League Cup: Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal Zaka red Takumi Minamino missed a great opportunity

In the early morning of January 14, Beijing time, the first leg of the 2021-22 English League Cup, the previously postponed Liverpool and Arsenal match began to compete. In the end, Liverpool drew 0-0 at home to Arsenal, leaving suspense in the second leg.

In this game, both teams faced personnel problems and did not send the strongest squad to play. For Liverpool, Thiago, Elliott, Origi and Phillips are sidelined due to injury, while Salah, Mane and Keita leave for the Africa Cup of Nations. Goalkeepers Alisson and Alexander-Arnold returned to start. For Arsenal, Fuan Jianyang, Odegaard and Smith Ronaldo were sidelined due to injury, while Aubameyang, Herneny, Pepe and Parteyi did not make the squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

After the start of the first half, Arsenal suffered a blow in the 11th minute, and defender Cedric was injured and the team was forced to make a substitution adjustment. In the 24th minute, Robertson's long pass from the back, accurately found Jota, and in the case of almost forming a single knife, he was brought down from behind by Xhaka, and the referee showed the arsenal midfield a red card directly. At half-time, the two sides drew 0-0.

In the second half, Liverpool continued to step up their attack. In the 68th and 69th minutes, Liverpool played two consecutive counter-attacks, and Takushi Minamino's shot deflected off the goalpost. The closest the two sides came to the 90th minute when Chamberlain's cross from the penalty area hit Rumsdale, and the ball bounced off Takushi Minamino's feet to face the empty goal. In the end, both sides will break through the opponent's goal in the usual time, and the winner will be known in the second leg.

Line-ups for both sides:

Liverpool: 1 Alisson/66-Arnold (76 minutes, 76-Neck Williams), 4-Van Dijk, 32-Matip (76 minutes, 12-Gomez), 26-Robertson/14-Henderson, 3-Fabinho (76 minutes, 15 Chamberlain), 7-Milner (61 minutes, 17-Jones)/18-Takushi Minano, 9-Firmino, 20-Jota

Arsenal: 32-Ramsdale/17-Cedric (11 mins, 21 Chambers), 4-White, 6-Gabriel, 3-Tierney/34-Xhaka, 23-Lokunga/35-Martinelli, 9-Lacazette, 7-Saka (81min, 20-Tavares)/30-Nketiah (28min, 16-Holden)