'World class' Jota scores brace to book final for Liverpool at expense of Arsenal | OneFootball

Liverpool have reached their first Carabao Cup final in six years after overcoming Arsenal at the Emirates.

A double from Diogo Jota was enough for the Reds to book a date with Chelsea at Wembley.

The Portuguese forward played brilliantly in the absence of African stars Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

It was the Gunners who started off the better team as Alexandre Lacazette hit the woodwork from a free-kick.

But Jota killed the home side's early optimism with a 19th minute goal, a scuffed effort which evaded Aaron Ramsdale.

Lacazette missed an excellent opportunity to equalise early in the second-half, blazing a bobbling ball over the head of Caiomhin Kelleher.

Liverpool looked in control however and it was Jota who sealed the victory with thirteen minutes left.

An excellent through pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold allowed Jota to get in front of Ben White before lobbing a hapless Ramsdale.

The goal was initially disallowed for offside, only for VAR to overturn the decision.

Arsenal's misery was compounded when substitute Thomas Partey - who only returned from AFCON this week - was shown two yellow cards towards the end of the game.

Speaking after the game, Alexander-Arnold lauded Jota as a 'world class' player.

He told Sky Sports: "Looking forward to it (the final) a lot, good for us to get there and what we expect. We put in good performances on this run, we have had young players but managed to win the games. We performed well tonight and what we deserve.

"We never gave them too many chances and kept them at bay. Diogo Jota's first goal was outstanding and so was the second. He is a world class player in the best form at the club so far, hopefully more goals from him. Hopefully we can win the final."