Liverpool vs Arsenal Carabao Cup preview: Semi-final first leg at Anfield after Jurgen Klopp’s side have fixture rearranged after false positive Covid tests. (Photo by Visionhaus)
Arsenal are, at last, in Carabao Cup semi-final action as they face the daunting task of travelling to Anfield to take on Liverpool in the first leg on Thursday. Here is the match preview.
By this point Arsenal were supposed to be making the trip to Merseyside with a 3-0 win in the bag and a place in the final of this competition closed to wrapped up. Well, not exactly.
Set to face a heavily depleted Reds outfit in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, Liverpool had an appeal successfully lodged to see the game postponed. That tie is now the second leg of his semi-final.
But there has been a bit of controversy about it. Jurgen Klopp stated that the ‘severe Covid outbreak’ that caused the game to be moved was in fact the result of a series of ‘false positive’ test results. Only Trent Alexander-Arnold had actually contracted the virus.
Liverpool vs Arsenal Carabao Cup preview: Semi-final first leg at Anfield after Jurgen Klopp’s side have fixture rearranged after false positive Covid tests
The chances of a single false positive lateral flow test are extremely low. It ranges from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 2,000. Liverpool had multiple. It does not add up. At all.
Anyway, on to the game at hand and Arsenal need to find a response after the abysmal showing they put in against Nottingham Forest. The team contrived to go from the highs of the performance against Man City to the despairing lows of whatever you want to call that FA Cup defeat.
Despite all the positivity, Arsenal have lost both of their matches in 2022.
Having to make do with a skeleton coaching staff against City, Mikel Arteta will have to now navigate his way around a squad down to its bare bones.
There are some crucial days ahead as the manager waits on injury updates to two players and Covid tests for others, in what could be another disheartening evening at Anfield. At least there will be no Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane this time around.
But, brushing the FA Cup debacle to one side, all will be forgotten depending on what Arsenal do over the next three matches, starting with Thursday.
How to Watch on TV
When Is Kick Off? Thursday 13 January
What Time Is Kick Off? 19:45 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? Anfield
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports Main Event (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Michael Oliver
Continued on next page…
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<h2>Liverpool vs Arsenal Carabao Cup preview: Semi-final first leg at Anfield after Jurgen Klopp’s side have fixture rearranged after false positive Covid tests</h2>
<p>The chances of a single false positive lateral flow test are extremely low. It ranges from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 2,000. Liverpool had multiple. It does not add up. At all.</p>
<p><em>Anyway</em>, on to the game at hand and Arsenal need to find a response after <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/11/liverpool-arsenal-carabao-cup-preview/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/10/arsenal-4-negatives-forest-defeat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the abysmal showing</a> they put in against Nottingham Forest. The team contrived to go from the highs of the performance against Man City to the despairing lows of whatever you want to call that FA Cup defeat.</p>
<p>Despite all the positivity, Arsenal have <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/11/liverpool-arsenal-carabao-cup-preview/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/09/arsenal-4-talking-points-forest-fa-cup/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost both of their matches</a> in 2022.</p>
<p>Having to make do with a skeleton coaching staff against City, Mikel Arteta will have to now navigate his way around a squad down to its bare bones.</p>
<p>There are some crucial days ahead as the manager waits on injury updates to two players and Covid tests for others, in what could be another disheartening evening at Anfield. At least there will be no Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane this time around.</p>
<p>But, brushing <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/11/liverpool-arsenal-carabao-cup-preview/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/09/arsenal-player-ratings-nottingham-forest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the FA Cup debacle</a> to one side, all will be forgotten depending on what Arsenal do over the next three matches, starting with Thursday.</p>
<h2>How to Watch on TV</h2>
<p><strong>When Is Kick Off? </strong>Thursday 13 January<br>
<strong>What Time Is Kick Off?</strong> 19:45 (GMT)<br>
<strong>Where Is it Played? </strong>Anfield<br>
<strong>TV Channel/Live Stream? </strong><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/11/liverpool-arsenal-carabao-cup-preview/"https://www.skysports.com/get-sky?DCMP=afc-skysporrts:nc_SkyGo_signin%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sky Sports Main Event</a> (UK) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/11/liverpool-arsenal-carabao-cup-preview/"https://www.fubo.tv/stream/soccer/?irad=409363&irmp=374356&subID1=FS-LiveDrops%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">fuboTV</a> (USA)<br>
<strong>Referee? </strong>Michael Oliver</p>
