Arsenal host Liverpool at Emirates Stadium in a blockbuster Third Round tie in 2023-24 FA Cup.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are looking to avoid a second Third Round exit in three seasons, whilst Liverpool are looking to avoid an early exit at this stage for the first time since 2018-19 season.
Team News
Oleksandr Zinchenko is a doubt for Arsenal after he missed their league defeat at Fulham due to a calf injury.
Mohamed Elneny is away on international duty for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, whilst Takehiro Tomiyasu has joined Japan for the AFC Asian Cup.
Jurrien Timbers (knee), Fabio Vieira (groin) and Thomas Partey (muscle) remain absent.
Liverpool will be without Wataru Endo and Mohamed Salah after the pair were called up for international duty by Japan and Egypt respectively.
Dominik Szoboszlai is ruled out after he suffered a hamstring injury during the Reds’ league win at home to Newcastle.
Ben Doak (knee), Konstantinos Tsimikas, Andrew Robertson (both shoulder), Joel Matip (ACL), Stefan Bajcetic (calf) and Thiago Alcantara (hip) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Arsenal host Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on Sunday 7 January in a 4:30pm GMT kick-off, live on BBC One in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal are unbeaten in eight of their last nine FA Cup meetings against Liverpool across six ties (W5, D3, L1).
- Liverpool have won two of their last three FA Cup ties played away to Arsenal in North London (W2, L3), although they lost their sole FA Cup clash played at Emirates Stadium 2-1 in February 2014.
- Arsenal’s three draws in their last nine FA Cup meetings came in the 1979-80 FA Cup semi-final and two subsequent replays, before Arsenal won the third replay by a 1-0 result.
- Arsenal have won six of their last eight home ties against Premier League opposition in the FA Cup (W6, L2).
- Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have won just two of their seven away ties against against Premier League opposition in the FA Cup (W2, L5).
Prediction
Following a flat finish to 2023 where their end product just deserted them aside from Bukayo Saka’s lucky well-timed goal against Fulham, Arsenal now need to literally use this new year as a chance to start afresh bcause they have just lacked the final touch amidst defensive errors.
Liverpool meanwhile don’t have a great away record against top-flight opposition in the FA Cup and now without Endo, Szoboszlai and Salah, they will face a tricky test especially given their lightness in midfield but Diogo Jota’s return reduces the workload up front.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds though were absolutely dominant in their win over Newcastle but won’t have it all their own way here, especially with one eye surely upon Wednesday’s first leg against Fulham in their Carabao Cup semi-final.
In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if this game is as scrappy as their league encounter at Anfield was a fortnight ago, so a replay wouldn’t be much of a shock although neither manager will want it due to the winter break.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool
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