Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal - Highlights - Carabao Cup 2021/22
Hello everyone and welcome along to our Carabao Cup semi-final live blog this Thursday, January 13 where we'll be bringing you all the latest updates from the match at Anfield between Liverpool and Arsenal. Stay with us for all the build-up to Liverpool vs Arsenal and then updates from the match.
Carabao Cup semi-final first leg FINAL SCORE: 0-0This is the start of our Carabao Cup semi-final live blog between Liverpool and Arsenal, with updates from the day's action following on from here. As always, the entries nearest the top are the most recent ones.
Arsenal's Ben White to Sky Sports: "It was not an ideal start but there is so much fight in this team. It's hard enough coming here with 11 men, absolutely superb from everyone. You have to concentrate the whole game and the result is well deserved. It's nice to defend like that as a defender. We were confident coming here and will give our all in the next game."
Full time - Liverpool 0-0 ArsenalA brilliant performance from Arsenal, who had it all to do after Xhaka was sent off 24 minutes in, but they were organised and resolute at the back. Liverpool, despite having 78 percent possession, did not have one shot on target over the course of the game. The second leg is on one week at the Emirates Stadium.
Minute 93 - Arsenal hanging onA thunderous strike from Neco Williams towards the empty net, after Ramsdale was caught out of position, is cleared by the impressive White.
Minute 90 - Minamino disasterIn the final minute of regulation time, Minamino is presented with a brilliant chance. Ramsdale had gone walkabout and the ball fell at the feet of the forward but he blazes over the bat from eight yards.
Minute 88 - Man of the MatchArsenal defender Ben White is handed the Man of the Match award after an impeccable performance, especially after the Gunners went down to ten men.
Minute 80 - Ten to playArsenal have been excellent in slacking up the pressure, and Liverpool are still to have a shot on target. Klopp has put on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joe Gomez and Neco Williams as he looks for a goal.
Minute 71 - Saka denied by AlissonSaka has brilliant chance to put Arsenal ahead as he gets himself free in the Liverpool box, and after a good first touch, Alisson reacts well to close the door with a brilliant save with his knee.
Minute 68 - Minamoto has a goTakumi Minamino ha a go from a tough angle, and his low strike trundles across goal, and well wide of target. Still Liverpool are unable to make their dominance count.
Minute 60 - Still no breakthroughWe are an hour in and still no shot on target from either side. Liverpool, for whatever reason, seem content with passing the ball round Arsenal's box rather than testing Ramsdale.
Minute 51 - Bright startArsenal on a rare foray forward sees Saka tried to cause problems for the Liverpool backline, but the end product from the youngster isn't the best.
Second half startsWe are back underway at Anfield. Liverpool are a man up after Xhaka's red card, but the score is level at 0-0
Half time - Liverpool 0-0 ArsenalThe main talking point from the first half was Xhaka's red card, though the Swiss midfielder can have no complaints. Liverpool, for their dominance, have rarely troubled Ramsdale apart from a few half chances.
Minute 44 - No way throughDespite Liverpool having all of the ball and putting Arsenal under relentless pressure, there is no way past the dogged Gunners' backline.
Minute 33 - Dominant LiverpoolAs you would expect, Liverpool have dominated proceedings since going a man up, and have had a whopping 77 percent possession. Though the home side are yet to have a shot on target.
Minute 24 - RED CARDA long crossfield ball from Robertson looks for Jota, and Xhaka brings the Portuguese forward down with a clumsy challenge as he is through on goal. Immediately the referee brings out the red card and Arsenal must now play the remainder with 10 men.
Minute 13 - Liverpool on topLiverpool are banging on the Arsenal door with Ramsdale's clearance charged down by Henderson and the midfielder could only win a corner as the goalkeeper recovered.
Minute 6 - Quick startIt's been a lightening start at Anfield! Alisson fumbled a Cedric Soares cross, and Ramsdale had to react quickly as a Gabriel backless had him in a spot of bother.
Kick off!We are underway in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
Arsenal's path to the semi-finalThe Gunners' route to the final four was relatively straightforward, and saw them rack up as many as 16 goals in their four games. After putting six past West Brom, they beat AFC Wimbledon 3-0, Leeds, 2-0, and saw off Sunderland with a 5-1 win in the quarter-finals.
How did Liverpool reach the semi-final?Liverpool had a game fewer to play to make it this far, and had a trickier path as well. Relatively easy wins against Norwich (3-0) and Preston (2-0) booked them a date with Leicester, with the Foxes taking them all the way to penalties before the Reds won 5-4 in the shootout.
Liverpool vs Arsenal - Official line-upsThe team news is in and Jurgen Klopp makes eight changes from his Liverpool side's FA Cup win over Shrewsbury Town. In come Joel Matip, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino, Takumi Minamino, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson.
Meanwhile for Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe, Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey are all unavailable due to AFCON. Aaron Ramsdale, Gabriel, Kieran Tierney, Granit Xhaka and Alexandre Lacazette all start the match.
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Milner, Henderson, Fabinho, Jota, Firmino, Minamino.
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Lokonga, Xhaka, Saka, Martinelli, Lacazette, Nketiah.
Covid ravaged squadsThis game is the rescheduled one after the original date was postponed after a raft of COVID-19 cases saw Liverpool's squad depleted and their training ground closed. Many of those cases were supposedly false positives, however, meaning that Jurgen Klopp will have several of his first-choice players back available again.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have also had a number of COVID-19 cases in their squad, with Granit Xhaka the latest to test positive at the weekend. When you add in various other injury problems and players absent due to the African Cup of Nations, both teams' squads are looking a little thin.
Liverpool vs Arsenal predicted line-upsLiverpool's predicted line-up: Alisson Becker; Conor Bradley, Joel Matip, Virgil Van Dijk, Konstantinos Tsimikas; Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Curtis Jones; Kaide Gordon, Diogo Jota, Takumi Minamino.
Arsenal's predicted line-up: Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kieran Tierney; Albert Sambi Lokonga, Charlie Patino; Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Marinelli; Alexandre Lacazette.
Liverpool vs Arsenal: When does it start?The game at Anfield kicks off at 19:45 local time on Thursday, which means 20:45 for viewers in Spain. If you're watching the game in the USA, the match begins at 14:45 (ET) or 11:45 (PT).
Liverpool vs Arsenal: Where can I watch?The Carabao Cup semi-final first leg game between Liverpool and Arsenal will be broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK. For viewers in the USA, ESPN+ is your home of the EFL Cup, while in Spain you can find the game on DAZN.