Jamie Redknapp expects Liverpool vs Arsenal to be a ‘tight one’. The two teams play their EFL Cup semi-final first-leg tomorrow night.
Liverpool will finally play their EFL Cup semi-final first leg tomorrow evening after postponement last week. Though, now the first leg will take place at Anfield, with Arsenal gaining home advantage for the second leg next week.
It’ll be an interesting one, certainly. Liverpool go into it without Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita as they’re at the Africa Cup of Nations. Thiago, who excelled against Arsenal last time out, is currently injured, too.
That all makes things much more difficult as the Reds bid for their first EFL Cup final since 2016. But is it enough to make Arsenal the favourites here?
Jamie Redknapp predicts Liverpool vs Arsenal
Former Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp thinks the Reds’ absences make this a ‘tight one’ – but he still thinks they’ll have enough to win the match.
“I think this one will come down to the teams,” he told EFL.com. “Arsenal have had injury problems which have made it feel like two steps forward and one step back; they’ve been doing really well, particularly the young players. Smith-Rowe and Saka have been excellent this season.
“With Liverpool not having their two talismen in Salah and Mane due to the Africa Cup of Nations, it certainly levels it out in a big way. It’s a game Arsenal won’t be fearing as much now.
“I think Liverpool will win this game, but it will be a tight one.”
That’s a fair take – this game certainly isn’t as scary for Arsenal now. We’d still expect Liverpool to leave with an advantage, too.
But making up for the loss of Salah and Mane is the big task here. If Liverpool can’t do that adequately, it’s hard to see them beating the Gunners.
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