Live Liverpool vs Arsenal, Carabao Cup semi-final: live score and latest updates

Arsenal were pressing early on and making Liverpool kick long, but they are not winning enough of the second balls in midfield. Lokonga and Xhaka swarmed. Henderson goes down after being caught by a Martinelli arm. Saka spins in behind but is flagged for offside. 

Robertson skips past Chambers and a deflected shot wins Liverpool another corner. Nketiah gets his head to it at the near post, again. The one thing Arsenal have managed to do so far is defend corners pretty well. Liverpool's pressing has Arsenal pinned back. 

Arsenal living dangerously! Ramsdale took his time picking his pass out and Henderson charged him down but it went wide of goal. The midfielder was still able to win another corner off the goalkeeper. Good punch clear from Ramsdale to make amends. 

Brilliant low cross fizzed by Minamino that took a nick off White and trickled beyond the far post. All Liverpool at the moment!

The ball skims off White's head after Henderson tried to hit a glorious diagonal pass. Matip tries to carry the ball forward but overhits his pass, and Arsenal have a goal kick. Cedric is down holding his hip again and will not be able to carry on - Chambers about to replace him, who is short of minutes. 

Ben White gets sucked in and Liverpool play around him. Robertson's near post cross  is gathered by Ramsdale at the second attempt. Gabriel tries to hit Martinelli with a long pass but it bounces to a red shirt and Liverpool can build play from the back. Big collision in the middle of the pitch as Van Dijk and Martinelli smash into each other in a 50:50. Nothing in it. 

Almost a dangerous moment for Arsenal as Nketiah chases down a long ball and a poor Alisson kick landed for Lacazette but Saka could not slip Nketiah in. At the other end, a comical back pass from Gabriel goes over Ramsdale's head and gives Liverpool a corner. Once again, it is met by an Arsenal head. 

Liverpool get their first spell of possession and Cedric is back on the pitch. Arsenal press high and force Van Dijk to go long, but Lokonga then gives the ball away with a loose ball in midfield. It helps Liverpool get on the front foot and Alexander-Arnold wins them a corner with a good piece of skill. Headed clear by Nektiah at the near post. 

Arsenal go long from kick off and pen Liverpool near the corner flag, winning a couple of throws. Cedric tossed a left-footed cross into the box which Alisson spilled but Nketiah caught him with an arm. Foul given on the goalkeeper. Early injury worry for Arsenal with Cedric holding his hip and receiving treatment. 

Arsenal get us started. Playing blue and shooting towards the Kop in the first half. 

The pre-match feeling seems to be that Arsenal will be up against it: can they stay in the tie? 

We had some bad news with injuries and Covid (confirms Odegaard tested positive and Smith Rowe did not recover from a tight groin). 

It is the players that we have and we have to compete in the best possible way. 

Both teams will be targeting the opponent's right-back area. The out-to-in runs of Martinelli from the left could be challenging for Alexander-Arnold, while Liverpool will be licking their lips at the prospect of Robertson and Jota working Cedric over. Interesting to see how Arsenal fare in midfield: they have two midfielders and a converted striker up against Liverpool's industrious trio. Maybe Lacazette can take a leaf out of Joelinton's book. 

Almost an oddity in cup competitions nowadays. Liverpool have decided Alisson needs minutes having missed games in recent weeks, while Ramsdale has been one of Arsenal's best players this season. This is of course, the only silverware Arsenal can win this season. 

Semi-finals are not the moment for doing that. 

Liverpool have gone strong tonight, stronger than I thought they would. Arsenal have to stay in this cup tie. It is alright having the advantage of playing the second leg at home, but you have to stay in the game.

There is not a senior midfielder or attacking player on the bench.  

43 - Under Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool have scored more goals against Arsenal in all competitions (43) than they have versus any other opponent. Anticipation. pic.twitter.com/Vg36lnQkV3

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 13, 2022

More so for the north London derby: Martin Odegaard has tested positive for Covid. Would seem to rule him out of Spurs, but with isolation rules cut to five days he may have a chance depending on when he tested positive. 

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