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Arsenal vs Liverpool news: Depleted line-ups point to penalty shootout drama

The two couldn’t be separated in the first leg at Anfield and it may take spot-kicks to decide who will meet Chelsea in next month’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

After holding the Reds to a 0-0 draw in the first leg at Anfield despite playing the final 66 minutes with just 10 men, Arsenal will feel they have a golden opportunity to reach the Carabao Cup final.

Granit Xhaka's red card threatened to derail the Gunners but they kept Liverpool at arm's length to keep their hopes of a Wembley date with Chelsea very much alive.

The big question is what team will they be able to send out having had Sunday's derby clash against Tottenham called off due to numerous players being unavailable?

When: Thursday, January 20, 19:45 GMT

Where: The Emirates

Where to watch: Sky Sports

Follow this game via our score centre

Who is the ref for Arsenal v Liverpool

Michael Oliver, who took charge of the first leg at Anfield, is again the man in the middle at the Emirates.
Michael Oliver, Premier League, referee,

Oliver sent off Xhaka but he hasn't given anyone their marching orders in his last 13 Premier League matches.

He showed two yellows in the first leg and also handed out just two bookings when Liverpool beat Arsenal 4-0 in November's Premier League clash.

Season stats 2021/22: Premier League matches (15), yellows (44), red (1), penalties (2)

Recent form

Before their last outing, the 0-0 first-leg draw, Arsenal had suffered successive defeats.
They were poor in a 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest but considered unlucky to lose 2-1 at home to Manchester City.

Liverpool had a pretty comfortable 3-0 home win over Brentford on Sunday and ran out 4-1 winners over Shrewsbury in the FA Cup before the 0-0 with Arsenal.

Away from home, they're winless in three after 2-2 draws at both Chelsea and Spurs and a 1-0 loss at Leicester.

Arsenal and Liverpool players in form

Bukayo Sako has four goals in his last five games and even went close to breaking the deadlock at Anfield despite Arsenal being a man down at the time.

The concern is that he limped off with a knock.

For Liverpool, Takumi Minamino has four goals in the Carabao Cup this season and had a golden chance to win the opening tie at Anfield but blasted a last-gasp chance over the bar.

He scored his second Premier League goal in his last five top-flight appearances when coming off the bench against Brentford. The other was in a 4-0 home win over Arsenal.

Last three meetings

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal (January 13, 2021)

Could Liverpool cope with the loss of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, who were away on African Cup of Nations duty?

On the evidence of this game, the answer was no. Xhaka's red card in the 24th minute gave the Reds a great opportunity to build a decent first-leg lead but they couldn't beat Arsenal's low block.

Chances were few and far between and the Gunners held firm to bank a goalless draw.

Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal (November 20, 2021)

The fast-improving Gunners had the chance to climb above Liverpool with victory at Anfield but the hosts brushed them aside in convincing fashion.

Mane broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when heading home Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick and Diogo Jota added a second on 52 following an Arsenal error.

Liverpool put the game out of sight with a third from Salah on 73 and a fourth a few minutes later from substitute Minamino with his first touch of the ball.

Arsenal 0-3 Liverpool (April 3, 2021)

The wobbling Reds had lost six of their last 10 games coming into this one but shot down the Gunners with comparative ease.
Goalless at the break, Liverpool hit the gas in the second half and moved into a 2-0 lead via strikes from Jota (64) and Salah (68).

Jota helped himself to another eight minutes from time, leaving Arsenal boss Arteta to admit he was "in shock" at how poorly his side had played.

Last 10 meetings

Arsenal wins: 1
Draws: 4
Liverpool wins: 5
Arsenal scored: 11
Liverpool scored: 25

Predicted Arsenal v Liverpool teams

Arsenal have Nicolas Pepe, Thomas Partey, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mohamed Elneny away on AFCON duty while Xhaka is suspended following his red card at Anfield.

Sead Kolasinac and Cedric Soares are injured where there are doubts over Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
That could leave the Gunners seriously depleted.

Liverpool, as is well documented, still have Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita away on African Cup of Nations duty.

Liverpool's midfield starting three of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Fabinho struggled to create in the first leg but adding Curtis Jones to the mix in place of Milner added some brightness in the 3-0 win over Brentford.
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, who headed home Liverpool's second in that game, is a doubt but striker Divock Origi could be fit to take a place on the bench. Thiago is still unavailable

Possible Arsenal line-up: Ramsdale, Chambers, Tierney, Gabriel, Holding, White, Lokonga, Saka, Martinelli, Lacazette, Nketiah.

Possible Liverpool starting line-up: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Van Dijk, Konate, Henderson, Fabinho, Jones, Minamino, Jota, Firmino.

Arsenal v Liverpool prediction:

The Gunners haven't scored against Liverpool in each of their last four matches although two of those have ended 0-0.

Without Salah and Mane, Liverpool clearly aren't as potent so don't be surprised to see this one end level (no away goals rule), leaving a penalty shootout to decide who meets Chelsea in the final.

Read more: FIFA Best Awards 2022: Chelsea win treble while Robert Lewandowski claims top prize

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