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

Liverpool Boss Jurgen Klopp Would Prefer One-off Carabao Cup Semi-final Original Video M205702

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 vs Arsenal

• Winner of tie to face Chelsea in final
• 23 mins: Arsenal down to 10 as Xhaka sees red for bringing down Jota
• FT: Arsenal battle for draw after frustrating poor Reds

[13 January 2022 18:37 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool vs Arsenal: Recent results

Both these teams have had contrasting starts to the New Year. Liverpool are undefeated in their two games so far having given up a two goal lead against Chelsea to draw 2-2 in the Premier League before sweeping Shrewsbury aside 4-1 in the FA Cup third round at the weekend.

Arsenal meanwhile has lost both games. They put in an admirable performance against Manchester City on New Year’s Day but Gabriel’s sending off put the Gunners on the back foot and allowed Rodri to score a 93rd minute winner for the Premier League leaders. Worse was to come for Mikel Arteta’s side as they were outplayed by Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup with the Championship side winning 1-0 at home to knock Arsenal out at the third round stage.

[13 January 2022 18:31 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool vs Arsenal: Arteta talks team selection

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has spoken about trying to juggle his players around the African Cup of Nations and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic saying the situation is ‘volatile and uncertain’. This fixture was postponed from last week and Arteta hasn’t changed his stance that if a game can be played it should be. He said:

It is extremely volatile and uncertain. In the last week or so we lost so many players for different reasons and we’re trying to adapt to that.

"There are some injuries, Covid and players that have to be away for the Africa Cup of Nations. It can change in 10 seconds when the doctor gives you bad news, but our willingness is always to play."

[13 January 2022 18:26 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool vs Arsenal: Early team news

Both sides are missing key players for this Carabao Cup semi-final first leg. For Liverpool, Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita are at the Africa Cup of Nations whilst Thiago Alcantara and Divock Origi are sidelined with respective hip and knee injuries.

Arsenal quartet Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe, Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey are all playing in AFCON as well so are unavailable for the Gunners. Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu are likely to miss the game through injury but Granit Xhaka may bit fit after testing positive for Covid-19.

[13 January 2022 15:01 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool host Arsenal in Carabao Cup semi-final first leg

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage as Liverpool host Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

Due to the initial postponement of the tie, after an outbreak of Covid within the Reds’ squad, both Arsenal and Liverpool already know that it is Chelsea who await one of them in the final. The Blues completed a dominant 3-0 aggregate victory over Tottenham last night in the other semi-final.

Liverpool have benefitted from the delay, with a number of suspected Covid cases latterly found to be false positives, while the likes of Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota have returned from injury.

There has been no such luck for Arsenal, though, who have lost both Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard to injury, and will still feel the scars from their damning 4-0 defeat at Anfield earlier this season.