EFL Cup - Arsenal vs. Liverpool Predictions and Summary

Arsenal vs. Liverpool prediction says that it will be one of the most exciting fixtures of this year. The first leg of the semi-final match will take place on 6th January at Emirates Stadium in London for the EFL Cup. Meanwhile, only a single place and a few points differentiate both sides in the Premier League table this season. Nearly four months ago, fans were giving long odds for Arsenal having any chance to leapfrog Liverpool in the Premier League table when Arsenal vs. Liverpool match happened. At that stage, Arsenal sat at the bottom of the table, having lost all of their starting matches, conceding nearly ten times without getting any goal for themselves in the process. 

Fast forward to the current Arsenal vs. Liverpool semi-final match, and the Premier League picture has changed completely. Liverpool has had a winless streak of a couple of matches over the recent weeks. In November, a defeat to West Ham United finished their unbeaten streak on the top ladder and an undefeated run across all the competitions that date back to April. A draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, which came before the defeat to West Ham, was also a blow as Jurgen Klopp's team threw away a lead of a couple of goals, with these results leaving the team now several points adrift of table-toppers Manchester City. It is not yet panic mode for the team. This is because they are still among the highest scorers in the League. Only Manchester City and Chelsea have better defensive records.

But there have been a couple of worrying signals in recent weeks. This was not the case in the earlier stages of the league. An instant return to winning paths is important for Liverpool. The fact that they have already obtained the top spot in the Champions League group and qualified for knockouts means they can give their full attention to the Arsenal vs. Liverpool match. This is very crucial considering the team's increasing injury concerns. The concern grew even more due to the AFCON. 

Arsenal vs. Liverpool Prediction: It Looks to be a Close Match

Klopp's team has not been successful in several of their home league matches this season, drawing most of them. That will give Arsenal confidence before the Arsenal vs. Liverpool match. Arsenal has dropped only a few points since those defeats at the beginning of the season. The undefeated run was the longest for Arsenal since December three years ago. That record improved to seven wins and a couple of draws from the final nine in all competitions.

Mikel Arteta's team has kept more than six clean sheets in that time also. In their previous nine matches combined, they have conceded fewer goals than they did in their defeat at Manchester City before the present run started. All of that has placed Arsenal right back in the race for the top 4. They have a goal difference of 26 lesser than Liverpool. The primary concern for the team this week may be the record against Liverpool in the current season. Liverpool has only lost one of their previous ten Premier League matches with Arsenal since the current manager took charge. They won more than six of those. Many of those victories have been convincing, too, particularly at Anfield.

Liverpool has won more than four matches on the bounce against the Gunners. They have scored at least a couple of times in each of those games. You will have to go back nearly thirty years for the last time the Reds had a bigger winning run at home to the Gunners in the top flight. Both teams' styles are playing into the hands of Klopp far more than they have for Arsenal in the previous years. That said, the Gunners have kept a clean sheet in more than five of their last eight top-flight away matches, including a couple in a row. Arteta's team now looks like a more organized group than the one that was embarrassed by Manchester City in the initial days of the season. The Arsenal vs. Liverpool prediction is that the match will give them a great chance to show just how far they have traveled during this entire duration.

Arsenal vs. Liverpool: Team News

Liverpool has to deal with the international trophy fixtures as key players Sadio Mane, Mo Salah, and Naby Keita have left for AFCON. Robertson is expected to be in contention. Divock Origi and Diego Jota are likely to be available for the match. The Arsenal vs. Liverpool match will also include Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, and James Milner in the squad. Mohamed Salah is the top scorer of the Premier League this season, and his miss will be a major blow for Liverpool. 

Arsenal will also miss the services of Thomas Partey, who has left for AFCON. Folarin Balogun is likely to be present for the match. With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of contention due to behavioral issues, Alexandre Lacazette is expected to lead the line. The likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, and Nicolas Pepe will also play a huge role in the fixture. Kieran Tierney is likely to start over Nuno Tavares once again in the left-back position. 

Arsenal vs. Liverpool: The Reds Want it to be Postponed

Liverpool has requested the postponement of the first leg of the Arsenal vs. Liverpool EFL Cup semi-final at the Emirates Stadium because of a combination of coronavirus injuries and cases. The Reds have submitted the request after more positive COVID-19 tests within the first-team squad. They canceled their training session to decrease the spread of the coronavirus around the first team. Jurgen Klopp, Joel Matip, Roberto Firmino, Alisson, and some other staff members were isolated after testing positive. The Reds also have several senior players injured while others have gone to the African Cup of Nations. The EFL organizes the lower leagues of English football and has already intimated that matches should happen where teams of thirteen players, including a couple of goalkeepers, are present.

Liverpool said in a statement, "The Reds have formally requested to the EFL that the fixture is rescheduled after further suspected positive tests were registered among players and staff, allied to other factors impacting selection, including illness and injury. The club halted preparations at the AXA Training Centre in response, meaning Tuesday's first-team training session was canceled. Among the considerations which led to today's application to the EFL is the need for traveling supporters to be given as much notice as possible of any potential postponement. With no prospect of the current situation improving ahead of Thursday's fixture and the potential for it to worsen, the club considers it both prudent and reasonable to ask for the fixture to be rescheduled. Liverpool FC will offer a further update on the application process, as well as the resumption of training, in due course."

The EFL responded, "The EFL has this evening received a request from Liverpool to postpone Thursday's EFL Cup Semi-Final first leg versus Arsenal, 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."

Conclusion

The fans of Arsenal have not always been very confident while going to Anfield in recent years because of their poor record against the Liverpool team. But this time around, they are in great form and may like their chance of getting a result in their favor since the first leg is at Emirates. But, this fixture always looks to suit Liverpool. Arsenal does have the tools to hurt the defense of Liverpool, which looked a little weak after the international break. However, the Arsenal vs. Liverpool prediction says that the hosts will get back to winning ways in the match. This is because the team's injury issues are not looking as bad as was previously feared.

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