ARSENAL held Liverpool to a goalless draw in their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Anfield after playing for over 66 minutes with 10 men.
Granit Xhaka was sent off in the 24th minute for a reckless lunge as the last man on Diogo Jota, which forced the Gunners to successfully stick to their defensive formation for the remainder of the game.
The second leg at the Emirates is set to take place next Thursday, with Chelsea awaiting the winner in the final at Wembley on February 27 after their victory over Tottenham.
- Kick-off: 7.45pm
- TV/ live stream: Sky Sports Main Event, Football
- Liverpool XI: Allison; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Milner; Minamino, Firmino, Jota
- Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Sambi, Xhaka; Saka, Lacazette, Martinelli; Nketiah
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
Not enough Klopptions
The German boss was not too disheartened with the draw, he said: “We did not see the best of us. We started well but I would rather have scored the goal than got their red card.
“We changed the formation tonight and I am not surprised that we struggled.
“We were not good enough but it is a two-legged game.
“We have an important game in between but then we have the second game and we will give it a proper try.”
Two to tango
Paul Merson fears Liverpool will not cope without Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.
The Arsenal hero said: “The biggest worry tonight if I were a Liverpool fan? Salah and Mane.
“If they play tonight, it’s a different story.
“You can take two players out of Manchester City’s team, doesn’t really make a difference. Take two out of Chelsea, not really.
“Take two out of Liverpool, it is completely different.”
The art-eta of war
The Arsenal boss loved watching his charges battle side-by-side.
He said: “I think they showed great fight, determination and attitude, they showed a brotherhood.
“All credit to the boys. To do what we did deserves a lot of credit.
“I told them you need a certain attitude to come here and it got extremely complicated after the red card. We played the game we had to play.”
Carra disappointed
Jurgen Klopp was not proactive enough for Jamie Carragher’s liking, especially after Arsenal went a man down after 24 minutes.
The ex-defender said: “I was convinced Jurgen Klopp would make a change [at half-time] and I can’t believe they came out with the same XI.
“Not that anything wasn’t working in the first half but Arsenal are down to 10 men and you’ve got a very workmanlike midfield.
“The first substitution was for James Milner on the hour. It had to be made at half-time.
“It’s probably the only thing I can question Jurgen Klopp about at times. Does he make substitutions early enough?”
High praise
Arsenal hero Paul Merson has not always been a fan of his old side’s backline.
But he was hugely impressed after they battled for over an hour with 10 men.
He said: “Liverpool made it easy for Arsenal but credit where credit is due.
“I’ve been a critic of Arsenal’s defence over the years and how they can capitulate in certain games, but today they stood up, every single one of them.
“Arteta got them in at half-time, set them up, and they all worked. Everybody had to put a shift in and they all worked their socks off.
“The players and managers should be proud.”
No White flag
On the red card, Ben White said: “It was not ideal was it but there is so much fight in this team and it showed today.
“He (Xhaka) was looking at the ball and didn’t know where the man was.
“We just did not want to concede but it is hard enough to do with 11 so it was superb from everyone.
“It was not easy at all, we had a bit of luck but it is also well deserved.”
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
All over and we have to go to The Emirates in a week to settle this one.
Arsenal have dug in and held off the marauding Scousers.
The Gunners have run themselves into the ground.
Big performances from Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale in the Arsenal goal.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
94 There are five additional minutes added on to this League Cup semi-final first-leg.
And White clears one off the line from Williams after Ramsdale over-commits to a high cross and drops the ball.
Liverpool’s best chance goes begging.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
92 Arsenal defender Ben White gets named the Man of the Match and that sums up this match.
Minamino fires over an open goal after Ramsdale finally makes a mistake. Massive chance missed.
Curtis Jones goes down but it’s never a penalty.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
89 Nico Williams darts down the right and dinks in a cross but Ramsdale claims it.
Liverpool have missed Salah and Mane so much.
This will be a great draw for Arsenal after playing for so long with 10 men.
Williams whips in a cross down the right but Ramsdale gobbles it up again.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
83 Saka does leave the pitch and is replaed by Nuno Tavares.
Oxlade-Chamberlain takes aim against his former club and hits a minger into the crowd.
Then his cross is too heavy and bounces out for an Arsenal goal kick.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
79 Saka needs medical attention and looks like he may need replacing.
The England ace takes a tablet with some water and tries to continue.
Another Liverpool attack collapses onto Ramsdale’s arms.
And Henderson skies an effort well over the bar.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
75 Liverpool make three changes all at once.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nico Williams and Joe Gomez on for Fabinho, Alexander-Arnold and Matip.
Can fresh legs settle this tie?
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
74 Arsenal defender Gabriel goes into the book for a foul.
Alexander-Arnold is about to be subbed off.
Martinelli breaks for the Gunners but he cannot complete the killer pass.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
72 Another Liverpool attack amounts to nothing.
James Milner is seen on the subs’ bench icing his face after taking a whack.
Minamino boots away a Liverpool clearance.
Saka gets a chance at close range but cannot convert as Alisson clears.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
68 Matip, Jota and Henderson swap short passes until Arsenal rob them.
But the visiting 10 men cannot create anything.
Lacazette is furious with his side’s efforts and then Liverpool go close with Minamino firing across goal.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
65 It looks like a training session out there for Liverpool.
Arsenal absorbing so much pressure.
Liverpool are looking for the 82nd goal of their season.
But Arsenal are digging in and battling.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
62 The Gunners are getting 10 men behind the ball and defending well.
Crunching tackle between Matip and Saka leaves the Liverpool defender wounded.
Milner is subbed off for Curtis Jones.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
56 A slow start to the second half.
The red home side is poking and probing but Arsenal hold firm.Alexander-Arnold tries to find Firmino.
Robertson gets booked for tugging Saka’s shirt and Alisson punches away the free-kick.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
47 Rapid Ramsdale races out to claim another loose Liverpool pass.
Arsenal create down the right but Liverpool defend stoically.
The whistle goes for half-time.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
45 Opening half about to end with the match goalless.
Both sides have had half-chances.
But Xhaka’s red has killed Arsenal’s game.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
42 Jurgen Klopp is not happy with a wasted Firmino chance.
And then Matip gifts Arsenal a corner with a sliced clearance.
Alisson punches the ball away and then Saka wins a free-kick.
But it bounces out of play after being over hit.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
40 Holding concedes a corner that Alexander-Arnold takes but it is poor.
Ramsdale races off his line and claims a Liverpool through-ball.
Arsenal are sitting off and deep and inviting pressure.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
38 Liverpool win and waste a free-kick own the left.
The home side calmly builds another attack.
Henderson passes to Matip and then Firmino.
Patient build-up play.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
34 Liverpool knocking it about and Arsenal no longer pressing high and hard.
Tierney belts a clearance into the crowd.
Alexander-Arnold balloons a cross out for an Arsenal goal-kick.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
