Arsenal will travel to Anfield to lock horns with Liverpool in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-finals on Thursday.
The Gunners could not have asked for a sterner test following their shock 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup. Their third-round exit in the FA Cup means the EFL Cup is Arsenal’s only realistic chance of a trophy this season.
But their record in the competition makes for poor reading; Mikel Arteta‘s side last won the EFL Cup in 1993. The fact that they were battered 4-0 by Jurgen Klopp’s side earlier this season will also play on their minds heading into Thursday’s encounter.
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal’s squad has been thinned by COVID-19, AFCON and injuries. Mohamed Elneny, Thomas Partey, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe are away on international duty.
⚡️ 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 ⚡️
🔜 #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/OBTHutUTS5
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 13, 2022
Granit Xhaka is unlikely to feature, given he only recently tested positive for COVID-19. Takehiro Tomiyasu is an injury doubt, while Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard are also expected to miss out.
Folarin Balogun recently completed a loan move to Middlesbrough.
Predicted Arsenal Lineup vs Liverpool (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper
Bernd Leno is likely to continue in goal for the Gunners. The German has featured in each of Arsenal’s last three EFL Cup matches and also looked in decent touch in the 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup.
Defenders
Following Nuno Tavares’ disastrous display against Forest, Kieran Tierney is expected to return at left-back in the Arsenal lineup.
Gabriel is available once again after serving his suspension and will partner Ben White at centre-back.
With Tomiyasu unlikely to be fit, Cedric Soares could get another start at right-back. The Portuguese was run ragged by Forest in the FA Cup, but Arsenal’s lack of options means he will likely get the nod once again.
Midfielders
With Partey and Elneny away on international duty, Albert Sambi Lokonga is almost guaranteed to start in central midfield.
If Xhaka is absent, Charlie Patino could partner Lokonga at the centre of the park. The 18-year-old made his first senior start against Forest and did a decent job in midfield. But facing off against a dynamic Liverpool side will pose a whole new challenge for the youngster.
Gabriel Martinelli has been one of Arsenal’s best players in recent weeks and will start on the left. The Brazilian adds plenty of energy and speed to the Arsenal attack, but he hasn’t scored in the last four games.
Bukayo Saka is expected to continue on the right in the Arsenal lineup. The England international has found the net three times in his last three appearances in all competitions for the Gunners and could trouble the Liverpool defenders with his speed and dribbling ability.
⏪ Throwing it back to when The Beast was let loose at Anfield
🇧🇷 𝙅𝙪𝙡𝙞𝙤 𝘽𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖 🇧🇷
🏆 #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/3sdNBOYG7z
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 13, 2022
With Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe unlikely to be available, Alexander Lacazette could start in the No. 10 role. The Frenchman has done well in that position in the past and will have no trouble slotting into that role for this game.
Attackers
Eddie Nketiah is expected to lead the line for Arsenal. All five of Nketiah’s goals this season have come in the EFL Cup, including a hat-trick against Sunderland.
