.

And while the Reds boss might have needed the meaning behind terrance hymns such as Scouser Tommy and A Liverbird Upon My Chest explained to him at one stage or another, there was no need to spell out this latest ditty as the League Cup holders saw off Spurs with a convincing 4-0 win to book their place in next month's showpiece once more.

Liverpool, as the Kop made known, are heading to "Wembley! Wembley!" And for Slot, it will be the first time as a coach, player or supporter that he steps out at English football’s national stadium. One for the Reds boss to tick off then.

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Goals from Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk ensured it was an ultimately comfortable evening for the hosts as they gained more than a measure of revenge for that 1-0 loss in the first leg last month. It rarely looked in doubt either.

A dominant first half saw the Reds have 73% of the ball and 11 shots to Spurs' one and the hosts got the reward their superiority deserved when Gakpo fired Liverpool level in the tie.

Salah's now trademark outside-of-the-foot pass evaded everyone - including Darwin Nunez's acrobatics - but Gakpo was on hand at the back post to convert his 16th goal of an increasingly productive campaign, five of them in this competition.

If Ryan Gravenberch, excellent here again, is the popular answer for the player Slot has most improved, his Netherlands international team-mate cannot be too far behind and having seen Luis Diaz deputise as a makeshift No.9 at times during Diogo Jota's injury-enforced absence, Gakpo has taken his chance at a consistent run on the left side with aplomb. He is in the form of his two-year Reds career and is becoming more and more important as the weeks go by.

Liverpool fans were left to indulge themselves in the sight of pantomime villain Richarlison first going down injured off the ball before being withdrawn for debutant Mathys Tel inside 45 minutes.

Having seen his theatrics fail to land Van Dijk in hot water with referee Craig Pawson in the opening seconds, the former Everton striker cut an agitated and unhappy figure throughout the rest of the half and was eventually left nursing what appeared to be a muscle injury while the Kop reminded him, in unflattering terms, of his previous allegiances.

He appeared as an even more dejected figure after the game as he hobbled through the post-match mixed zone area with his head bowed. One suspects there will be few get-well cards being sent from this side of Stanley Park to the Brazilian while he now recovers.

Liverpool took the lead in the tie six minutes after the restart when Nunez was fouled by hapless goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky after a pass from Salah, who then stepped up from 12 yards and swept home an expertly-taken penalty.

With another assist and goal for each of his impressive hauls this term (18 and 26 now, respectively), it was another fine night for Salah, whose wondrous campaign goes on.

There is nothing new to say where his contract situation is concerned but if it has been a deliberate ploy from the club to keep him hungry and in pursuit of fresh terms by delaying the sort of figures that will get Salah's signature on the dotted line, then it is a high-risk strategy that is at least paying off handsomely on the pitch.

The season-long performances of Liverpool's No.11 are even more incredible when you judge him alongside Tottenham peer, Heung-min Son, whose largely listless season, at the same age of 32, continued here. The South Korea star quietly had a contract extension of his own triggered in November to little fanfare. One suspects it will be much more headline-grabbing if Salah pens a new deal. The consistency levels are off the scale.

Alexis Mac Allister was also immediately involved following his introduction, playing in a marauding Conor Bradley to feed the on-rushing Szoboszlai and the Hungary captain steadied himself before steering home for 3-0 on the night.

Fittingly it was left to the captain, Van Dijk, to have the final say, nodding in the fourth late on from Mac Allister's corner. The standing ovation he received when replaced by Jarell Quansah in the closing stages was fully deserved and if there is a better central defender in world football right now then he is a very special player indeed. Like Salah, Van Dijk's end-of-season exit is simply unthinkable.

And so now the stage is set for Wembley: Newcastle United versus Liverpool on March 16; the club aiming to end a 70-year wait for a trophy against the one trying to secure its second in less than 13 months. It promises to be an incredible spectacle when two of the most fiercely passionate fan bases in the country meet next month. Neutrals will be in short supply.

The Reds will head into that game looking to retain the competition and extend their League Cup triumphs to 11 while, for the Magpies, it is a shot at redemption for the meek way they surrendered against Manchester United at the same stage two years ago.

How much the weight of silverless history will weigh on Eddie Howe and his players will only be known on the day itself, but for Slot, it presents an opportunity for tangible success and more proof - if it was needed - that his Liverpool project is heading firmly in the right direction.

It could be the first trophy the Dutchman lifts as head coach on Merseyside but the early indications are that it will not be the last if he does so.

Slot laughed when he was informed of the informal nickname reserved for Wembley by Reds supporters on Wednesday but now he has the perfect way to find out exactly why it is known round these parts as Anfield South. Another visit now awaits.