There was an overwhelming feeling of frustration in Anfield and across the fanbase last night as Liverpool failed to defeat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.
The Reds dominated proceedings throughout, with Arsenal going down to 10 men just 24 minutes into the game as Granit Xhaka was sent off for a last ditch tackle on Diogo Jota.
However, they failed to take their chances throughout the game - compounded by a late Takumi Minamino miss.
Liverpool had 79% possession in the match and registered 21 shots at goal - with only one being on target in a poor showing from Liverpool's attack.
And Liverpool were criticised in the media for their performance.
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Sam Wallace of The Telegraph wrote:
"Jurgen Klopp might have expected his side to have too much energy for a team that chose to defend the edge of their area for what felt like an eternity, but Liverpool never reached that pitch of intensity until the final moments.
"When Takumi Minamino skied a close-range volley from a loose ball into the Kop in that late siege, the belief was exhausted. Yet it would be the way of this Liverpool side to win in London next week.
"On their form of late November and early December one would have fancied them to have put this tie out of sight against 10 men.
"Without the two key Africa Nations Cup absentees, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, that element of extreme menace was naturally missing and yet it was worse than that.
"The first attempt on Aaron Ramsdale’s goal of any description did not arrive until long after the hour.
"Had they tried too hard at times to win it after the Xhaka dismissal? An unusual problem but Klopp agreed. “Yes, it looked at times we were under pressure - but we are human.”
Andy Hunter of The Guardian wrote:
"Liverpool’s first shot on target did not materialise until stoppage time.
"The fault lines in their performance had produced audible howls of frustration around Anfield long before then. Jürgen Klopp’s team had 66 minutes plus five minutes of stoppage time to capitalise on Xhaka’s dismissal and seize control of the tie.
"A lack of creativity from an overly cautious midfield selection and sharpness from an attack that sorely missed Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané ensured they never seriously threatened to do so."
Melissa Reddy of The Independent wrote:
"Liverpool had tried to enliven their play with a series of changes: Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joe Gomez and Neco Williams replaced James Milner, Fabinho, Matip and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
"Minamino shockingly skied over from close range and the home side couldn’t even muster a shot on target.
"There was still no golden edge, no goals, and Arteta will be the happier manager going into the second leg given the circumstances."
Ian Ladyman of The Daily Mail wrote:
"Liverpool had more of the ball from the get-go. That was to be expected.
"But apart from one low cross from Andrew Robertson that had been nipped off Roberto Firmino’s toe by Arsenal defender Ben White just before the quarter hour, they had not threatened when Andrew Robertson aimed a long through pass over the top to Diogo Jota ten minutes later."
