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First Leg Stalemate.

olawaliumPosted for Everyone to comment on, 2 years ago3 min read

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Liverpool hosted Arsenal as they are adapting to life without Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah. Even if they won't start, they would have made the bench to be called upon but this wasn't the case due to national duties. Liverpool failed to score at home as Arsenal held on resolutely and they caused Liverpool all sorts of problems despite going down to 10 men after Xhaka's red card.

They both have it all to play for in the second leg when Arsenal hosts Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. Both teams are fighting for the final slot to determine who would be playing Chelsea at Wembley for the Final of the Carabao Cup. It's definitely going to be down to fine margins as we have seen in this first leg encounter with no team as a pushover.

There was really nothing to separate the two sides with the half-chances both teams have and they didn't make most of the chances that came their way. Both teams struggled to create the chances that would make the difference for their sides.

Minamino did so well on the right side of the pitch. His well-worked low cross into the box was aimed for Firmino who was unable to get a touch to knock it in as it flashed across the face of the goal to safety after Ben White knocked it off him.

With nothing separating the two sides, Xhaka felt a red card should be able to as the referee brandished him with a red card after his high boot on Jota. Robertson's long pass found Jota who was going to be clear on goal had Xhaka not intervened. The referee deemed it a challenge worthy of a red card seeing he was the last man. Even 10 men Arsenal still proved a tougher opponent for Liverpool who couldn't break them down.

Arsenal would have won the game after a lovely ball into the box by Tierney found Saka inside the box. The first touch and control let him down as the ball came off him which made it easier for Alisson to narrow down the space. He managed to get a touch on the ball but Alisson made himself big to deny Saka a goal.

The shocking moment of the game came for Minamino who failed to find the back of the net after Ramsdale's poor clearance found him in the 18 yards box. He went for power rather than placement and he ballooned his ball far wide and not handsome. If you double the goal post, the ball still wouldn't have gone in.

Williams also tried to get something from the game for Liverpool after his shot from the side of the pitch after Ramsdale left his post unguarded with a missed clearance was blocked off by the resilient defence of Arsenal to bring the game to a close.

Both teams would snuggle it out yet again in a week and it remains to be seen who would win but it promises to be another pulsating affair with flair, passion and intensity.


Thank you for your time.


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Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.

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