ARNE Slot said it was "special" to lead Liverpool to the Carabao Cup final - but insists he won't let his thoughts turn to the March clash with Newcastle at this stage.

The holders booked a Wembley date with the Magpies next month as they comfortably overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit in their semi-final against Tottenham with a convincing 4-0 victory in the Anfield return on Thursday.

Slot is enjoying a superb debut campaign as Reds boss, with his team also leading the Premier League and through to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Rather than basking in his latest success, the Dutchman is already thinking about another competition ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup trip to Sky Bet Championship side Plymouth.

RECOMMENDED READING

• Newcastle's absent star proved Jason Tindall right against Arsenal

• Inside Eddie Howe's tactical masterclass - how Newcastle boss outthought Mikel Arteta

• Emotional Bruno Guimaraes 'in heaven' as he talks Wembley tears & Newcastle dream

The Liverpool manager said: “It’s pleasant, although if you know me a little bit, my thoughts are more on Sunday already than thinking about the final in the month.

“Our performance was something that pleased me. Reaching a final should always be special, even for this club, because this club is used to playing finals, but still we are working very hard every single day to try to improve players and the players want to improve themselves every single day.

“But we’re also in this business to play finals, although we know how difficult the final is going to be because we faced Newcastle already and they were very impressive yesterday as well.

“But there are many games to be played before that final and this is where our focus should be at.”

Liverpool face seven games before the mid-March final, including a Merseyside derby at Everton, a trip to Manchester City and a rehearsal of the final at Anfield later this month. They're at home to Southampton the week before the final.

Liverpool completely dominated the semi-final second leg and won with little alarm with goals from Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil Van Dijk, while injury-hit Spurs hardly threatened.

Slot said: “Tottenham have so many injury problems, that’s probably the main reason why they are conceding goals.

“But they are always able to score goals as well and create a lot, so for us to be so aggressive without the ball that it took them 80 minutes before they had their first shot on target, should tell you a lot about our work-rate without the ball.”