Ange Postecoglou insisted that his side would win a trophy this season. He always does in his second year in charge, he explained. No one at Liverpool, though, was in the mood to accommodate.

Spurs could yet go on to win the FA Cup or the Europa League. As soon as they drew Liverpool, however, the chances of them winning the Carabao Cup substantially reduced.

Even before Cody Gakpo had fired his team in front against Tottenham at Anfield, the opening goal in a 4-0 rout, it felt inevitable that Liverpool would win. The home side started well and Richarlison's coming together with Virgil van Dijk only further ignited the crowd.

READ MORE: Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Spurs as Darwin Nunez and 5 more excellent

READ MORE: Arne Slot move proves genius for Liverpool as Richarlison left fuming - 5 talking points vs Spurs

Van Dijk got the fourth goal with Mohamed Salah, from the penalty spot, and Dominik Szoboszlai, with a good finish from inside the penalty area, also finding the back of the net. It was as dominant a semi-final performance as you are likely to see.

On the sidelines, Postecoglou knew he could do nothing. His arms were slumped by his sides on numerous occasions during the second half and at one point he almost eye-rolled as his team came under pressure from wave after wave of attack.

Liverpool, just as Arne Slot wants, penned back its opponent. With Kevin Danso making his debut and Archie Gray at full-back, it was a tall order to keep out such a relentless force.

Szoboszlai, who is like Jordan Henderson but with more threat in the final third, just ran and ran. Darwin Nunez, too, was harrying and jostling with the two Spurs center-backs. The Liverpool pair were not always the most dangerous in a direct sense — though they each contributed a moment that either led to a goal or scored one themself — but just kept Tottenham working.

Eventually, when you are under so much pressure, with no relief and no out-ball, you are going to concede. Tottenham found that out four times over.

Szoboszlai set the tempo throughout. He gave possession away only four times in the whole game, creating five chances for his teammates. He could have had a goal earlier than he did were it not for a marginal offside.

Nunez, meanwhile, will need to score more goals at some point if he is to have a long-term future at Liverpool. Press as intensively and as intelligently as he did here, though, and he will have half a chance — this was as well as he has played for months.

In the second half, when Nunez chased down the Spurs backline almost systematically, one after the other, with Szoboszlai just behind him, Tottenham lost possession. Postecoglou, knowing he could do nothing to stop Liverpool, looked resigned to defeat on the touchline, watching on from afar. At that point, it was only 2-0, meaning Szoboszlai was yet to put the icing on his showing.

"Credit to Liverpool," the Australian said post-match. "They were way too good for us tonight. We never really got to grips with the game with or without the ball. We just allowed them to get control pretty early and it made it difficult for us."

Spurs were labeled "abject", "damaging" and a "disgrace" during the post-match analysis on UK television. In reality, Liverpool — not least through Szoboszlai and Nunez — forced the issue.