Liverpool’s shortcomings without Salah, Mane give Arsenal hope for second half of Carabao Cup semi-finals

LIVERPOOL, England – If ever there was any doubt about its importance Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane To Liverpool, Takumi Minamino provided the only proof they needed in the 90th minute of the club’s undefeated Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal at Anfield on Thursday.

Minamino, to whom manager Jurgen Klopp handed over the starting role due to the absence of Salah (Egypt) and Manen (Senegal) in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), had the opportunity to make himself the winning hero of the match by scoring a goal from 10 yards. in the last seconds. The former FC Salzburg striker had a clear view of the goal, but had the opportunity to score a goal and give Liverpool a potentially decisive 1-0 lead ahead of the second leg of Emirates next Thursday. (14:30 ET streaming live on ESPN +), he shot high over the crossbar.

It was an opportunity that Salah and Mane, who had scored 33 goals this season, would have eaten and relentlessly scored another important goal for Klopp’s team. But Minamino is not in the same league as Salah or Mane. Not either Diogo Jota, which is an excellent support measure alongside Liverpool ‘s two world – class attackers, but is far from being able to fill the void created by its international commitments. Divock Origi has often been Liverpool ‘s late supersub, but due to a knee injury, the Belgian international player stays aside, so he is not available to replace Salah or Manea.

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At the end of the game, the Arsenal team had to play with 10 men 66 minutes after sending the first half. Granite Xhaka After a mistake, Liverpool scored just one goal and it was far into the interruption of the substitution game. Curtis Jones.

“Any team would miss Salahia, Manea and [Naby] Keita, “Klopp said.” We’ve known that for years. This team was what we had tonight, it can play and score, definitely. “

Had Liverpool been in full force, Salah and Mane would have been in the offensive line, it’s hard to imagine they wouldn’t have gotten this draw outside Arsenal in the middle. While it’s no surprise that they’re not the same powerful force without Salah and Mane, Liverpool’s impotence against Arsenal worries Klopp both in the near future and beyond.

The matches have dropped reasonably kindly to Liverpool during AFCON, with only two Premier League matches (against Brentford and Crystal Palace) affecting the absence of Salah, Mane and Kate (Guinea). Salah and Keita may even return to the palace in time on January 23 if Egypt and Guinea do not advance from the group stage.

All three missed out on this match and the return match, so a possible trip to Wembley against the grand trophy Chelsea 27. February may be left out because they are not available.

In the long run, however, there is an opportunity to replace two players whose contract is gone in June 2023. Both are 29 years old, so they still have a lot to give, but if one goes, it will leave a huge gap. fill. Losing both would be devastating.

It’s a reality that once Salah and Mane are back in their Liverpool shirts, the team may be out of the Carabao Cup and the already thin championship hopes are as good as over.

Klopp must somehow find a way to make his team more effective and threatening when they travel to London for next week’s second round. Whatever he comes up with, Liverpool’s boss now knows that Mikel Arteta, his Arsenal colleague, has a plan to nullify it.

Arsenal has made steady progress under Arteta since his appointment in December 2019, but they have added steel and consistency this season.

They lacked intrusion and some control of the ball at Anfield, but Xhaka was expelled, right defender Cedric Soares Arsenal had to quit the game after only 11 minutes due to an injury and midfielder Martin Odegaard reported a positive COVID-19 test shortly before the start. Arsenal were in crisis for most of the draw and relied on the spirit and effort of their young team. to frustrate Liverpool.

“We rejoice in the situation,” Arteta said. “The players showed great struggle, determination, brotherhood. You saw the feeling, we never gave up. Glory to the boys.

“I don’t know if the red card inspired them, but it took a fight. You need a certain attitude to play these games and the boys did it. We played a game we had to play, which isn’t our game.”

Ben White and Kieran Tierney were great performers in defense, while energy and perseverance Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli allowed the Gunners to pose a threat during the break. Saka’s Arsenal’s long shot really ought to have found the net 72 minutes into the match, but it fell just wide of the target. Alisson when he should have scored.

However, a 0-0 draw is as good for Arsenal as a win, given the obstacles they had to overcome. If Arteta really got the club moving again, the players at Anfield will see the show as an important moment that showed they can be tenacious and successful.

They now have to build it by winning the return match and reaching the finals. It’s not going to be easy, but with Salah and Mane still gone, Arsenal now believes he can get the job done.