Liverpool vs. Arsenal result: Woeful Reds locked down by 10-man Arsenal in Carabao Cup semifinal first leg

After Granit Xhaka's moment of madness inside the opening half-hour reduced Arsenal to 10 men, it felt like Anfield was ready to explode at any moment.

It never did.

Arsenal produced nothing short of a gutsy team effort to hold a Liverpool side devoid of ideas scoreless and send the EFL Cup semifinal back to the Emirates with a 0-0 scoreline and the matchup very much in the balance. The Gunners could very well have capitulated once Xhaka was sent to the showers and Cedric withdrawn with an injury, but instead Mikel Arteta orchestrated a masterpiece, as Ben White led the monumental defensive effort while Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli added flair.

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Liverpool, meanwhile, produced just a single shot on target the entire match despite the advantage, with Takumi Minamino missing the best opportunity in the dying moments of the game. The Reds looked completely lost with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane away on Africa Cup of Nations duty. Jurgen Klopp deployed three defensive-minded midfielders and they lacked any creative spark throughout.

A spot at Wembley is now on the line with a level aggregate, as both sides are hoping to find a moment to savor next week in London. Chelsea is already confirmed as the first finalist, so the victor from this two-legged matchup will move on to face the Blues.

**Sporting News followed the event live and provided score updates, commentary and highlights as they happened.

Goals:None 

(All times Eastern)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaking to Sky Sports: "[The players] showed great fight and determination. They never gave up. To do what they done today, they deserve great credit. We played the game that we had to play."

Arteta, continued: "I am really proud of what we did today against a great opponent in a stadium like this. To play like this is not our strength, it's not what we train. We had to play with emotion. We are at half time [of the two legs]. They are an extraordinary opponent, we have to consider this result a positive but we have to create an atmosphere at the Emirates."

Arsenal defender Ben White on playing with 10 men: "It’s not ideal, is it? There’s so much fight in this team, it showed today. We dug deep and we got the result that we needed really...It’s tough, you have to concentrate the whole game. We had a bit of luck and the result is well deserved."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted his team's effort was poor: "I thought we started well and I liked it - we were direct, it was how we wanted to start - I would have preferred a goal over the red card. After that, we felt under pressure. When you play against such a low block, we struggled tonight. Second half we looked better and had situations - but it was not good enough for the result. But it's only half-time. It's not like we have no chance. We will give the second game a proper try."

Klopp knows he will face a similar situation against Brentford in Premier League play this weekend: "Brentford will probably play 5 at the back as well, so we need to change the things we usually do naturally - that is clear. Then playing against 10 men with a really low block - we couldn't be properly well tuned tonight - it's not an excuse.

"I have no idea what Arsenal will do when we face them. I know my mind is already on Brentford on Sunday, from Monday you can ask me what I will do [against Arsenal]. A lot of things I liked but the general outcome was not good enough, that's the truth of this game. We know we can play better, we know that we have to play better. And that's what we will work on."

A famous result of determination and resiliance by Arsenal, who went down to 10 men inside the opening half-hour, but the Gunners produced a fabulous response to earn a scoreless draw. Minamino's late miss was by far Liverpool's best chance, and he came up empty.

Granit Xhaka's moment of madness could cost Arsenal down the road, but at least today, it doesn't cost them dearly. Liverpool finishes with just a single shot on target, which is a dreadful return given the amount of advantages the Reds were afforded in the opening stage of the match and the pressure they put Arsenal under. Jurgen Klopp has some things to sort out with the AFCON men away for at least another week and likely longer.

What a galvanizing result for Arsenal. What a missed opportunity for Liverpool.