Liverpool take on Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final this evening. The Reds head to The Emirates after a frustrating first-leg stalemate at Anfield. Liverpool couldn’t break Mikel Arteta’s team down after Granit Xhaka’s first half sending off.
Jurgen Klopp doesn’t have too many options to change things. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is the latest on the treatment table. Liverpool will go strong because of the chance of silverware but also because they don’t have much choice.
Defence
Pep Lijnders wouldn’t be drawn on who will start in goal. There has previously been clarity that Caoimhin Kelleher would start between the sticks in this competition. But Alisson played the first-leg. As a result, we think he’ll start again here.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is in good from and should continue at right-back. Centre-back is one area of the team where Klopp does have options. He may be tempted to rest Joel Matip and Virgil Van Dijk.
But there’s an international break coming up after the round of weekend fixtures. Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are likely to involved there, so we think Klopp will put the pair on the bench and give Joe Gomez some minutes alongside Matip.
Andy Robertson will keep his place at left-back.
Midfield
As ever Liverpool will be playing 4-3-3. Therefore Klopp doesn’t have much wriggle room in midfield. Fabinho is in brilliant form and is a shoe-in for big games like these.
Jordan Henderson was improved against Brentford on Sunday. We know Jurgen likes the skipper to play in the biggest games, so he’ll be in the side tonight. Liverpool will need Curtis Jones’ unpredictability alongside those two.
Attack
As with the midfield, Liverpool look a little light in attack. Therefore, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota have to start together. They are Klopp’s most senior options and Firmino has an excellent record against Arsenal.
The last spot will be a straight shootout between Taki Minamino and Kaide Gordon. But 27-year-old Minamino’s good form in front of goal should see him given a chance to make amends for his shocking miss in the first-leg.
Liverpool predicted XI vs Arsenal: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robetson; Fabinho, Henderson, Jones; Minamino, Firmino, Jota
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