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Preview: Arsenal vs. Liverpool - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's EFL Cup clash between Arsenal and Liverpool, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Since this article was published, this game has been called off due to a coronavirus outbreak in the Liverpool squad. The first leg is now due to take place on January 13 at Anfield.

Both depleted by AFCON-related absences, Arsenal and Liverpool lock horns in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night.

The Gunners saw off Sunderland 5-1 in the quarter-finals to reach the last four, while Jurgen Klopp's men needed penalties to make it past an inspired Leicester City.


Match preview

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured in November 2021© Reuters

It is always a shame when such entertaining spectacles are overshadowed by controversial refereeing or VAR decisions - such is the nature of the modern game - but Arsenal demonstrated clear signs of progression with their resolute performance against Manchester City on New Year's Day.

Bukayo Saka gave the Gunners a deserved lead in the first half, but Riyad Mahrez responded from the spot for the champions before Rodri's last-gasp winner sunk the 10 men of Arsenal, who had Gabriel Magalhaes sent off for two foolish yellow cards.

However, Mikel Arteta's side are clearly a different beast from the team that capitulated at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season, and the top-four challengers eased past Sunderland 5-1 to advance to the EFL Cup semis last month.

An arguably undeserved defeat to Man City ended a five-game winning run and 12-game unbeaten streak at home for the Gunners across all tournaments, but they have found the back of the net in each of their last nine matches and will certainly not turn their noses up to a shot at silverware - one that has eluded them for almost 30 years.

Not since the days of George Graham's management have Arsenal lifted the EFL Cup, but the in-form Gunners will undoubtedly sense an opportunity to go all the way this time around, especially with Liverpool working around absentees in the double figures.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during the match on December 28, 2021© Reuters

Man City fans would have been cheering for more than one reason at the weekend, as title outsiders Liverpool and Chelsea both gave it their all in a true Stamford Bridge spectacle but were forced to share the spoils in a 2-2 thriller.

After escaping a potential red card within the opening seconds, Sadio Mane put Liverpool into the ascendancy before Mohamed Salah doubled the Reds' lead, but Chelsea would hit back through Mateo Kovacic and Christian Pulisic to rescue a point on home turf.

Jurgen Klopp's side have been no strangers to stalemates in recent weeks and were forced to do it the hard way against Leicester in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, but they eventually made it through via a nail-biting penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw.

That spot kick victory represents the Reds' only win from their last four in all tournaments, though, and with the irrepressible Mane and Salah both plying their trade in the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool may possess a rare underdog tag heading to the Emirates.

Arsenal's young guns slumped to a 4-0 defeat at Anfield earlier in the season, and the two sides will be meeting in the EFL Cup for the third season running, with Liverpool winning on penalties in 2019 before the Gunners responded with their own shootout victory last term.

Arsenal EFL Cup form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W

Arsenal form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L

Liverpool EFL Cup form:
  • W
  • W
  • W

Liverpool form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • D



Team News

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pictured for Arsenal on December 5, 2021© Reuters

Arsenal have lost Nicolas Pepe, Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Africa Cup of Nations duty, but the latter would have expected to miss out anyway.

Gabriel will serve his one-match suspension on Thursday following his sending off against Man City, while Sead Kolasinac is out injured and Calum Chambers remains a doubt with COVID-19.

Albert Sambi Lokonga and Ainsley Maitland-Niles will battle for midfield spots as Partey and Elneny miss out, and Arteta should trust Bernd Leno with the gloves.

As for Liverpool, Salah, Mane and Naby Keita are all away on AFCON duty, while Alisson Becker, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino returned positive COVID-19 tests before the Chelsea draw.

Andy Robertson returns from a ban to take his rightful place in defence, but Thiago Alcantara and Takumi Minamino may once again miss out alongside Nat Phillips, Divock Origi and Harvey Elliott.

Klopp ought to put out a strong XI here before resting his big-hitters for the FA Cup clash with Shrewsbury Town, but Curtis Jones and former Gunner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will push for places regardless.

Both managers were not available for their side's most recent Premier League games due to COVID-19, but Arteta reportedly hopes to be back on the touchline on Thursday.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Leno; Tomiyasu, White, Holding, Tavares; Xhaka, Lokonga; Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Nketiah

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Fabinho, Henderson; Gordon, Jota, Oxlade-Chamberlain


SM words green background

We say: Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool

Even with all of their absentees, Liverpool's staunch defence and beefy midfield can still frustrate this youthful Arsenal XI, but it is difficult to see the Reds experiencing much joy in front of goal.

If their performance against Man City is anything to go by, Arsenal simply need to keep a cool head and demonstrate a clinical edge to gain the upper hand in this tie, and we expect them to do just that.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Written by
Ben Knapton

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Game History

How you voted: Arsenal vs Liverpool

Arsenal
41.9%
Draw
10.7%
Liverpool
47.4%
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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