Liverpool knock Arsenal out of cup with two late goals

Liverpool struck twice late on to beat Arsenal at Emirates Stadium and reach the FA Cup fourth round.

Arsenal paid the price for missing a host of opportunities and were punished as Liverpool grew increasingly dangerous, the deadlock broken when Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick glanced in off Jakub Kiwior's head with seven minutes left.

Liverpool's triumph was completed in the closing seconds as a lethal break ended with Luis Diaz firing an emphatic finish high past Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

Mikel Arteta's side dominated the first half, with Martin Odegaard hitting the bar while Reiss Nelson and Kai Havertz also had chances to give Arsenal reward for their pressure.

Liverpool, despite missing captain Virgil van Dijk through illness and with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations, held firm and were always a threat. Alexander-Arnold hit the bar in the first half and as they grew into the game, Ramsdale saved well from Diaz and Diogo Jota headed against the woodwork.

Just as the replay that neither Arsenal nor Liverpool would have particularly wanted loomed, the unfortunate Kiowor headed past Ramsdale then Diaz ensured Jurgen Klopp's side would progress to the fourth round.

Arsenal lack cutting edge

Arsenal could and should have held a healthy advantage when this FA Cup tie reached half-time but they were let down by what is looking increasingly like a major flaw in Arteta's team.

The Gunners' approach work was to be admired as they made Liverpool suffer by moving the ball around but it all fell down at the crucial moment when chances were not taken.

It led to increasing frustration inside the Emirates as the game wore on, accompanied by the growing feeling that Arsenal would pay the price for their failures in front of goal.

Gabriel Jesus was missing with a knee injury but he is not a regular, reliable source of goals while Eddie Nketiah has yet to suggest he is the permanent answer to a growing problem for Arteta.

So much is good about this Arsenal team but there is always the danger they will fall short if all their eye-catching passing play is not accompanied by end product.

It is something Arteta must address as a matter of urgency - something the manager and the club may well agree with given the constant links with Brentford's Ivan Toney. Whether they can do business in the difficult January market remains to be seen.

This is Arsenal's third successive defeat since their creditable draw at Anfield on 23 December - and the feeling of positivity around Arteta's team after that result must be restored swiftly.

Liverpool make light of missing superstars

Liverpool were missing two of their best players in the meeting of the Premier League title challengers in this FA Cup tie - but they impressively overcame the absence of the ill Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, who is at the Africa Cup of Nations.

They were grateful for Arsenal's poor finishing in the first half but Klopp's side were always in the game and, even without Salah, they possess menace in their forward line and that was increasingly in evidence as the game went on.

Ibrahima Konate in particular stood out - proving he can produce commanding performances even without Van Dijk alongside him - while young defender Jarell Quansah continues to impress in the absence of Joel Matip.

Nunez was again inefficient with his efforts at goal but Jota was lively as he continues his return from injury.

Overall, finding a way to win without Van Dijk and Salah will send a surge of self-belief through Liverpool and their supporters that Klopp's new-look side can go on to achieve special things this season.

Liverpool lead the Premier League, play an EFL Cup semi-final against Fulham on Wednesday, are into the knockout stage of the Europa League and can now look forward to the FA Cup fourth-round draw with optimism.

Player of the match

Diogo JotaDiogo Jota

with an average of 7.99

Arsenal

1. Squad number1Player nameRamsdale

   Average rating

   6.08

2. Squad number2Player nameSaliba

   Average rating

   5.39

3. Squad number8Player nameØdegaard

   Average rating

   5.36

4. Squad number41Player nameRice

   Average rating

   5.29

5. Squad number4Player nameWhite

   Average rating

   5.03

6. Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães

   Average rating

   5.01

7. Squad number7Player nameSaka

   Average rating

   4.92

8. Squad number11Player nameGabriel Martinelli

   Average rating

   4.74

9. Squad number20Player nameJorginho

   Average rating

   4.72

10. Squad number24Player nameNelson

    Average rating

    4.68

11. Squad number15Player nameKiwior

    Average rating

    4.59

12. Squad number29Player nameHavertz

    Average rating

    4.32

13. Squad number10Player nameSmith Rowe

    Average rating

    4.09

14. Squad number19Player nameTrossard

    Average rating

    3.75

15. Squad number14Player nameNketiah

    Average rating

    3.68

Liverpool

1. Squad number20Player nameDiogo Jota

   Average rating

   7.99

2. Squad number84Player nameBradley

   Average rating

   7.91

3. Squad number5Player nameKonaté

   Average rating

   7.54

4. Squad number38Player nameGravenberch

   Average rating

   7.50

5. Squad number42Player nameClark

   Average rating

   7.49

6. Squad number1Player nameAlisson

   Average rating

   7.32

7. Squad number7Player nameDíaz

   Average rating

   7.23

8. Squad number2Player nameGomez

   Average rating

   6.93

9. Squad number78Player nameQuansah

   Average rating

   6.88

10. Squad number17Player nameJones

    Average rating

    6.73

11. Squad number19Player nameElliott

    Average rating

    6.72

12. Squad number9Player nameNúñez

    Average rating

    6.71

13. Squad number10Player nameMac Allister

    Average rating

    6.58

14. Squad number18Player nameGakpo

    Average rating

    6.52

15. Squad number66Player nameAlexander-Arnold

    Average rating

    5.48

Line-ups

Arsenal

Formation 4-3-3

1Ramsdale

4White2Saliba6Gabriel15Kiwior

8Ødegaard41Rice20Jorginho

7Saka29Havertz24Nelson

• 1Ramsdale
• 4White
• 2SalibaBooked at 65mins
• 6Gabriel
• 15KiwiorSubstituted forTrossardat 88'minutes
• 8Ødegaard
• 41Rice
• 20JorginhoSubstituted forNketiahat 81'minutes
• 7Saka
• 29HavertzSubstituted forSmith Roweat 88'minutes
• 24NelsonSubstituted forMartinelliat 62'minutes

Substitutes

• 10Smith Rowe
• 11Martinelli
• 14Nketiah
• 17Cédric Soares
• 19Trossard
• 22Raya
• 63Nwaneri
• 72Sousa
• 76Walters

Liverpool

Formation 4-3-3

1Alisson

66Alexander-Arnold5Konaté78Quansah2Gomez

19Elliott10Mac Allister17Jones

18Gakpo9Núñez7Díaz

• 1Alisson
• 66Alexander-ArnoldBooked at 90mins
• 5Konaté
• 78Quansah
• 2Gomez
• 19ElliottBooked at 70minsSubstituted forBradleyat 75'minutes
• 10Mac AllisterSubstituted forGravenberchat 59'minutesBooked at 90mins
• 17JonesSubstituted forClarkat 75'minutesBooked at 90mins
• 18GakpoSubstituted forJotaat 59'minutes
• 9Núñez
• 7Díaz

Substitutes

• 20Jota
• 38Gravenberch
• 42Clark
• 44Chambers
• 49Gordon
• 53McConnell
• 62Kelleher
• 84Bradley
• 98Nyoni

Referee:

John Brooks

Attendance:

58,538

Match Stats

Live Text

Post update

Match ends, Arsenal 0, Liverpool 2.

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