The League Cup semi-final was perfectly balanced going into the second leg. Would Mikel Arteta make it through to his second final as a manager, or would Jürgen Klopp be given the opportunity to avenge his loss in the 2016 final?
With the North London derby against Tottenham postponed, Arsenal hadn’t played since the first leg. With Takehiro Tomiyasu and Emile Smith Rowe back from injury and Martin Odegaard recovering from Covid, they returned to the starting eleven, replacing Eddie Nketiah, the injured Cédric Soares and suspended Granit Xhaka. Arsenal lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape.
Klopp made just two changes to the team that easily beat Brentford at the weekend, swapping out Alisson Becker and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Caoimhin Kelleher and Kaide Gordon. Liverpool set up in their usual 4-3-3 formation.
Arsenal came into this game with yet another pressing scheme to disrupt Liverpool’s build-up – a different one in every match against the Reds. This time they typically started in more of a mid-block before stepping up to pressure when Liverpool played wide or backwards, but they started to engage higher up the pitch more and more as they got more comfortable. Alexandre Lacazette would step up to pick up Virgil van Dijk, whereas Smith Rowe would hold back in midfield next to Fabinho before stepping up to pressure Joël Matip when the Cameroonian received the ball. He would block the pass into Fabinho, while Odegaard would often step up onto the Brazilian to stop him going free. Arsenal made it difficult to play out for Liverpool and were frequently able to win the ball back in Liverpool’s half, albeit usually closer to the half-way line than the final third.
Arsenal’s set-up wasn’t perfect though. The first problem was that by having Smith Rowe initially hover around Fabinho, they gave Matip time on the ball, so he could potentially pick out a pass even with Smith Rowe running at him.
Secondly, Curtis Jones would drop in next to Fabinho. If Odegaard left Jones to step across onto Fabinho when Smith Rowe pressed Matip then Jones was free to receive the ball, or if Odegaard stuck with Jones then Fabinho was left free in midfield. Bukayo Saka would sometimes help by tucking inside to block passes into Jones, however he would have to desert Jones in order to close down Andy Robertson, and tucking inside too far would give the Scot time on the ball like Matip.
Thirdly, with Odegaard pushing forward onto Fabinho or with Jones, and Albert Sambi Lokonga often pulled forward following Jordan Henderson, there was space between the lines for Roberto Firmino to receive the ball, either going free or dragging a defender out of the backline. Combine this with the first two issues, and Liverpool could play through Arsenal’s press: either Matip could find Firmino, or Liverpool could find Fabinho or Jones in midfield, who could find Firmino.
This is how Liverpool took the lead. With Odegaard and Sambi Lokonga drawn forward, there was space behind them for Firmino to drop into, while Matip had space to take a touch and pass into him before Smith Rowe was on top of him. Gabriel raced out to meet Firmino but the Brazilian flicked the ball on to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who spread the ball out to Diogo Jota. The Portuguese took a lovely touch around Tomiyasu, light enough that Ben White couldn’t come across to cover, cutting inside and firing past Aaron Ramsdale, whose wide stance meant the ball had bobbled past him before he could dive, unable to retreat his leg quick enough.
Arsenal had been defending well, but Liverpool are very good at playing around a press and Arsenal weren’t doing enough in attack to force them back. Arsenal would win the ball back then immediately spring a direct pass forward, handing possession straight back to Liverpool. This meant Liverpool might lose the ball when playing out, but they would have another go at it seconds later.
After going behind, Arsenal began to show more patience in possession. Tomiyasu would stay back in line with the centre-backs, while Odegaard and Sambi Lokonga flanked Firmino, playing out in a 3-2 structure. Arsenal would usually end up playing it down the line out wide though, where Liverpool could easily trap them against the touchline.
Liverpool were happy to sit back more and more in the second half, and Takumi Minamino would track back into midfield once he was introduced for Gordon, so that Liverpool often resembled a 4-4-2 out of possession.
Arsenal were unable to come close to breaking Liverpool down and Jota got his second to seal Liverpool’s victory with ten minutes to go. Liverpool simply regained possession and Alexander-Arnold hit a pass over the top for Jota making a run in behind, taking a touch and lobbing Ramsdale.
Liverpool advanced to the final.
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