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Liverpool and Arsenal played out a tense goalless draw at Anfield in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash.
The visitors were also reduced to 10-men in the 24th minute after Granit Xhaka was sent off for a nasty challenge on Diogo Jota. Yet Jurgen Klopp's swasbuckling side couldn't find a way past the resolute Gunners, who understandably offered no great shakes in the attack themselves.
Having been repeatedly battered at the stadium in recent times, this was a result that Arsenal will be proud of. It also tilts the balance in their favor ahead of the second leg at the Emirates.
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It's still all to play for next Thursday (20 January) as Chelsea wait to find out their opponents in the Wembley finals.
Here are the player ratings for Liverpool and Arsenal:
Liverpool Player Ratings
Alisson - 7/10
The Brazilian was rarely troubled in goal but made one key save and two punches on his competition debut. He had a clean sheet to go with that too.
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6/10
The marauding right-back looked subdued for much of the game, failing to conjure his usual attacking spark. None of his nine crosses amounted to anything either.
Joel Matip - 7.5/10
With the Gunners offering little attacking threat, Matip had the liberty to charge off his line and contribute offensively, while never putting a foot wrong in defense.
Virgil van Dijk - 6.5/10
He made one uncharacteristic mistake that allowed Saka to get in behind the defense but was otherwise great. Van Dijk made three clearances and won six aerial duels.
Andrew Robertson - 6.5/10
Robertson struggled defensively in coping with Saka but looked dangerous going forward, laying out three key passes.
Jordan Henderson - 6.5/10
The Liverpool skipper buzzed around with energy and purpose. Unfortunately, the players around him couldn't match his intensity.
Fabinho - 6/10
The Brazilian looked sloppy in possession, losing the ball on a few occasions, but dictated play as the deepest-lying midfielder. He was substituted after 75 minutes.
James Milner - 6/10
He worked hard both on and off the ball but couldn't pull up any trees and was taken off right after the hour mark. Milner managed no key passes or shots on target but did make one tackle.
Diogo Jota - 6/10
Without his African attacking cohort, Jota looked lost. His influence on the game was minimal, failing to take a single shot all night.
Roberto Firmino - 6/10
The striker failed to connect with a few crosses, thereby seeing some promising attacking moves come to nothing. Like Jota, he too couldn't fire a single effort at goal all night.
Takumi Minamino - 6.5/10
Of all Liverpool players, he came closest to scoring, connecting with a decisive cross that called Arsenal custodian Aaron Ramsdale into action. But he saw another great chance go to waste with a terrible finish.
Substitutes
Curtis Jones - 6.5/10
He looked bright after coming on for Milner in the 61st minute.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 5/10
The midfielder was totally anonymous and couldn't help his side get the decisive goal after replacing Fabinho with 15 minutes to go.
Joe Gomez - 6/10
Gomez maintained Liverpool's defensive shape for the final few minutes of the match, but wasn't troubled much by Arsenal.
Neco Williams - 5/10
He constantly looked contribute in attack after being brought on for Alexander-Arnold in the 76th minute but his crosses went awry.
Arsenal Player Ratings
Aaron Ramsdale - 7/10
Arsenal keeper Ramsdale looked nervous early on, making two mistakes which nearly led to a Liverpool goal. But he soon gained his footing in the match and even made a good late save.
Cedric Soares - N/A
He lasted only 11 minutes into the match as an injury ended his night prematurely.
Ben White - 8.5/10
It was a warrior-like performance from White, who frustrated Liverpool all night with his defensive prowess. He made a game-high seven clearances, blocked three shots, made three interceptions and completed three tackles to boot.
Gabriel - 7/10
He held his ground well against Liverpool's high press, making five clearances and two interceptions, though he got ahead of himself at times. Gabriel was also booked in the 72nd minute.
Kieran Tierney - 6.5/10
The Scotsman couldn't exert his usual attacking influence but came up trumps defensively. Tierney made four clearances, one block and an interception to help Arsenal keep a clean sheet.
Bukayo Saka - 7/10
He pounced on a mistake by Van Dijk before taking a shot, but it was saved by Alisson. Saka was the only real threat for Arsenal going forward and also had a shot blocked later on.
Albert Sambi Lokonga - 6/10
He struggled to cope with the Reds' intensity and found life more difficult after Xhaka was sent off.
Granit Xhaka - 3/10
The Swiss international forced Arsenal to play with 10 men for over 60 minutes after getting sent off for a silly but dangerous studs-up challenge on Jota. He was lucky that his side still managed to come away with a draw.
Gabriel Martinelli - 6/10
The Brazilian struggled to replicate his usual form on the night, failing to muster a single shot on goal.
Alexandre Lacazette - 7/10
His cheeky shot from range didn't come to anything but Lacazette remained a thorn in Liverpool's side with his high press. He made a few crucial ball recoveries as well.
Eddie Nketiah - 4/10
He was totally anonymous in the match and was taken off following Xhaka's red card in a tactical switch by Arteta.
Substitutes
Calum Chambers - 7/10
The 26-year-old was an upgrade on Cedric Soares, showing nerves of steel and fighting Liverpool attackers tooth and nail.
Rob Holding - 7/10
Holding came on for Nketiah and helped the side out immensely in defense, making five clearances and one interception.
Nuno Tavares - N/A
The Portuguese youngster was on the field for the final 10 minutes of the match but was barely seen.
