Liverpool zero-0 Arsenal: Player ratings as 10-man Gunners escape first leg with draw

Arsenal overcame Granit Xhaka's red card and dug deep to maintain Liverpool to a goalless draw inside the first leg in their Carabao Cup semi-very last, giving them wish of accomplishing the showpiece at Wembley.

Xhaka surpassed the home aspect the initiative while he delivered down Diogo Jota, who was charging in on goal before the Swiss stuck a boot into his ribcage.

However, the hosts regarded sloppy and bulky in possession at some point of the first 1/2, frequently allowing Arsenal to regain numbers in defence as they struggled to break down their traffic.

The Gunners had been risky on the counter, with Bukayo Saka specifically energetic, but they couldn't keep ownership for lengthy sufficient and have been consigned to managing Liverpool strain for most of the contest.

Despite their continual knocking, Liverpool failed to register a shot on target within the starting eighty minutes, with the absences of AFCON duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane particularly evident.

Jota has thrived alongside that pair at the same time as Takumi Minamino has already scored 4 dreams in the Carabao Cup this season, however neither of them nor Roberto Firmino gave the look of netting on a disappointing night for the Anfield facet.

It become Minamino who had the threat to win the game after Aaron Ramsdale made a hash of a go, however he may want to only slice a 1/2-volley into row Z with the intention at his mercy.

The draw offers Arsenal - who had Martin Odegaard dominated out with Covid-19 earlier than Cedric Soares got injured and turned into substituted within 12 mins - actual wish of accomplishing the very last, with Chelsea watching for the winners of the tie.

The subsequent leg is because of be played subsequent Thursday on the Emirates.

Alisson (GK) - 7/10 - Made his League Cup debut. Came out quickly to disclaim Saka within the 2nd half. Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB) - 6/10 - Couldn't muster much in an attacking experience, searching a little flat in his first in shape in view that contracting Covid-19. Joel Matip (CB) - eight/10 - Looked like Liverpool's most innovative participant at instances, charging out from the back. Bailed his shielding colleagues out of problem a few instances. Virgil van Dijk (CB) - 6/10 - Mistake allowed Saka to nip in in the back of however Matip covered for him. Dominant inside the air. Andy Robertson (LB) - five/10 - Got in in the back of on a few events and regarded risky. Booked for pulling back Saka and struggled with the England guy.