Prediction and odds for the game: Arsenal (5/2) vs Liverpool (21/20)

We are backing the away win

When: Thursday 20 January 2022, Kick-off 19:45

Where: The Emirates Stadium

On Thursday night, Arsenal host Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg. It is all to play for in north London after the first leg finished goalless.

Arsenal

The Gunners have major personnel issues, through Covid, injuries and players away at the African Cup of Nations. The problems were that bad that they had to postpone last Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham. It seems the Gunners now have enough players for this game to go ahead.

Mikel Arteta’s team did a good job of earning a goalless draw in the first leg, especially after the first-half dismissal of midfielder Granit Xhaka.

In truth, the Gunners recent form in all competitions has not been great, as they are now winless in three competitive games. The draw at Anfield at least ended a short two-game run of defeats.

Arsenal have a good recent record in this competition, as they are unbeaten in five matches in the Carabao Cup, having recorded four wins and a draw. They have also scored at least two goals in four wins.

The Gunners are still low on players with Cedric injured, Xhake suspended and Nicolas Pepe, Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey all at the AFCON. Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe are also amongst the players who are fitness doubts.

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp’s team bounced back from that disappointing first leg result by recording a comfortable 3-0 home win over Brentford in the Premier League. The victory means that the Reds are unbeaten in four matches in all competitions, having recorded two wins and two draws. They have also been potent in front of goal of late, scoring at least two goals in three of their last four competitive matches.

Despite their progression to the last four of this competition, Liverpool have a rather inconsistent recent record in the Carabao Cup. The men from Merseyside have won just three of their last seven matches in the competition, while also recording a penalty win over Leicester in the last round. However, the Reds have won four of their previous five away matches in the Carabao Cup, scoring at least twice in all the wins.

The visitors are still without star attacking duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who are representing their countries at the African Cup of Nations.

Conclusion

Both teams could be missing key players. In normal circumstances, we would back a Liverpool and even in the current circumstances, we are backing Jurgen Klopp’s team to prevail in north London. We are also backing Diogo Jota to be an anytime goalscorer, as the Portuguese star is the Reds biggest attacking weapon without their two star performers.

Our Tips: We are backing the Liverpool win at odds of 21/20 and Diogo Jota to be an anytime goalscorer at the same odds. (All odds are taken from Bet365)

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Which of these teams will book their place in the Carabao Cup final?