Liverpool v Arsenal player ratings: Van Dijk 6, Firmino 4; Saka 8, Xhaka 2

Gunners gold out for goalless draw at Anfield after playing more than an hour with 10 men in League Cup semi-final first leg

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  LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6. The Brazilian had a quiet evening but made a fine close-range save from Saka. He cut out danger by being quick off the line. AFP

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  Trent Alexander-Arnold - 4. The 23-year-old’s distribution was unusually poor and he created little in a sluggish performance. Williams replaced him with 14 minutes to go Getty Images

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  Joel Matip - 6. The 30-year-old was secure at the back and not scared of stepping into midfield with the ball at his feet. He was withdrawn for Gomez in the 76th minute. Getty Images

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  Virgil van Dijk - 6. The Dutchman was rarely out of his comfort zone and did not need to be at his best as Arsenal concentrated on defending. His passing was effective. AFP

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  Andrew Robertson - 5. The Scot’s diagonal ball led to Xhaka’s sending off but it was a rare pinpoint effort. Most of the time his crossing and passing were less precise. Getty Images

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  Fabinho - 5. The Brazilian was tidy on the ball without ever worrying Arsenal. Usually he controls the pace of the game but that was not the case here and he was replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain with 15 minutes left. Reuters

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  James Milner - 4. The 36-year-old was often a bystander as the ball pinged around the midfield. He never got to the pace of the game and made way for Jones just after the hour. AFP

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  Jordan Henderson - 5. The captain was not short on effort but lacked quality. He became less effective in the second half, when he looked heavy-legged. Reuters

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  Diogo Jota - 5. The Portuguese forced Xhaka into his red-card offence but that was one of the rare occasions he found space behind the defence. For most of the time he was crowded out. EPA

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  Roberto Firmino - 4. The Brazilian looked bright when he was on the ball but that was not very often. He faded into the background when he needed to lead the line. Getty Images

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  Takumi Minamino - 4. The Japanese did not impose himself. He was swamped by defenders and when his big chance came late on, he lacked composure. AFP

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  SUBS: Curtis Jones (Milner 61') - 6. The 20-year-old replaced Milner in the 61st minute. He brought some vigour to a midfield that lacked energy but could not unlock the defence. PA

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  Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Fabinho 75') - 4. The 28-year-old was given 15 minutes against his former club when Fabinho departed. He could not find much space and his touch was poor. Reuters

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  Joe Gomez (Matip 76') - 6. The 24-year-old came on for the last 14 minutes and eased to the final whistle without too many worries. AFP

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  Neco Williams (Alexander-Arnold 76') - 6. A lively cameo from the Welshman, who joined the action in the 76th minute for Alexander-Arnold. He provided some extra thrust down the right. EPA

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  ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 7. The 23-year-old must have expected a busier night. What he needed to do, he did well and handled a late barrage of crosses with ease. Getty Images

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  Cedric Soares - 5. The Portuguese limped off and was replaced by Chambers after 11 minutes. He did not get the opportunity to get into the game. Getty Images

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  Ben White - 8. A strong display from the 24-year-old. His positional sense was good and he made some significant tackles, blocks and interceptions. Reuters

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  Gabriel - 7. The Brazilian was too far upfield during the counterattack that led to Xhaka’s sending off but he grew in stature afterwards. He was disciplined and effective under pressure. AP

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  Kieran Tierney - 7. The Scot was restrained going forward after his team went down to ten men but he was able to show off the defensive side of his game. He teed up Saka for a chance in the second half. Getty Images

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  Albert Sambi Lokonga - 6. The Belgian started poorly but did his best to fill the void left by Xhaka. He was much more comfortable when not asked to be creative. PA

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  Granit Xhaka - 2. The Swiss is a liability. He knew where Jota was but still swung a boot in a manner that could only lead to a 24th-minute red card. Too slow in pace and thought. Reuters

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  Bukayo Saka - 8. The 20-year-old was his team’s main threat, even when they were a man short. He will rue his poor touch that allowed Alisson to gather his close-range shot but he worried the defence. Tavares replaced him with nine minutes left. AFP

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  Alexandre Lacazette - 7. The Frenchman put in a shift, holding the ball up and tracking back to help the weakened midfield. He was exhausted by the final whistle. AFP

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  Gabriel Martinelli - 7. The 20-year-old was mature enough to restrict his attacking instincts and drop back to help out his defence. He pressed Liverpool ballcarriers relentlessly. Getty Images

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  Eddie Nketiah - 6. The 22-year-old suffered from Xhaka’s moment of madness. He was withdrawn for Holding in Arsenal’s 28th-minute reshuffle. AP

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  Calum Chambers (Soares 11') - 7. The 26-year-old got onto the pitch early when Cedric limped off. The centre back handled Minamino with ease and was dominant in the air. Reuters

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  Rob Holding – 7 (Nketiah 28'). The 26-year-old was drafted into the defence in the 28th minute at Nketiah’s expense after Arsenal went down to 10 men. He was ready for the battle and made numerous clearances with his head and boot. AP

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  Nuno Tavares (Saka 81') - 5. The Portuguese replaced Saka with nine minutes remaining. He screened the defence but made scant impact going forward. Reuters

Liverpool were held to a goalless draw by 10-man Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final first leg on Thursday at Anfield where the visitors defended superbly after Granit Xhaka's early sending off.

Switzerland international midfielder Xhaka was shown a red card in the 24th minute for a high challenge on Diogo Jota at the edge of the area, catching the Portuguese forward in the ribs and denying him a scoring opportunity.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta responded by bringing on defender Rob Holding in place of striker Eddie Nketiah, the hat-trick hero against League One side Sunderland in the quarter-finals, leaving Alexandre Lacazette as the lone man up front.

Despite Liverpool enjoying most of the possession, Arsenal kept them out with an impressive performance under pressure as the hosts looked toothless without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who are playing at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Arsenal's best chance came in the 71st minute when Bukayo Sako forced a save from Alisson, while Liverpool's Takumi Minamino missed a golden opportunity when he fired over the bar from close range in the 90th.

The first leg was originally scheduled for last week at Arsenal but postponed because of the Covid-19 situation at Liverpool. The winners after next week's second leg in London will face Chelsea in the final at Wembley on February 27.

Assessing the performances at Anfield, Tony Evans has provided his player ratings in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.