PLAYER RATINGS: Diaz was rewarded with late aim and Konate impressed
- Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: Luis Diaz seals FA Cup win over wasteful Gunners
- Defender Jakub Kiwior deflected the ball into the again of the online in eightieth minute
- It’s about survival! FA Cup replays should stay for the great of English soccer – It’s All Kicking Off
An personal aim by Jakub Kiwior and a thumping late strike by Luis Diaz sealed a 2-0 victory for Liverpool at Arsenal within the weekend’s headline FA Cup third spherical tie because the hosts’ dismal kind prolonged into the New Year on Sunday.
Arsenal wasted a sackful of possibilities within the first half and had been made to pay as Liverpool skipper Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s free kick glanced off the pinnacle of Kiwior within the eightieth minute.
Diaz then made certain of eight-time winners Liverpool’s place within the fourth spherical draw as he lashed house in stoppage time.
Premier League leaders Liverpool had been second-best within the opening interval with Arsenal unable to benefit from a flurry of early possibilities.
Mail Sport’s Lewis Steele rated the gamers.
Jakub Kiwior’s personal aim and a late Luis Diaz strike gave Liverpool victory over Arsenal
ARSENAL (4-3-3)
Aaron Ramsdale – 7
GREAT lengthy ball almost supplied an help for Nelson within the opening minutes as Ramsdale acquired a uncommon begin with David Raya on the bench. Excellent reflex cease to disclaim Diaz within the 77th minute, with the England keeper getting down properly. Could do nothing concerning the targets.
Ben White – 6
ENJOYED the battle with Diaz within the first half and the 2 had a few feisty moments. Did not get ahead in addition to traditional. Different type of problem after the break with Nunez on his aspect however handled him properly.
William Saliba – 7
KEPT Liverpool’s forwards quiet for a lot of the match, with the away aspect rising as an attacking pressure considerably within the second half. Booked for a tug on Jota after the hour mark.
Gabriel Magalhaes – 7
MADE some respectable blocks and got here out on prime in his defensive duels. Liverpool improved within the second half and Gabriel made a number of key interventions to disclaim the likes of Nunez and Diaz.
Jakub Kiwior – 5
KEPT Elliott comparatively quiet within the first half however struggled a bit extra in opposition to Diaz when he switched sides after the break. Hard luck for the personal aim.
Declan Rice – 5
MADE some respectable defensive interceptions however it appears like Rice goes via a mid-season dip and isn’t affecting video games how he wish to.
Jorginho – 6.5
SAT deep and dictated play, permitting Rice to enterprise ahead barely. The Italy worldwide saved the ball properly however didn’t have an excessive amount of of an affect on the sport.
Kai Havertz was wasteful and Arsenal paid the worth for lacking a number of alternatives
Martin Odegaard – 7.5
PULLED the strings for Arsenal within the first half and was the perfect participant on the pitch, although he ought to have scored when his shot rattled the crossbar. Would have had a hatful of assists if not for the profligacy of his team-mates.
Bukayo Saka – 6
HAD a few respectable sights of aim early on and gave Gomez a really robust afternoon together with his trickery however appeared to lack the ultimate ball. Wasteful with two half-chances within the second half on the again put up, shanking each efforts over.
Kai Havertz – 6
GIVEN the nod to steer the road with Gabriel Jesus injured however this was not a lovely audition as he missed likelihood after likelihood. Could not get his ft sorted out for one after eight minutes after which, on the half-hour mark, took too lengthy to decide and an enormous likelihood was gone.
Reiss Nelson – 6
ADDED power and verve on Arsenal’s left flank and was clearly instructed to remain excessive and look to use gaps left behind by Alexander-Arnold. Had an excellent opening after 4 minutes however fluffed his strains after which couldn’t management a sq. ball from Odegaard with one other likelihood.
Substitutes
Gabriel Martinelli (for Nelson 62) – 6
Eddie Nketiah (for Jorginho 82)
Emile Smith Rowe (for Havertz 88)
Leandro Trossard (for Kiwior 88)
Not used: David Raya, Cedric Soares, Ethan Nwaneri, Lino Sousa, Reuell Walters.
Manager: Mikel Arteta – 5
CANNOT be blamed for his aspect missing a scientific striker. Arsenal had been finest group in first half however pale. Substitutions – lots of them too late – didn’t work.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice didn’t make an affect as his droop in kind continues
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3)
Alisson – 7
WAS compelled to make a number of key stops within the first half as Arsenal had 13 pictures, 5 of which had been heading in the right direction. Commanding on crosses as traditional and didn’t make a mistake together with his distribution.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7
SLIGHTLY caught napping early on for considered one of many golden possibilities Arsenal missed as Nelson sprung via on aim. Struck the crossbar late within the first half and dictated play from his inverted position. Beautiful set-piece supply for Liverpool’s aim.
Ibrahima Konate – 7.5
HAD his finest efficiency in a Liverpool shirt when Arsenal visited Anfield simply earlier than Christmas and, whereas this was not fairly as imperious, it was an honest exhibiting from Konate, who made a number of telling blocks and interceptions at 0-0.
Jarell Quansah – 7
A SCARY second for Liverpool, noting their defensive damage disaster as he went down in some discomfort within the first half however appeared OK after that.
Joe Gomez – 6.5
HAD a lapse in focus and acquired away with one early within the first half as he misplaced possession cheaply to Saka, who squared for Nelson and may have scored. Covers numerous distance together with his marauding runs down the left-hand aspect.
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate produced one other dominant show in opposition to Arsenal
Alexis Mac Allister – 6.5
FIRST begin for a month after a knee damage, following a constructive cameo off the bench in opposition to Newcastle final week. Got on the ball properly however Arsenal’s midfield had the higher of him in a defensive sense.
Cody Gakpo – 6.5
PLAYING within the No 8 position and supplied little within the first half when it comes to an attacking sense, a lot the theme of Liverpool’s entire group.
Curtis Jones – 6.5
IS Liverpool’s most underrated participant and by no means stops operating. Has put in some world class efficiency in latest weeks however couldn’t fairly affect this sport how he would have appreciated.
Harvey Elliott – 7
A BIG month forward for the teen with this the primary match with out Mo Salah, and Elliott was given the nod on the right-hand aspect. Has a depraved dead-ball supply.
Darwin Nunez – 7.5
SAW little of the ball within the first half however, together with his one key likelihood, he glanced a header simply broad from a fizzed nook. Not the perfect night time in entrance of aim once more however he put in a strong shift however and was an enormous risk on the left wing within the second half.
Luis Diaz – 7.5
SAW little of the ball within the first half however had a couple of tussles with White. The Colombian winger began on the alternative wing after the break. Sometimes it appears like he overthinks sure moments however acquired his rewards for an important sport with the second aim in stoppage time.
Substitutes
Diogo Jota (for Gakpo 59) – 7
Ryan Gravenberch (for Mac Allister 59) – 6 (BOOKED)
Bobby Clark (for Elliott 75) – 7 (BOOKED)
Conor Bradley (for Jones 75) – 7
Not used: Caoimhin Kelleher, Luke Chambers, Kaide Gordon, James McConnell, Trey Nyoni.
Manager: Jurgen Klopp – 8
MADE a tactical swap at half-time that labored a deal with, with Nunez going out left, Diaz switching flanks and Elliott coming into midfield. Helped them achieve management.
Referee: John Brooks – 7
A NIGHT with out incident however dealt with the sport properly.
