Carabao Cup: Diogo Jota Scores Brace as Liverpool Silence Arsenal to Reach Final

Carabao Cup: Diogo Jota Scores Brace as Liverpool Silence Arsenal to Reach Final

Fred Kennedy
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:54 PM
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  • Arsenal vs Liverpool Carabao Cup semi-final ended in a 2-0 win for the Reds
  • Diogo Jota struck once in either half of the clash to send Liverpool to the final of the tournament
  • The Redds will now face off against Chelsea at Wembley for a chance to lift the trophy

Liverpool have booked a place in the final of this season's Carabao Cup after seeing off Arsenal in an epic two-legged semi-final.

Liverpool's Diogo Jota celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Carabao Cup semi final second leg match at the Emirates Stadium (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
Liverpool will now take on Chelsea in the final of the tournament, with Arsenal now forced to shift their focus on qualifying for the top four. Photo by Adam Davy.
Source: Getty Images

The Reds sailed through on a 2-0 goal aggregate after silencing the Gunners at the Emirates in the second leg of the fixture on Thursday night, January 20.

Despite missing the services of key players including Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Naby Keita who are on international assignment, Jurgen Klopp's men did enough to down the hosts to qualify.

There was everything to play for during the return leg of the tie after the two sides settled for a barren draw when they faced off in the first leg at Anfield.

At the time, a spirited Arsenal side held firm to hold Liverpool despite playing a man less for the better part of the match after Granit Xhaka saw a red card in the first half.

However, it was a different ball game altogether at Emirates as Klopp's charges dominated proceedings to earn their ticket to the final of the league cup.

Diogo Jota was Liverpool's match hero as he scored both goals to steer his side to a comfortable win.

The Portuguese broke the deadlock in the 19th minute after his scuff wrong-footed Ramsdale to dribble into the bottom left.

He went on to double the advantage in the 77th minute after he was brilliantly set up by Alexander-Arnold who raked a cross in from the right to allow the ex-Wolves man fire home.

Things went from bad to worse for Arsenal in the closing stages of the tie after Thomas Partey, fresh from the AFCON heartache with Ghana was shown a red card for a dangerous challenge on Fabinho.

Liverpool will now take on Chelsea in the final of the tournament, with Arsenal now forced to shift their focus on qualifying for the top four.

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Fred Kennedy
Editor - Europe Team