• ARSENAL RATINGS - Aaron Ramsdale - 4: The 23-year-old was caught in a poor position for the opening goal and was uncertain throughout. His distribution was not up to scratch. AFP
    ARSENAL RATINGS - Aaron Ramsdale - 4: The 23-year-old was caught in a poor position for the opening goal and was uncertain throughout. His distribution was not up to scratch. AFP
  • Takehiro Tomiyasu - 3: The Japanese never got to the pace of the game. He was left looking foolish by Jota for the first goal and his passing was awful. AFP
    Takehiro Tomiyasu - 3: The Japanese never got to the pace of the game. He was left looking foolish by Jota for the first goal and his passing was awful. AFP
  • Ben White - 5: The 24-year-old was generally solid except for a flatfooted response to Jota before Gordon’s chance. His use of the ball was wasteful under the Liverpool press. AFP
    Ben White - 5: The 24-year-old was generally solid except for a flatfooted response to Jota before Gordon’s chance. His use of the ball was wasteful under the Liverpool press. AFP
  • Gabriel - 3: The Brazilian was caught out of position for the first goal and played Jota onside for the second. He lacked the confidence to play out from the back. Getty
    Gabriel - 3: The Brazilian was caught out of position for the first goal and played Jota onside for the second. He lacked the confidence to play out from the back. Getty
  • Kieran Tierney - 6: The Scot got up and down the line and combined nicely with Martinelli. One of the team’s better performers who used the ball efficiently. Reuters
    Kieran Tierney - 6: The Scot got up and down the line and combined nicely with Martinelli. One of the team’s better performers who used the ball efficiently. Reuters
  • Albert Sambi Lokonga - 6: The Belgian had some good moments, notably when he created a good chance for Lacazette. He tried to match Liverpool by pressing hard. AFP
    Albert Sambi Lokonga - 6: The Belgian had some good moments, notably when he created a good chance for Lacazette. He tried to match Liverpool by pressing hard. AFP
  • Martin Odegaard - 5: The Norwegian sat in a deep role looking to generate attacks. His passing was pedestrian, though, and had little impact. EPA
    Martin Odegaard - 5: The Norwegian sat in a deep role looking to generate attacks. His passing was pedestrian, though, and had little impact. EPA
  • Bukayo Saka - 4: The 20-year-old was overwhelmed by Robertson and went missing for long periods. By the end he had ceased to be a factor. PA
    Bukayo Saka - 4: The 20-year-old was overwhelmed by Robertson and went missing for long periods. By the end he had ceased to be a factor. PA
  • Emile Smith Rowe - 4: Slack passing and substandard pressing characterised the 21-year-old’s performance. He seemed to lack match fitness. AFP
    Emile Smith Rowe - 4: Slack passing and substandard pressing characterised the 21-year-old’s performance. He seemed to lack match fitness. AFP
  • Gabriel Martinelli - 7: The Brazilian was lively in the first half and gave Alexander-Arnold problems. Life was more difficult after the break when Liverpool adjusted and doubled up on him. AFP
    Gabriel Martinelli - 7: The Brazilian was lively in the first half and gave Alexander-Arnold problems. Life was more difficult after the break when Liverpool adjusted and doubled up on him. AFP
  • Alexandre Lacazette - 4: The Frenchman hit the woodwork with a free kick but wasted his team’s best chance by blazing over the bar. AFP
    Alexandre Lacazette - 4: The Frenchman hit the woodwork with a free kick but wasted his team’s best chance by blazing over the bar. AFP
  • SUBS: Eddie Nketiah - (On for Lacazette 74') 5: The 22-year-old was sent on to inject some energy into the side. He saw too little of the ball to influence matters. Reuters
    SUBS: Eddie Nketiah - (On for Lacazette 74') 5: The 22-year-old was sent on to inject some energy into the side. He saw too little of the ball to influence matters. Reuters
  • Thomas Partey - (On for Smith Rowe 74') 2: The Ghanaian got off the plane from the Africa Cup of Nations and was on the pitch in a matter of hours. After his two yellow cards, Arsenal were wishing his flight had been delayed. AFP
    Thomas Partey - (On for Smith Rowe 74') 2: The Ghanaian got off the plane from the Africa Cup of Nations and was on the pitch in a matter of hours. After his two yellow cards, Arsenal were wishing his flight had been delayed. AFP
  • Caoimhin Kelleher - 7: The Irishman touched Lacazette’s free-kick on to the woodwork and controlled his area with confidence. His distribution was impressive. AFP
    Caoimhin Kelleher - 7: The Irishman touched Lacazette’s free-kick on to the woodwork and controlled his area with confidence. His distribution was impressive. AFP
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold - 8: The 23-year-old won his battle with Martinelli and played in Jota for both goals. The diagonal ball for the second was exceptional. EPA
    Trent Alexander-Arnold - 8: The 23-year-old won his battle with Martinelli and played in Jota for both goals. The diagonal ball for the second was exceptional. EPA
