Arsenal welcome Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium in the second leg of their 2021-22 Carabao Cup Semi-Final.
Following a goalless draw in the first leg at Anfield, victory would send either Arsenal or Liverpool through to the final against Chelsea on Sunday 27 February 2022.
Team News
Calum Chambers is a doubt for Arsenal as he struggles to recover from a knock.
Bukayo Saka (knock), Cedric Soares (hip), Martin Odegaard (Coronavirus), Emile Smith Rowe (groin) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (muscle) are also doubts.
Granit Xhaka (suspension) and Thomas Partey (fitness) are ruled out.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (illness), Mohamed Elneny and Nicholas Pepe (both international duty).
Liverpool will be without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after he suffered a minor ankle injury in Sunday’s Premier League victory against Brentford.
Thiago Alcantara (hip), Divock Origi (knee), Nathaniel Phillips (cheekbone) and Harvey Elliott (ankle) are still absent.
Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita are still away on international duty with Senegal, Egypt and Guinea respectively.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal have drawn seven of their 17 previous League Cup meetings against Liverpool excluding penalty shootouts (W5, D7, L5).
- Liverpool have won just one of eight previous League Cup visits to Arsenal excluding penalty shootouts (W1, D3, L4).
- A goalless draw would mark the first time in this competition that Arsenal and Liverpool have played out three consecutive goalless draws, having previously endured two straight goalless draws twice before.
- All five of Eddie Nketiah’s goals in this competition this season have been scored at home.
- Three of Liverpool’s five goals scored away from Anfield in this competition this season have been scored by Takumi Minamino.
Prediction
Having had Sunday’s North London derby against Tottenham postponed at the weekend, Arsenal should come into this match fully fresh especially after clinging on for a goalless draw in the first leg, yet they will need to go for it here against a strong Liverpool team.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds meanwhile were absolutely dominant against Brentford even if patience was a virtue in the first half, whilst their defence handled the Bees’ robust pressing attack well which should stand them well coming into this tough match.
On that note, we should have a competitive game on the cards but if Liverpool start like they did on Sunday and Arsenal fail to quickly settle, I can see Liverpool having the edge across the 90 minutes despite their poor League Cup away form against the Gunners.
Prediction: Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool
Result: Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool (Liverpool win 2-0 on aggregate!!)
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