Arsenal vs Liverpool LIVE: Carabao Cup semi-final result, final score and reaction from fixture tonight
Follow the latest updates from the second leg as the Gunners and Reds fight it out to face Chelsea at Wembley
A match that finally took place, but there was no actual contest. Arsenal, it could be argued, still didn’t really play.
Liverpool reached a fifth cup final of Jurgen Klopp’s time, and the first in this competition in six years, by comfortably beating Mikel Arteta’s side 2-0 in the League Cup semi-final second leg. This one wasn’t about false positives but false advertising. It just wasn’t the game that was billed, and certainly didn’t live up the enjoyable chaos that the competition’s semi-finals often offer.
Arteta’s side clearly have so much promise but also some way to go, as they lost another big game. Liverpool, and especially Diogo Jota, were just too good for them. There was almost an inevitability about that given all the ructions of the last week and how the north London derby was postponed. Arsenal could point to a stretched squad and how Thomas Partey came on just hours after arriving back from the African Cup of Nations, only to be sent off in the aimless final minutes.
That ended up being indicative in another way, as it summed up how Arsenal were always stretching to try and bridge the gap to Liverpool, but Klopp’s side were too good.
A side without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane just showed Arsenal how it’s done, giving a semi-final occasionally clouded by an acrimonious atmosphere a muted finish.
Perhaps the only question from the entire game was whether Jota intended the finish that effectively settled the contest, or mishit it. It is someway irrelevant to the game, given the end result was a goal either way, but it was a rare moment when Aaron Ramsdale looked culpable. Follow all the latest reaction after Arsenal vs Liverpool below:
Arsenal 0 - 2 Liverpool
83 mins: Liverpool have a commanding lead now. They’ve got one foot in the final and have less than 10 minutes to keep Arsenal at bay before they get there.
Tomiyasu fails to deal with a long ball and heads it down to Milner. He passes the ball up to Jones who snatches at a shot from range and pulls his effort wide of the near post.
Neco Williams comes on to replace Roberto Firmino for Liverpool.
GOAL! Arsenal 0 - 2 Liverpool (Jota, 78’)⚽️
80 mins: Arsenal lose the ball on the left wing and Alexander-Arnold floats a diagonal ball over the top for Jota. He narrowly stays onside and chests the ball down in the box. Ramsdale charges at him but Jota lifts the ball over the goalkeeper and doubles Liverpool’s lead!
VAR had to confirm that Jota was onside at the start of his run and after drawing the lines across the pitch to check, Liverpool’s second goal stands!
Arsenal 0 - 1 Liverpool
78 mins: Have Liverpool scored again?! Diogo Jota has found the back of the net but the goal was ruled out for offside. VAR is checking it and this one is close...
Arsenal 0 - 1 Liverpool
77 mins: Jones flicks the ball into the box to Minamino who can’t get it under control for a shot. Arsenal scramble it away but Milner recovers the ball and floats a cross to the back post. This one is headed over to Robertson who shoots and pulls his chance wide of the far post.
Arsenal 0 - 1 Liverpool
75 mins: Thomas Partey and Eddie Nketiah are on for Arsenal with Alexandre Lacazette and Emile Smith Rowe the two men replaced. Tierney sends a long throw into the box but Firmino is back to clear the danger for Liverpool.
Jordan Henderson is replaced with James Milner.
Arsenal 0 - 1 Liverpool
72 mins: Fresh from the Africa Cup of Nations Thomas Partey is ready to come on for Arsenal. The Gunners have had more possession in the last five minutes but they’ve not done much with it. Martinelli’s had the best chance with a dribble into the left side of the area and a shot at goal that forces Kelleher to tip it behind for a corner.
Arsenal 0 - 1 Liverpool
69 mins: Arsenal need to do better. They win it in their own half and play a lovely pass up to Odegaard who avoids a tackle in midfield and sweeps forward for the Gunners. He passes it up to Smith Rowe as Saka makes a run down the right. Smith Rowe tries to pick him out but underhits the pass and Virgil van Dijk intercepts to end the attack.
Arsenal 0 - 1 Liverpool
66 mins: Takumi Minamino is on for Liverpool having replaced Kaide Gordon. This game is delicately balanced and can swing either way yet. Arsenal need a good spell on the ball. They’ve been kept quiet for most of the second half and need to start putting pressure on Liverpool’s back line.
Arsenal 0 - 1 Liverpool
63 mins: Close! Liverpool are knocking on the door. Alexander-Arnold is sent clear down the right wing and flies into space. He swings a teasing ball into the box and Roberto Firmino just needs a touch. He stretches out a right leg but the ball bounces away from him and Arsenal clear.
The clearance comes up to Lacazette who turns well in midfield and threatens to break on a counterattack before he’s stopped by Konate who picks up a yellow card.
Arsenal 0 - 1 Liverpool
60 mins: Aaron Ramsdale comes out to punch a cross from the left wing and clatters into his teammate Kieran Tierney as he puts the ball behind for a corner. Tierney takes a fist to face but he’s back on his feet quickly.
Chance! Trent Alexander-Arnold swings the corner into the box and picks out Ibrahima Konate. The defender sends a powerful header back towards the far botton corner and hits the post! The ball rebounds out to Jordan Henderson who prods it back at goal but Ramsdale gets low to keep it out!
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