How Liverpool could line up against Arsenal
Liverpool will have to make do without Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah for Thursday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg with Arsenal at the Emirates.
The two attackers have now joined Senegal and Egypt respectively for the Africa Cup of Nations, with Naby Keita also representing Guinea at the tournament.
Takumi Minamino, Harvey Elliott, Thiago Alcantara, Divock Origi and Nat Phillips are all set to miss out through injury, while Alisson Becker, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino are all COVID-positive.
However, Andy Robertson is back from a ban and ready to reclaim his spot at left-back over Kostas Tsimikas, and it would not be a surprise to see Joe Gomez displace Ibrahima Konate at the back.
Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold should both hold their places, as Caoimhin Kelleher enjoys another opportunity in goal with Alisson absent.
Jurgen Klopp may save the bulk of his changes for the weekend’s FA Cup tie with Shrewsbury Town, and as a result Fabinho and Jordan Henderson will expect to start the semi-final, potentially with Curtis Jones alongside them.
Diogo Jota and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are surefire starters in the final third given Klopp’s attacking dilemma, and the task of filling the Salah-shaped hole on the right could be handed to 17-year-old Kaide Gordon.
Liverpool possible starting lineup: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Fabinho, Henderson; Gordon, Jota, Oxlade-Chamberlain
READ ALSO: Manchester City’s £150m 2022 Budget, Man United & Denis Zakaria
How Arsenal could line up against Liverpool
Arsenal’s Africa Cup of Nations contingent will not be available for Thursday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg with Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have all linked up with their respective nations, although the latter was unlikely to earn his spot in the team back anyway.
Sead Kolasinac represents the Gunners’ only injury absentee, with Gabriel Magalhaes suspended and Calum Chambers still a doubt after COVID-19 infection.
Mikel Arteta ought to trust Bernd Leno with the gloves as Aaron Ramsdale enjoys a rest, and it would not be a surprise to see Nuno Tavares displace Kieran Tierney in the backline.
Rob Holding should deputise for Gabriel alongside Ben White, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles may just lose out to Albert Sambi Lokonga for a spot in the middle alongside Granit Xhaka.
Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are both set to hold their places in the final third, but Emile Smith Rowe can expect to earn a recall to the left over Gabriel Martinelli.
For his lack of Premier League action this season, Eddie Nketiah has struck five goals in three EFL Cup appearances and should lead the line from the first whistle.
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Leno; Tomiyasu, White, Holding, Tavares; Xhaka, Lokonga; Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Nketiah
For More Football News, Updates, Match Preview and Reviews, visit BABOYO.
Source: Sports Mole.
