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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

Arsenal fans get it badly wrong as Diogo Jota genius fires Liverpool to Wembley

No Mane, no Salah, no problem; Liverpool are heading to Wembley.

And in some style, too.

Arsenal fans left Anfield last week celebrating like their place in the Carabao Cup final was already safe after a dour goalless affair on Merseyside.

"We're going to Wembley!" they cooed as they started the journey back down south, clearly believing that this second leg was a foregone conclusion.

Diogo Jota, though, had other ideas here at the Emirates.

Liverpool, as the scores of social media fans will attest to, don't keep themselves overly busy when the transfer window is open.

But the delve into the market back in September 2020 to unearth Jota from Wolves was one of their most inspired of the last few years.

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And there is plenty of competition for that accolade too, it must be said.

Jota's 13th and 14th goals of an increasingly productive campaign were enough for the Reds to secure their first visit to 'Anfield South' in six long years.

But Jota's genius is not the only reason Liverpool will now contest a domestic cup final, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho and Curtis Jones were just three standout performers on a night when everyone in a yellow shirt stood up to be counted.

Jurgen Klopp's players can rightly be proud of their efforts, after riding out an early storm-of-sorts, they were magnificent, limiting their hosts to virtually nothing in the final third.

Klopp made two changes to his team from Sunday's 3-0 win over Brentford as Caoimhin Kelleher and Kaide Gordon came into the side in what represented the biggest night of a fledgling career so far for the latter.

It's been a year since Gordon traded life in the Championship at Derby County for a place in the Liverpool Academy in Kirkby and perhaps even he would not have guessed that just 12 months after moving to the north west, he would be starting big semi-finals in the place usually reserved for a certain Mohamed Salah.

It was a tough evening for the 17-year-old as his team-mates struggled to involve him in scenarios where he could utilise his dribbling ability against the Arsenal defence.

*Give us your LFC player ratings:

All too often Gordon was being asked to control difficult passes with his back to goal against seasoned pros who were much stronger and far more experienced.

Arsenal started the brighter of the two sides, flying out the blocks down the right in particular through Gabriel Martinelli before Alexandre Lacazette's floated free-kick was tipped on to the bar by the unflappable Kelleher.

The home side, who hadn't played since the first leg, looked like a team who were fully rested with the knowledge that their entire season amounted to this competition, having already been eliminated from the FA Cup.

Liverpool withstood the pressure and caught Arsenal cold when Jota's scuffed strike beat Aaron Ramsdale after great work from Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino, in particular, in the buildup.

The Portugal international's 13th of the season equalled the tally he got in an impressive maiden campaign as a Liverpool player last term and it came at an opportune time too.

With only Takumi Minamino in reserve for an attack that has been decimated by a combination of injury and Africa Cup of Nations duty, this was the ideal moment to register.

The Gunners survived a couple of big moments in the second period as substitute Ibrahima Konate hit the post with a header minutes after Gordon had blazed over from 10 yards.

Klopp sent on Minamino at the hour mark for Gordon moments after Alexander-Arnold's teasing low cross had evaded a handful of yellow shirts in the Arsenal penalty area.

Mikel Arteta looked to Thomas Partey and Eddie Nketiah before Klopp responded by swapping Jordan Henderson for James Milner as the final 15 minutes approached.

After a wonderful pass over the top from Alexander-Arnold, Jota kept his composure to chest it down and dink it over the onrushing Ramsdale to settle the tie.

After a lengthy VAR check for a possible offside, the goal was given and Liverpool celebrated like a team who knew their place was secure.

They were right.

Partey was sent off for a poor challenge late on to complete a miserable night for the Gunners as, much like last week at Anfield, the visiting supporters toasted to an appearance at the national stadium.

*Give us your Liverpool MOTM against Arsenal

Despite the glittering array of silverware that has already been stowed safely away in the Anfield trophy cabinet on Klopp's watch, it would be a shame if they did not add to that while this team and this manager are together.

So the opportunity to add a record-setting ninth League Cup to the honours' list this campaign will only add to their legend.

Now, it is down to them to deliver it next month.

There's only one team "going to Wembley" here.

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