Diogo Jota Score Brace Against Arsenal, Sends Liverpool To Wembley
Liverpool will face Chelsea in the final of the Carabao Cup after seeing off Arsenal 2-0 in the semi-finals on aggregate.
Diogo Jota was the difference-maker on the night, notching once in each half to lead his side to an ultimately comfortable victory.
For Arsenal, it will feel like an opportunity missed given they faced a Liverpool side without both Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, but Jota is every bit a key man for Jurgen Klopp these days and in tandem with Roberto Firmino and promising youngster Kaide Gordon, they had too much for the Gunners.
Both coaches selected strong XIs for the second leg tie at the Emirates Stadium, with the likes of Caoimhe Kelleher and Gordon arguably the only players not currently in contention for Premier League starting spots.
And it was the hosts who made the early running, with Alexandre Lacazette hitting the bar in just the fourth minute.
Jota though was proving to be a menace and gave the visitors the lead from the edge of the area after his scuffed shot had deceived Aaron Ramsdale.
The Reds kept their lead until the break, but thereafter Arsenal had chances to get back into the tie through Lacazette and Emile Smith Rowe.
But they went begging, and Jota was on hand to give his side the cushion they wanted on 77 minutes.
The Portuguese’s wonderful dink over Ramsdale had initially been ruled out for offside but a VAR check proved the contrary and it stood, sparking wild celebrations among the travelling support.
Arsenal’s misery was compounded when Thomas Partey – who had only come on in the 74th minute – saw red for two yellow cards in the space of three minutes at the end of the game.
That will further deplete boss Mikel Arteta’s squad ahead of a critical run of Premier League fixtures for the Gunners, beginning on Saturday at home to Burnley.
