German final duel in the League Cup: Team manager Jürgen Klopp has reached the final of the English League Cup with Liverpool FC and is now up against Thomas Tuchel's FC Chelsea.

Liverpool won the semi-final second leg at Arsenal 2-0 (1-0) on Thursday, in the first leg there was a 0-0 despite the Reds being outnumbered.

Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur in their semifinals.

Klopp's team, which still has to do without the Africa Cup of Nations players around star striker Mohamed Salah, took the lead through Diogo Jota (19th).

The game remained balanced, both teams had chances, but again Jota (77th) made the decision.

Arsenal didn't come back, especially as Thomas Partey weakened the team: A good quarter of an hour after he was substituted on (74th), the midfielder received a yellow card (90th).

Liverpool could now be crowned League Cup winners again after ten years, the last triumph was in 2012. If they won the final, the Reds would also be the sole record winner of the competition with nine titles: Manchester City had last won the League Cup four times in a row and closed Liverpool open-minded.

Chelsea are waving their sixth win, the last time the Blues lifted the trophy was in 2015.

Former BVB striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang meanwhile gave the all-clear after medical examinations because of his recent heart problems.

“I came back to London to do some additional research.

I am very happy to say that my heart is absolutely fine and I am completely healthy," wrote the Arsenal forward on social media.

Real on, Barcelona out

According to the Gabon Football Association, Aubameyang and compatriot Mario Lemina were sent back to Europe from the Africa Cup of Nations due to heart problems after a corona infection.

However, there had also been reports that the two professionals had been excluded for misconduct.

Aubameyang had rejected this on Twitter, and Lemina, who plays for OGC Nice, also objected to the allegations.

“We have no clarity from the association. It is our duty to medically ensure that the player is safe," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. According to Gabon's federation, something abnormal was found in the hearts of both national players. Any player who was previously infected with Corona at the continental tournament must complete a medical examination before returning. The Africa Cup of Nations takes place in Cameroon until February 6th.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, avoided a huge embarrassment in Spain and struggled to reach the quarter-finals of the cup against outsiders FC Elche.

Four days after winning the national Supercup, the leader of the Primera División was only able to win 2:1 (0:0, 0:0) after extra time and great effort on Thursday evening.

Cup defender FC Barcelona, ​​on the other hand, is out: The Catalans lost 2: 3 (1: 1, 2: 2) after extra time due to a controversial hand penalty at Athletic Bilbao.

Real professional Isco initially equalized the lead of the courageous and counterattacking hosts, who were only 15th in the Primera División, through Gonzalo Verdu (103rd) in the 108th minute.

Eden Hazard (115th minute) shot the royals - with former DFB international Toni Kroos and former Bayern professional David Alaba in the starting XI - into the next round.

Madrid professional Marcelo saw red in extra time because of an emergency brake just before the penalty area.

Match winner for Bilbao was double goal scorer Iker Muniain, who scored early in the second minute and also made it 3-2 in extra time with a hand penalty (105+1).

Barca keeper Marc-André ter Stegen was powerless in all three goals conceded.

After Inigo Martinez made it 2-1 (86'), the Basques, who were strong at home, didn't last long: Pedri saved Barcelona with his goal in added time (90' + 3') - then Muniain struck again.