Predicted Arsenal line-up (4-3-3) vs Liverpool, Odegaard and Tomiyasu return
|Arsenal entertain Liverpool in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final tie on Thursday night.
The Gunners produced an excellent defensive display in the first leg at Anfield where they had to play with 10 men for 70 minutes.
Granit Xhaka’s early sending-off put them in trouble, but they responded very well with the Reds restricted to just one shot on target.
Ahead of the return leg, they have been handed a timely boost with Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu fit.
Thomas Partey could also be available, but the game may come too soon for him following his early AFCON exit on Tuesday night.
Formation: 4-3-3
Predicted Line-up:
Aaron Ramsdale has been the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper since September, and there were no surprises when he was picked ahead of Bernd Leno for the first leg. The Englishman had a couple of late nervous moments at Anfield but luckily, the Reds did not capitalise.
Mikel Arteta should be able to pick a familiar looking backline. Calum Chambers did an excellent job at right-back coming off the bench, but he appears unlikely to start with Tomiyasu back in the mix following his minor groin injury.
Kieran Tierney is an automatic choice on the opposite end. Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes have played every league game together since September. Arteta has the choice of playing White in midfield, but he may not want to break the stable centre-back partnership.
Albert Sambi Lokonga is a confirmed starter in the defensive midfield role. He remains the only specialist for the position with Xhaka suspended and the short turnaround time for Partey from Cameroon. Odegaard and Smith Rowe could play just ahead of Lokonga in a three-man pivot.
Further forward, Arteta should have a straightforward decision. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have been ever-present figures in the wide attacking roles since December. Alexandre Lacazette is expected to lead the line ahead of Eddie Nketiah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is unwell.
How Arsenal could line up against Liverpool
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
Read: Fabrizio Romano: Arsenal trying to sign Dusan Vlahovic since October.