Liverpool To Face Chelsea In Carabao Cup Final.

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What a journey it was for Liverpool as they had to weather the storm against Arsenal. The first leg was a tightly contested affair as both sides couldn't get one over the other and they played a stalemate. Liverpool went 2 goals better this time around on Arsenal's turf for the second leg encounter and got themselves booked for the final showpiece against Chelsea, thanks to a double from Diogo Jota.

It remains to be seen who would go home with the trophy but there is no ruling anyone out. Maybe Chelsea would have preferred a better option like Arsenal but still, Chelsea can take comfort in the fact that they always play well in the final. It would be a tough match with Mane or Salah due to have been back before the final showpiece and hopefully, Chelsea's form would have improved before then too. It promises to be a cracker.

Arsenal would have been ahead as early as the 8th minute after the skipper of the night; Lacazette rattles the crossbar with the freekick duty he took just outside the box. He was unlucky not to have scored and a little lower, the ball would have gone in even though the goalkeeper got a slight touch to nudge it unto the crossbar.

The offside flag denied Liverpool a goal in the 13th minute after a lovely corner kick delivery was headed into the path of Joel Matip by Fabinho. He had the easiest of tap in for the goal but was correctly ruled out for offside.

Firmino's deft stylish touch to Alexander Arnold was well received and with his range of vision he picked out Diogo Jota in the 19th minute and his drive, pace and individual brilliance helped him elude everyone as he stylishly strolled the ball into the back of the net to give Liverpool the lead, even though Ramsdale should have done better to prevent that ball. There wasn't much power on the strike neither was it perfectly placed into the angle but the goalkeeper could argue about blocked vision and Jota was clever enough to know when to release the ball as he kept Liverpool halfway into the final showdown.

Arsenal had a penalty shout in the 28th minute after Martinelli went down in the box but the referee waved play on and wasn't having any of it because it showed that Fabinho clearly touched the ball first to knock it off Martinelli.

Liverpool were hoping to start the second half as they did the first and would have gone ahead if the brilliant header from Konate didn't strike the upright in the 58th minute after a lovely corner-kick delivery. Henderson got the rebound but his effort lacked pace and power and would probably have been ruled for offside too.

In the 72nd minute, Martinelli drove on the byline and his attempted cross cum shot almost beat the goalkeeper at the near post if not for his alertness to keep the ball out for a corner kick, Arsenal would have been right back in it. Jota finally dented any hope of a comeback from Arsenal 5 minutes later after a clever long pass from Alexander Arnold picked out Diogo Jota and he cleverly held his ground as he lifted the ball over the on-rushing goalkeeper to steer the ball into the back of the net. He was flagged for offside but after the VAR review, it showed that Gabriel kept Jota on-side and the goal stood.

Martinelli seems to be the bright one for this Arsenal side and he had a half-turned volley with the chance that fell to him inside the box but he was unable to keep his effort down as it went over the bar in the 80th minute. The game got worse for Arsenal as Partey was shown a red card for a clumsy challenge on Fabinho and the referee showed him the second yellow before giving him his marching orders.

Liverpool saw the game through as they were 2-0 worthy winners to set up their final clash against Chelsea.

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Thank you for your time.

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