<p><em>Continued on next page…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/11/liverpool-arsenal-carabao-cup-preview/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Arsenal team news vs Liverpool </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-121852" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/11/liverpool-arsenal-carabao-cup-preview/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1237254892-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, GX" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka gestures to the supporters after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and West Ham United at the Emirates. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Arsenal Team News vs Liverpool – Will Granit Xhaka Be Available?</h2>
<p>Arsenal are short on numbers. Very, very, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/11/liverpool-arsenal-carabao-cup-preview/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/10/arsenal-3-areas-address-transfer-window/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">short on numbers</a>.</p>
<p>Arteta revealed as much as nine absences for the defeat at Nottingham Forest, and while he still managed to field a strong enough starting lineup, the fear is that it will be a similar looking lineup for the next few matches without much firepower in reserve.</p>
<p>One major boost is the return of Gabriel from suspension, with the centre-back having served his one-match ban over the course of the weekend. Elsewhere in defence Arsenal are sweating on the fitness of Takehiro Tomiyasu with a calf strain, while Emile Smith Rowe is also dealing with a muscle injury.</p>
<blockquote><p>“It depends [if Smith Rowe and Tomiyasu will return],” the manager said. “They were injured and they couldn’t play. Gabi was suspended. I’ll have to see in the next few days how they were.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Beyond the quartet on AFCON duty, the other major absentee is Xhaka, who tested positive for Covid in days leading up to the game. If there is anyone to beat a lateral flow test it is him, but as Arteta said, it will depend on his wellbeing.</p>
<blockquote><p>“I don’t know,” Arteta said on Xhaka. “It will depend on the next few games and how he’s feeling.”</p></blockquote>
<p>As for Liverpool, they will welcome back a number of players who were ‘false positive’ from the previous leg and who also had to sit out their FA Cup clash with Shrewsbury. Thiago is a certain absentee with injury, and Alexander-Arnold should be back as well despite testing positive just before the initially scheduled first leg.</p>
<p>Barring Salah, Mane and Keita, they’re near full strength.</p>
<p><em>Continued on next page…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/11/liverpool-arsenal-carabao-cup-preview/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Predicted lineups & score prediction </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-122502" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/11/liverpool-arsenal-carabao-cup-preview/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1237627705-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Sambi" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Arsenal’s Belgian midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga reacts to conceding the first goal during the English FA Cup third round football match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Arsenal Predicted Lineup to Face Liverpool – Sambi & Odegaard in Midfield?</h2>
<p><strong>Liverpool:</strong> Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Jones; Minamino, Firmino, Jota</p>
<p><strong>Arsenal:</strong> Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Sambi, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Lacazette</p>
<h2>Liverpool vs Arsenal Score Prediction</h2>
<p>The Liverpool side that Arsenal could have been facing first time out was cause for real optimism. The Liverpool side that Arsenal will be facing this time around is real cause for concern.</p>
<p>Back on home soil on the weekend to host Brentford, Klopp will be confident in fielding a lineup that is near enough his first choice team just without Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah. Arsenal, meanwhile, are piecing together whatever they can to make a team.</p>
<p>Worst of all, the <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/11/liverpool-arsenal-carabao-cup-preview/"https://www.90min.com/leagues/premier-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League</a>‘s North London Derby is just three days later, with Spurs having had an additional day’s rest after playing Morecambe on home soil. The rearranged fixtures have done Arsenal dirty.</p>
<p>It unfortunately feels like this could seriously impact Thursday’s match, too. At this stage it is mere hope that Tomiyasu, Smith Rowe and Xhaka will be back, while the transfer market also takes on even greater importance in the background.</p>
<p>What we can be sure of is that the team that went to Anfield and got panned 4-0 earlier in the season is not the same one here. In terms of personnel it’s near enough identical, but collectively there have been definite improvements since then.</p>
<p>Will we see those at Anfield? At home Arsenal will back themselves against anyone, but Anfield is a different kettle of fish. Liverpool are almost at full strength and Arsenal quite simply are not.</p>
<p>It’s going to be tough, especially after that FA Cup performance.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="3 areas to address in January" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/10/arsenal-3-areas-address-transfer-window/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/11/liverpool-arsenal-carabao-cup-preview/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/10/arsenal-3-areas-address-transfer-window/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 3 areas to address in January </a> </div>
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<p><strong>Score Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal</strong></p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
