Liverpool have been told that they will ‘have too much’ for Arsenal in their Carabao Cup clash.
The Reds face the Gunners in the rearranged first leg of their semi-final at Anfield this evening.
Last week’s first leg at the Emirates has been pushed back to next week, and will now be the second leg, after the EFL granted Liverpool’s request to have the match postponed following a Covid-19 outbreak which led to the temporary closure of the club’s training ground.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will not be able to call on Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita tonight, as they are all at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Liverpool also have some players still absent through injury, including Thiago Alcantara, Divock Origi, Nat Phillips and Harvey Elliott.
Arsenal go into the game on the back of an underwhelming performance against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup, which saw them exit at the third-round stage.
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And former Gunners defender Ashley Cole has explained why he thinks Liverpool will get the better of his old club, too.
“I think Liverpool will have a little bit too much for Arsenal,” Cole told Sky Sports. “I know you are going to be missing Mane and Salah.
“But I just think they will have too much. I think it will be a great game. A fascinating game.
“Arsenal have been, under Arteta, up and down. They have some amazing performances, Manchester City was one of them. But they didn’t get anything from it.
“They then go to Nottingham Forest and underperform. This will be a great opportunity for them to get into the final. Stake a claim where they feel they should be. But you are playing against a very, very good Liverpool team.”
Former Liverpool skipper Jamie Redknapp is in agreement with Cole.
*Pick the Liverpool team to face Arsenal
He argues that the Reds will be able to cope with Salah or Mane.
But he also explains why, even though he predicts Liverpool to win, Arsenal will not be ‘fearing’ them as much.
“I think this one will come down to the teams,” Redknapp told the EFL .
“Arsenal have had injury problems which have made it feel like two steps forward and one step back; they’ve been doing really well, particularly the young players. (Emile) Smith-Rowe and (Bukayo) Saka have been excellent this season.
“With Liverpool not having their two talismen in Salah and Mane due to the Africa Cup of Nations, it certainly levels it out in a big way. It’s a game Arsenal won’t be fearing as much now.
“I think Liverpool will win this game, but it will be a tight one."
