The Carabao Cup semi-final tie between Liverpool and Arsenal remains in the balance after the two sides played to a goalless draw in the first-leg on Thursday evening.
Result: Liverpool v Arsenal
Date: 13 January 2022
Venue: Anfield
The Reds were back to near full-strength, with Takumi Minamino and Roberto Firmino plugging the gap left by Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah while the Gunners welcomed back Granit Xhaka from Covid-19 but were without Martin Odegaard for the same reason.
The game got off to a pacy start, with Arsenal pressing high and Mikel Arteta had to make an early forced change in the 11th minute after Cedric Soares picked up a knock and was replaced by Calum Chambers.
Liverpool started to find joy going forward after that and the visitors were reduced to ten men in the 24th minute after usual suspect, Xhaka was red-carded for a high boot challenge on Diogo Jota's chest that denied him a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Arteta sacrificed forward Eddie Nketiah, bringing on defender Rob Holding after that and Arsenal stayed compact in the closing phase of the first stanza and denied Jurgen Klopp's charges chances.
The Reds had a quick start in the second stanza, as Minamino came close to breaking the deadlock four minutes in with an attempted cross that was heading towards the far corner but missed just wide.
Arsenal were growing in the game after the hour-mark, as Bukayo Saka had the first shot on target of the game 18 minutes before time after bringing down Kieran Tierney's cross in the box and unleashed a strike that was repelled by Alisson.
Klopp made double change after that, as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced Fabinho in a tactical move and Neco Williams came on for Trent Alexander-Arnold for fresh legs at right back.
The Reds were pressurising Arsenal in the closing minutes and Minamino missed an open goal in the last minute after a mix-up by the Gunners defence, as the sides shared the spoils in the end, with the second-leg set for next week Thursday, where the winner will meet Chelsea in the final.