  • Joel Matip - 5: The centre back was not too disturbed by the Arsenal attack but his passing was uncharacteristically poor. He was replaced at half time. Reuters
    Joel Matip - 5: The centre back was not too disturbed by the Arsenal attack but his passing was uncharacteristically poor. He was replaced at half time. Reuters
  • Virgil van Dijk - 6: The Dutchman was a bit tentative in the opening period and lacked authority. He improved after the break. EPA
    Virgil van Dijk - 6: The Dutchman was a bit tentative in the opening period and lacked authority. He improved after the break. EPA
  • Andrew Robertson - 7: The Scot kept Saka quiet and imposed himself going forward. As the game went on he put more and more pressure on the defence. Getty
    Andrew Robertson - 7: The Scot kept Saka quiet and imposed himself going forward. As the game went on he put more and more pressure on the defence. Getty
  • Fabinho - 7: After a slow start the Brazilian took control of the midfield. He ensured Arsenal could not gain any momentum in the centre of the field. AP
    Fabinho - 7: After a slow start the Brazilian took control of the midfield. He ensured Arsenal could not gain any momentum in the centre of the field. AP
  • Jordan Henderson - 6: The captain ranged around the midfield early on but benefitted from a more disciplined approach after Liverpool took the lead. Reuters
    Jordan Henderson - 6: The captain ranged around the midfield early on but benefitted from a more disciplined approach after Liverpool took the lead. Reuters
  • Curtis Jones - 8: The 20-year-old drove the team forward and made the defence backpedal. Once the game was won he was more cautious and kept the ball away from Arsenal. EPA
    Curtis Jones - 8: The 20-year-old drove the team forward and made the defence backpedal. Once the game was won he was more cautious and kept the ball away from Arsenal. EPA
  • Kaide Gordon - 6: The 17-year-old will rue the glorious chance he missed in the second half. He worked hard and tracked back and can be pleased with his efforts. Getty
    Kaide Gordon - 6: The 17-year-old will rue the glorious chance he missed in the second half. He worked hard and tracked back and can be pleased with his efforts. Getty
  • Roberto Firmino - 6: The Brazilian went under the radar in the first half but got on the ball more after the break. AFP
    Roberto Firmino - 6: The Brazilian went under the radar in the first half but got on the ball more after the break. AFP
  • Soccer Football - Carabao Cup - Semi Final - Second Leg - Arsenal v Liverpool - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - January 20, 2022 Liverpool's Diogo Jota scores their second goal REUTERS / Ian Walton TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
    Soccer Football - Carabao Cup - Semi Final - Second Leg - Arsenal v Liverpool - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - January 20, 2022 Liverpool's Diogo Jota scores their second goal REUTERS / Ian Walton TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
  • SUBS: Ibrahima Konate - (On for Matip 46') 6: The Frenchman joined the action after half time and made the defence more secure. He was unfortunate to hit the post with a header after a corner. Reuters
    SUBS: Ibrahima Konate - (On for Matip 46') 6: The Frenchman joined the action after half time and made the defence more secure. He was unfortunate to hit the post with a header after a corner. Reuters
  • Takumi Minamino - (On for Gordon 63') 6: The Japanese missed a reasonable chance to score but scuttled around eagerly. EPA
    Takumi Minamino - (On for Gordon 63') 6: The Japanese missed a reasonable chance to score but scuttled around eagerly. EPA
  • James Milner - (On for Henderson 75') 6: The 36-year-old knows how to close out a game and applied that knowledge here. Getty
    James Milner - (On for Henderson 75') 6: The 36-year-old knows how to close out a game and applied that knowledge here. Getty
  • Neco Williams - (On for Firmino 84') N/A. The 20-year-old's most notable contribution was to be on the receiving end of Partey’s stupid challenge. EPA
    Neco Williams - (On for Firmino 84') N/A. The 20-year-old's most notable contribution was to be on the receiving end of Partey’s stupid challenge. EPA

Arsenal v Liverpool player ratings: Saka 4, Partey 2; Alexander-Arnold 8, Jota 9


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Liverpool reached the League Cup final for the first time in six years as Diogo Jota’s brace was enough to seal semi-final success at the expense of 10-man Arsenal.

After a goalless first leg at Anfield last week, Jota’s first-half daisycutter caught Aaron Ramsdale flat-footed and he then saw a second-half VAR check rule he was onside following a smart finish as Liverpool won 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

To top off a miserable night for Arsenal, Thomas Partey — who only returned from the Africa Cup of Nations earlier in the day — was sent off just 16 minutes after coming off the bench.

It means Jurgen Klopp’s Reds head to Wembley, where they will face Chelsea on February 27.

You can see the player ratings from the game in the gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

Updated: January 21, 2022, 4:58 AM