Diogo Jota double sets up Liverpool win over Arsenal to reach League Cup final

Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita still away on African Nations Cup duty, came under early pressure and Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette hit the woodwork with a free kick. 

Diogo Jota’s double earned Liverpool a comfortable 2-0 win at Arsenal in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final on Thursday, setting up a Wembley showdown against Chelsea. Arsenal chiselled out a 0-0 draw at Anfield last week despite playing most of the first lead with 10 men after Granit Xhaka`s early red card, but all that sweat and toil ultimately counted for nothing.

Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita still away on African Nations Cup duty, came under early pressure and Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette hit the woodwork with a free kick. But a flowing Liverpool move in the 19th minute ended with Jota`s shot creeping inside the post.

Arsenal lacked conviction after that and Jota secured Liverpool’s passage with a neat finish in the 77th minute – the goal initially ruled offside but allowed after a VAR check. To cap a dismal night for Arsenal they had Thomas Partey sent off for a second yellow after a late foul on Fabinho.