Even a weekend break was not enough to recharge Arsenal’s batteries.
Liverpool won the Covid derby, settled arguments over sick notes once and for all and took Jurgen Klopp’s winning machine back to Wembley.
Diogo Jota scored twice, Liverpool were missing their best two players in Sadio Mane and Mo Salah, Arsenal will never have a better chance - yet still could not grasp it.
Just to sum up Arsenal’s bad night Thomas Partey - who only landed at midday from the Africa Cup of Nations - came on as a substitute and still managed to get himself sent off in the 90th minute for two yellow cards in the space of four minutes.
Liverpool last won the League Cup in 2012, Klopp lost the 2016 final to Manchester City but now face Chelsea in next month’s Carabao Cup final in what will be a clash of the titans.
The truth is that Arsenal do not belong in that company yet, barely turned up for the second leg, and every time you think Mikel Arteta’s men are closing the gap they have a setback. Liverpool were just too good.
Surprise, surprise, Arsenal did field a strong XI despite managing to get Sunday’s North London derby called off because they said they did not have enough players.
But almost to prove their claim was genuine, Arsenal looked rusty, the players did look tired and jaded and it was Liverpool who were sharper and had the edge.
Football is so tribal that Arsenal fans ignored all the accusations in their direction and screamed all night about Liverpool’s false positives which got the original first leg postponed. But since when did football do self awareness?
It has been an ugly chapter of name calling but, ultimately, when it came back to the football Liverpool reigned supreme and had that extra bit of know how.
Alexandre Lacazette crashed a free kick against the crossbar early on but other than that, they did not worry Liverpool’s No2 keeper Caoimhin Kelleher again.
Maybe it was a mix of tired legs, feeling the effects of an injury crisis but they did not show enough ambition or really build up a head of steam to trouble the visitors.
Liverpool looked comfortable and are still chasing two domestic cups and have got the Champions League. Arsenal are left playing for fourth place.
Arsenal’s bright start quickly unravelled when Jota hit the 20th minute opener as his powerful run left Takehiro Tomiyasu and the Liverpool forward danced across the box before unleashing a shot which wrong footed keeper Aaron Ramsdale and crept into the corner.
Gabriel Martinelli was Arsenal’s liveliest and most dangerous player but he could not find a way through and Liverpool grew more dominant as Kaide Gordon and Ibrahima Konate could have scored.
Then Jota finally settled it - thanks to VAR. Trent Alexander-Arnold played a ball forward, Arsenal defender Gabriel played Jota on by the width of a toe nail and the Liverpool forward lifted the ball over Ramsdale. The flag went up but technology showed it was onside.
Substitute Partey got booked on 86 minutes, then a second yellow three minutes later for a late challenge on Fabinho. Talk about rubbing salt into the wounds. That is 14 red cards under Arteta, more than anyone else during that time and you cannot win anything with such bad discipline.
Arsenal’s season now looks all but over while Liverpool have everything to play for, including a new cup to add to Klopp’s collection.
