Arsenal down to Liverpool after penalty – VG

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta claimed before the league cup deal at Anfield that his London side had adjusted “things” as a result of Liverpool’s defeat (1-3) at the same venue last Monday, when the local team’s newest acquisition from Portugal, Diogo Jota, scored on his Liverpool debut.

– But you are aware of the level you have to maintain, individually and collectively, stressed the Spanish Arsenal coach.

Liverpool’s German manager Jürgen Klopp chose to start with a squad made up of uniformly young players. He had made nine changes compared to the starting lineup three days ago. Van Dijk and Salah were the only ones left, so to speak. Arsenal were not much “worse”: eight players from the previous battle, only Leno, Holding and Xhaka remained.

Liverpool initially seemed perhaps the most affected by all the changes, in the form of drones in the back rows. Not the usual “massive pressure” offensively, according to Viasat commentator Morten Langli. His Sky Sports colleague, Jamie Carragher, commented for his part – after about half an hour – “Al Arsenal have done really well”, considering the defensive discipline of “The Gunners”.

However, Minamino should have made it 1-0 just before the break.

Klopp feels like they’re about to get the game going, Petter Veland thought from his place in Viasat’s expert studio after 45 minutes.

His colleague Jan Åge Fjørtoft thought that Arsenal had “held up well” and Liverpool had created “few opportunities”.

Something anemic in the first place, in other words. Or in the words of VG Live: “Criminally bad.”

Equally bad luck and zero goals in the second would lead to a penalty shootout (extra entries only in the semifinals and final). After six minutes, Liverpool led 4-0 in the number of corners. Relative to the latter, the ball sought the head of Virgil van Dijk, who hit him so well that the header almost gave Liverpool the advantage.

Then Jota shot with his right foot; Liverpool had put pressure on Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno. The German saved well again, this time a tough-terrain tracker from Grujic. After that, Liverpool changed drastically, as Viasats Langli saw it, not least by taking Virgil van Dijk out of the settlement. But that did not change the scene of the battle.

– Leno da! One television rescue after another, Morten Langli exclaimed after a series of cannon shots from the home team.

– Liverpool is the one that plays the best football, he added.

A powerful understatement. Arsenal seemed to have lost the stinger. Mikel Arteta made a midfield change (Elneny / Ceballos) and waved instructions from the wing, and at the same moment he should – should! – Arsenal’s Rob Holding has led the guests in the lead. But Liverpool’s last stronghold was perfectly located, in the center of the goal, and the Holding “saved by reaction” finished at close range.

The entertainment value for uphill, 15 minutes before full time.

Barely 10 left: Lacazette instead of Nkethia, as a kind of last move from Arsenal boss Arteta. No, the penultimate: Maitland-Niles in search of Saka jerking. Maitland-Niles’ gave Liverpool a corner in the 90th minute …

And then there was the “penalty with”.