Liverpool vs Arsenal LIVE: Carabao Cup result, final score and reaction after Granit Xhaka red card
Follow all the reaction from the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg as the visitors held on for a draw despite Granit Xhaka’s early red card
Follow live reaction after Liverpool were held to a goalless draw by 10-men Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at Anfield.
Liverpool were handed a huge opportunity to take a lead into next week’s return leg at the Emirates after Granit Xhaka’s early red card forced Arsenal to play the majority of the match with 10 men. Xhaka was shown a straight red card on 23 minutes when he brought down Diogo Jota with a high tackle on the edge of the box. Jota had been released by a long ball over the top and was through on goal when Xhaka took him down.
But Mikel Arteta’s side were deserving of their draw after producing a committed defensive performance that limited Liverpool to few chances. Takumi Minamino squandered a golden opportunity late on but blazed a shot over the bar with the goal gaping after Aaron Ramsdale had dropped a cross.
The hosts were ultimately left frustrated following a poor attacking performance in the absence of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, and it hands Arsenal the edge as they take home advantage into the return leg next Thursday.
Follow all the latest reaction below:
Liverpool 0 - 0 Arsenal
9 mins: Gabriel Martinelli and Virgil van Dijk come together in the middle of the pitch. Martinelli was chasing down a loose ball but Van Dijk gets to it first and knocks a long ball over to the right wing. Martinelli continues his run and jumps into the big centre-back who shrugs off the challenge and leaves Martinelli a little worse for wear.
Liverpool 0 - 0 Arsenal
6 mins: A wayward backpass gives Liverpool another corner that Alexander-Arnold delivers into the box. Alexandre Lacazette beats Van Dijk to the aerial ball and heads it out as far as Jordan Henderson. He flicks the ball back into the box but Saka is there to clear it for Arsenal.
Liverpool come at the vistors again with an attack down the left side. Minamino and Roberto Firmino make runs into the near post as Andy Robertson swings a left-footed cross into the box. Firmino almost gets a glancing touch to the ball but it just evades him and bounces safely into the hands of Ramsdale.
Liverpool 0 - 0 Arsenal
3 mins: Virgil van Dijk floats a diagonal ball over to the right wing where Trent Alexander-Arnold has pushed up the pitch. His first touch knocks the ball behind Kieran Tierney but the Arsenal left-back holds him off and works the ball behind for a Liverpool corner that the Gunners then defend well.
Liverpool 0 - 0 Arsenal
Kick off: Arsenal get the match started with a pass back to Aaron Ramsdale. He boots the ball long down the right wing where Bukayo Saka brings the ball under control. Takumi Minamino attempts tp win the ball for Liverpool but knocks it out of play for an Arsenal throw in.
Liverpool vs Arsenal
There’s a packed crowd at Anfield tonight which will provide a good atmosphere for a semi-final. It will be interesting to see what kind of performance Arsenal put in here.
They have the ability to challenge Liverpool and get a positive result from the game but on the other hand Mikel Arteta’s side could also get hammered three or four nil.
Liverpool vs Arsenal
10 minutes to go until kick off at Anfield. In the other Carabao Cup semi-final Chelsea did the damage against Tottenham in the first leg with a 2-0 victory at home.
Will Liverpool do the same to Arsenal tonight or can the Gunners hang in there and keep the tie competitive for the second leg at the Emirates?
Liverpool vs Arsenal
Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have scored more goals against Arsenal in all competitions (43) than they have versus any other opponent but the Gunners have more goals in the Carabao Cup (16) this season than any other side.
Liverpool vs Arsenal
Three Liverpool players have started all three League Cup fixtures this season: Joe Gomez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Takumi Minamino with only Minamino in the starting XI tonight.
Twice before Liverpool have defeated Arsenal and gone on to lift the League Cup. They won 3-0 in a fourth-round replay at Anfield in 1981-82, and in 1994-95.
Liverpool vs Arsenal: Jurgen Klopp ‘very positive’ about Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool contract situation
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists he is “very positive” about Mohamed Salah’s contract situation.
The Egypt forward has less than 18 months left on his current deal and, in an interview this week, said he was not asking “for crazy stuff”.
Klopp has said in the past the contract is not something which can be sorted quickly – Salah is reportedly looking for wages in excess of £300,000 a week – and he remains upbeat despite time ticking on.
Jurgen Klopp ‘very positive’ about Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool contract situation
Liverpool vs Arsenal
If Takumi Minamino scores tonight he will become only the fifth player to net in four successive Liverpool games in the competition, following Kenny Dalglish in 1980, Ian Rush (1982), Steve McMahon (1986) and Vladimir Smicer (2000-01).
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