Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal
Two big guns bidding for a trip down Wembley Way, two clubs naming strong sides for the first leg of this EFL Cup semi-final, this meeting very different to their clashes in this competition over the past two seasons.
Both those ties – a goal feast and a goalless draw – had been decided by penalty shoot-outs as understrength Liverpool teams won one and lost one to their London rivals.
This time was different.
For a start, it was at a much later stage in the competition but also the starting line-ups indicated how much the respective managers wanted to win the right to face Chelsea at Wembley on February 27.
Highlights of the game
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp named virtually the strongest line-up he could with the exception of front duo Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah who are at the African Cup of Nations.
That meant a return for defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and goalkeeper Alisson because of Covid, along with Joel Matip, captain Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino, as well as a place in the starting XI for Takumi Minamino.
Arsenal, who suffered an FA Cup third-round exit at the hands of Championship side Nottingham Forest, had even more missing due to the tournament with the out of favour Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe, Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey all away and Martin Odegaard absent after testing positive for Covid.
Mikel Arteta did bring Aaron Ramsdale, Gabriel, Kieran Tierney, Granit Xhaka and Alexandre Lacazette back into the team following that cup reverse with Bernd Leno, Rob Holding and Nuno Tavares dropping to the bench.
Ah yes, Granit Xhaka.
A player that has divided opinion and tested the patience of his managers and the fans. Clumsy fouls, yellow and red cards, leaving the field of play whilst arguing and swearing at supporters, removing his shirt, and even a physical assault to the list of indiscretions.
The Swiss midfielder has lived to fight another day on a number of occasions, even if not necessarily compatible with what Arteta is trying to achieve.
Yet here again was a player putting unnecessary pressure on a vulnerable and fractured side, this time in a crucial tie.
It was approaching the midway point of the first half when backtracking furiously, Xhaka stretched out a leg to try to cut out the ball but mistimed it and caught frontman Jota in the chest, bringing him down at the edge of the box.
Although an honest attempt for the ball, it was a clear foul and a goalscoring chance and the latest in a list of his misdemeanours in an Arsenal shirt.
A dismissal which will rule him out of next week’s second leg, Arteta had already seen his threadbare squad hit just 11 minutes in after defender Cedric Soares had to leave the fray.
And following Xhaka’s red card, he quickly brought on another defender in Rob Holding to tighten up the rearguard as the visitors changed shape – striker Eddie Nketiah the unlucky one making way.
At this point, the SBOTOP League Cup betting odds would not only have increased even more in favour of the hosts, but home fans could well have been anticipating a fun evening.
Under Klopp, Liverpool have scored more goals against Arsenal in all competitions (43) than they have versus any other opponent.
Surprisingly then, despite controlling the ball for long spells, the first effort on target did not arrive until the 71st minute and it was actually from Arsenal when Kieran Tierney played a superb ball in from the left and Bukayo Saka’s excellent control and early shot was saved by the knee of Alisson.
Arsenal’s bad luck got even worse 10 minutes from time when the limping Saka had to leave the field, replaced by yet another defender in Tavares – in his defence, Arteta had few options.
With a minute remaining, Liverpool seemed set to break Arsenal’s resistance but Minamino blazed over from close range.
And that was that. No thanks to Xhaka, Arsenal and Arteta had proved they can be disciplined defensively, tireless and resolute against all the odds against stronger opponents.
A goalless draw but all the League Cup highlights belong to them tonight.
Key statistics
Since his debut season in 2016-17, no Premier League player has been sent off more times in all competitions than Xhaka (five).
What’s next?
Both sides are back in action in the Premier League on Sunday (January 16) with Liverpool hosting Brentford and Arsenal at Spurs for the North London derby. It’s then back to the Emirates for the second leg of this tie a week tonight (January 20).
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