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Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal; hosts fail to take Semi-Final lead despite early Granit Xhaka red card.

10-man Arsenal comfortably hold lackless Liverpool to draw 0-0 in the Carabao Cup Semi-Final First-Leg.

Granit Xhaka was dismissed for Arsenal on the 24th minute, with the midfielder seeing red for denying a goal scoring opportunity. The Gunners former captain caught Liverpool forward Diogo Jota with a dangerously high challenge into the Portugal star’s midriff trying to intercept Andy Robertson’s cross field pass.

Takumi Minamino had the best chance of the game for the hosts with less than 30 seconds left of normal time to play. Former Gunner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain cross was not dealt with by ‘keeper Aaron Ramsdale, who’s failed punch dropped to the unmarked Japanese forward on the penalty spot. The winger horribly swung his boot at the ball, ballooning his right footed half volley well clear of the bar.

Minamino was the brightest spark for a Liverpool team missing their powerhouse forwards of Mohammad Salah and Sadio Mane, who are currently away at the African Cup of Nations.

The former Salzburg man, who arrived at Anfield in January 2019 has had to play back-up throughout his time in the Northwest, not only to Salah and Mane, but has been as further down the pecking order with Jota and former red Xherdan Shaqiri commanding his position.

To add to his last-minute effort, the 26 year old, who had a disappointing loan spell last season with Southampton, missed another golden chance which were sparse due to the defensive determination of the opposition.

Despite having the man advantage Liverpool struggled to threaten the visitor’s goal. Ben White denied the best chance of the first half for Jurgen Klopp’s side, intercepting Minamino’s low cross. The England centre-back diverted the ball away from Brazil forward Roberto Firmino, who would have had a simple tap-in from six yards out.

Liverpool registered over 40 touches in Arsenal’s penalty area, but Mikel Arteta’s side were the first to have a shot on target.

Kieran Tierney set up Bukayo Saka for the visiting side. The young Englishman, who has netted seven times this season, took a heavy touch, allowing home goalkeeper Alisson Becker to rush out of his net to smother the uncontrolled shot.  

“They never gave up even though it’s extremely difficult against this opponent,” Arteta told BBC.

“I said to the players before the game that you have to have a certain attitude and in difficult moments you have to react – I think the boys did that very well,” he added.

With Martin Odegaard out with COVID, and Thomas Partey with Ghana for AFCON, the dismissal for Xhaka, who will now miss the next three matches, including Sunday’s North London Derby, has come at the wrong time.

The second leg, now being played at the Emirates is scheduled for January 20th. Liverpool had lost their original home tie advantage due to last week’s COVID-19 postponement, a decision made in parallel with the eight-time winners announcing they had several false positives.

Both sides next match is on Sunday, with Liverpool hosting Brentford, and Arsenal traveling to the Tottenham Hotspurs Sadium for the North-London Derby.

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