Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to 12 games in all competitions after their 4-0 victory at the Vitality Stadium last weekend. They did manage to move into the top-4 of the points table and have a great chance to cement their place there, when they travel to the Emirates Stadium to face an Arsenal side, that has also been in decent form.
The Gunners got the better of West Ham United in the League Cup earlier this week after beating Newcastle United at the weekend. But they have not had the best of times against Liverpool in recent games between the two sides and here is the predicted lineup Klopp might field for this tie:
Team News:
The Reds have a couple of injuries to worry about ahead of this tie. Full-backs Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno remain sidelined for the long term. Joel Matip is back in training but might not be starting this game along with Daniel Sturridge and Marko Grujic, both of who could also make the squad for this weekend.
Expected lineup (4-3-3):
Defence:
Simon Mignolet kept another clean sheet against Bournemouth and will hope to put in a similar performance at the Emirates. But he is expected to be tested by an in-form Arsenal attack. With Clyne absent, Klopp has Joe Gomez as his first choice right-back and with Moreno out, Andrew Robertson, who has hardly put a foot wrong will be the left-back for this tie.
Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan are far from the preferred CB partnership for the manager but the duo has been exceptional at the back for the club in recent times and deserve to keep their place in the first team.
Midfield:
Skipper Jordan Henderson had one of his best games against Bournemouth last weekend but against an Arsenal side that can create chances consistently, his defensive side of the game will be definitely tested. He will ply as the deepest of the midfielders on Friday for Liverpool.
Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain also deserves a start, especially back at the Emirates but Klopp should go with Georginio Wijnaldum, who adds more balance to the Liverpool midfield. Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho is expected to start on the left-side of the midfield and will be the danger man for the Gunners.
Attack:
The Reds have one of the best-attacking units in Europe at the moment and Klopp has a chance to unleash all of them at once this weekend. Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, both of whom scored at the Vitality Stadium are expected to start alongside Sadio Mane, who was dropped for that game.
Here is how they might line up:
