At 3:45 a.m. Beijing time on January 14, the first leg of the 2021-2022 English League Cup semi-finals, Liverpool drew 0-0 at home with 10-man Arsenal, Zaka was red, and Takushi Minamino missed a good opportunity. A week later the two sides will move to Arsenal's home stadium to play the second leg of the life-and-death battle.
Competition focus
In the absence of Mane and Salah, Liverpool were attacking weak and could not knock on the door guarded by Ramsdale even if they played one more person. The second leg of the match will determine the fate of both teams.
Japan international Takumi Minamino started the game and played the whole game, he completed a 4-foot attack to win the game, and in the second half he slid through the goal with a low shot from a small angle, missing a good scoring opportunity.
Arsenal will leave the stadium red! Xhaka used a dangerous move to kick Jota's chest while defending, and Oliver did not hesitate to show a red card. Xhaka was sent off for the fifth time since joining Arsenal in 2016 and is the Premier League player who has received the most red cards in the same period.
Wonderful review
In the 6th minute, Henderson split the side, Robertson's low cross from the left side of the box, Firmino flicked his head forward to attack the goal and almost touched the ball. In the 11th minute, Arsenal made a passive substitution, Cedric was injured and could not hold on, and Chambers was replaced.
In the 13th minute, Takumi Minamino's cross from the left was met by White,who didn't kick in front of him, and Firmino missed the opportunity to strike from close range, sliding the ball past goal.
In the 24th minute, the situation on the field suddenly changed, Xhaka kicked Jota when he stretched out his foot to break the siege, referee Oliver directly showed a red card to send Xhaka off, Arsenal only 10 people left to fight, Arteta quickly replaced, Holden replaced Nketia.
With 1 less man, Arsenal took the initiative to recycle the formation to play counter-attack, in the absence of Mane and Salah, Liverpool could not open the situation for a while, Klopp also hoped to change the situation through a substitution, Jones replaced the veteran Milner.
In the 68th minute, Robertson went straight in, and Takumi Minamino inserted a low shot from a small angle in time, but unfortunately this foot was deflected.
In the 72nd minute, Tierney's arcing cross from the left was missed by Saka's first stop in the penalty area, and Alisson came out in time to save the situation.
Liverpool replaced Chamberlain, Williams and Jones in succession, but the Reds were never able to break arsenal's big bus, and finally 10-man Arsenal maintained a 0-0 score until the end, which was an acceptable result for the Gunners.
Liverpool line-up: 1 Alisson/66-Arnold (76-Williams 76'), 32-Matip (12-Gomez 76'), 4-Van Dijk, 26-Robertson/3-Fabinho (15-Chamberlain 75'), 14-Henderson, 7-Milner (17-Jones 61')/20-Jota, 9-Firmino, 18-Takumi Mino
Arsenal line-up: 32-Ramsdale/17-Cedric (21-Chambers 11'), 4-White, 6-Gabriel, 3-Tierney/23-Lokuna, 34-Xhaka/7-Saka, 9-Lacazette, 35-Martinelli/30-Nketiah (16-Holden 28')