EFL Cup: Arsenal vs Liverpool | Jan 7 - 3:45AM

[Mary C]

POTENTIAL LINEUPS: 

Arsenal: 

Leno (G)  

Tomiyasu 

White 

Holding 

Tavares 

Xhaka 

Lokonga 

Saka 

Odegaard 

Smith Rowe 

Nketiah 

  

Liverpool: 

Kelleher (G)  

Alexander-Arnold  

Konate 

Van Dijk 

Tsimikas 

Fabinho 

Henderson 

Milner 

Salah 

Mane 

Jota 

 

 

Postponement for the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals between Arsenal and Liverpool is a possibility given the disadvantage both teams are experiencing. This is an upcoming match on Thursday, 6th of January 2022, 07:45 PM UTC at Emirates Stadium, London, UK. Given the conditions of both Liverpool and Arsenal, how will both teams fare should they clash head on? Read on as we track the progress and training of both teams. 

 

“We can confirm an application has been submitted for the postponement of Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final, first-leg tie with Arsenal due to an escalating number of suspected positive COVID-19 cases and player availability,” tweeted on Liverpool FC’s account @LFC last Tuesday. The team has been heavily affected by camp outbreaks and player absences due to AFCON. (African Cup of Nations) Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, members of his staff, and three players—DF 32 Matip, F 9 Firmino, and GK 1 Becker—missed the draw against Chelsea last Sunday and they further had to cancel Tuesday’s training due to rising COVID-19 cases. In total, the squad has lost nine players from AFCON absentees, COVID-19 recoveries, and three more injured players—DF 47 Phillips, F 67 Elliott, and M 6 Thiago. With the possibility of Jurgen Klopp also not in the touchline for the upcoming game, it is understandable that this is a weakened Liverpool. At current, the team’s form stands at WWWDLD. 

 

Arsenal, on the other hand, is not also spared from the player absences but not as heavily depleted as Liverpool. DF Chambers, DF Cedric, M Maitland-Niles, and DF Tomiyasu are set to return after recovering from COVID-19. But, F Nketiah is out having contracted the virus, and F Pepe, M Thomas, M Elneny, and F Aubameyang are on AFCON duty. D Gabriel serves a one-match suspension and D Kolasinac is recovering from injury. With both managers unavailable in the touchline last week, Arsenal manager Arteta may return after a recovery from COVID-19. At current, the team’s form stands at LWWWWL. 

 

European Football League is still considering the possible postponement for the match. “The League has this evening received a request from Liverpool FC to postpone Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg versus Arsenal FC which will now be considered in accordance with the competition rules as set out at the start of the season alongside information submitted by the Club … We will look to confirm the League’s position as soon as possible once the circumstances have been fully reviewed,” released recently by the league’s spokesperson.  

 

This match is under EFL. Watch the live event this Friday, 7th of January 2022, 03:45 AM PHT at Sky Sports Main Event and fuboTV. Follow liverpoolfc.com and arsenal.com to catch up-to-date information about the teams.