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:
Reaction from Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold spoke to Sky Sports after the game saying that Liverpool’s deserved their victory and are looking forward to th final at Wembley. He said:
Looking forward to it (the final) a lot, good for us to get there and what we expect. We put in good performances on this run, we have had young players but managed to win the games. We performed well tonight and what we deserve.
“We never gave them too many chances and kept them at bay. Diogo Jota’s first goal was outstanding and so was the second. He is a world class player in the best form at the club so far, hopefully more goals from him. Hopefully we can win the final.
“It is what we want [fans being at Wembley], it was not the same when we left Anfield as an empty stadium (after winning the Premier League). It has been a while to lift a trophy and it is good for us to be in a final. There are still 90 minutes to do that against a top side.”
Diogo Jota brace fires Liverpool past Arsenal and into Carabao Cup final to face Chelsea
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.
Jota brace fires Liverpool past Arsenal and into Carabao Cup final to face Chelsea
Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: Portuguese forward Jota scores once in each half as the Gunners exit with yet another red card to their name
Arsenal 0 - 2 Liverpool
Despite only playing two games at the Emirates Stadium for Liverpool, Diogo Jota is already the Reds’ leading scorer at the stadium with four goals.
Arsenal 0 - 2 Liverpool: Player ratings as Reds win to head to Carabao Cup final
Liverpool are through to the Carabao Cup final after beating Arsenal 2-0 on the night and on aggregate.
They will face Chelsea at Wembley, after a dominant showing in the semi-final second leg which saw the Gunners end with 10 men after a late Thomas Partey red card.
Diogo Jota raced infield to strike home the game’s first goal from the edge of the box midway through the first half, and the Portuguese forward was the star of the show, lobbing in a second to send the Reds clear.
Here are the player ratings from the semi-final second leg:
Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings as Reds head through to Carabao Cup final
Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: Jota nets a brace to send the Reds to Wembley
Arsenal 0 - 2 Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold has made 14 assists for Liverpool in all competitions this season, the most of any Premier League player; indeed, no one else has more than 10.
Arsenal 0 - 2 Liverpool: Five things we learned as Jota double sends Klopp’s side to Carabao Cup final
Liverpool booked their place in the Carabao Cup final as a Diogo Jota doubled handed them a 2-0 win at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta’s side held Jurgen Klopp’s men to a goalless draw at Anfield but were undone in front of their home fans by two strikes from the Portuguese forward.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
Five things we learned as Liverpool beat Arsenal to reach Carabao Cup final
Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool (0-2 on aggregate): Jota’s double sends Jurgen Klopp’s side to Wembley
Full-time: Arsenal 0 - 2 Liverpool
90+5 mins: Diogo Jota’s night is topped off with a man of the match award. His goals have been the killer blows for Arsenal’s hopes of another trophy under Mikel Arteta.
The full-time whistle goes and it’s confirmed. Liverpool are going to Wembley to face Chelsea for the Carabao Cup!
Arsenal 0 - 2 Liverpool
90+3 mins: The Liverpool fans are in full voice now. They know the game and the tie is won. Liverpool have put in a professional display once again tonight and without Sadio Mane, without Mo Salah, Diogo Jota has stepped up for the Reds, scored both goals and sent them into the Carabao Cup final.
Red card! Partey is off!
Arsenal 0 - 2 Liverpool
90 mins: When it rains, it pours for Arsenal. Thomas Partey dives into a challenge on Fabinho with his studs showing and lands on the Liverpool midfielder’s ankle. It’s a second yellow card in a couple of minutes for the Arsenal man and they’re down to 10-men once again!
Five added minutes to play.
Arsenal 0 - 2 Liverpool
86 mins: Thomas Partey collects a yellow card on his return to the team. Alexander-Arnold chips the free kick into the box but Arsenal manage to head it clear. There’s a despondent feel to Arsenal’s play now. The game is slipping away.
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