« on: October 1, 2020, 06:36:24 pm »
Liverpool vs Arsenal, EFL Cup, Thursday 1 October, 7.45pm
Where does the time go? October already, and it simultaneously feels like this year has been going on forever and that it's been only a few hours since we last hosted Arsenal at Anfield.
HOLD UP, IT IS!
Arsenal went out with a determined gameplan: hang back and try to hit us on the break, but after grabbing an early goal courtesy of an Andy Robertson miskick, they couldn't lay a glove on the champs.
Coincidentally, this is a replay of last year's last 16 match up, a blood and thunder classic where wily veterans like Milner, Lallana and Ozil oversaw a 5-5 thriller that involved youth and reserve players from each side throwing themselves forward against seemingly non-existent defences before it was eventually settled by a penalty shoot out. Another 10 goals is a lot to ask but I don't see any way this isn't another high scoring affair.
I expect us to line up similarly to how we did in the last round, especially considering the fact Thiago won't be back in time. Jordan Henderson is a possibility but looks likelier to start on the bench. The two big issues for the team that thumped seven past Lincoln City last week are in central defence and up front. With a three-day gap between the tie and our next Premier League game - compared to six for the last round - neither Van Dijk nor Gomez look like great options, though Fabinho could start in defence if he isn't being considered for midfield at the weekend. Nate Phillips is a possibility but given we're trying to unload him right now, not a strong one. Billy Koumetio on the other hand is just about fit again, and Sepp Van Den Berg is presumably raring to go. I don't think many people expected Rhys Williams to come straight into the team for Lincoln and if Klopp picks him again it could be a sign he really rates him.
Further forward, Milner and Jones look dead set to start in midfield. I'd include Grujic, but Kicker just reported that he's got a new agent and is looking for a move. Hendo is a possibility but probably more for the last half hour or so. The big question is who's going to be in the front four. Minamino is a nailed on starter, as is Jota after his goal last night. The remaining places will go to two of Shaqiri, Origi, who scored two crackers in last season's tie, and Elliott (at this stage it's fair to assume Brewster is out of the running). Given all that, I'd say this is likely:
Adrian
Neco
Koumetio
Fabinho (or Rhys)
Tsmikas
Milner
Jones
Shaqiri (or Hendo)
Jota
Minamino
Elliott (or Origi)
Arsenal of course won't be lining up the same way either. I suspect Arteta might want to try out Gabriel and Saliba as a back two, as this is effectively a free game against Premier League-quality opposition, though Sokratis is back in training and is also a possibility. Kolasinac is nailed on for left back (or one of the back three if it comes to that) and Cedric should be over a calf problem and ready to go on the right. They might also decide to give a run out to Rúnarsson, the Icelandic keeper who was until recently the second choice at Ligue 1's Dijon. I haven't seen him in action but advance word is...not good.
Further up the pitch, Saka and Willock look certainties to start while Ceballos, who got half an hour last night, is also a strong possibility. They're looking for a buyer for Torreira but with nothing lined up, he may start at the base of defence despite a disappointing few months. I think it's fair to say Ozil is an outsider. Saka could be moved up to the front three but I'd say it's more likely to be Pepe, Nketiah and Nelson.
With that in mind, I expect this to be their starting 11, with Cedric and Saka as wing backs if they decide to play with a back three:
Leno/Rúnarsson
Cedric
Gabriel
Saliba
Kolasinac
Willock
Ceballos
Saka
Nelson
Nketiah
Pepe
Despite our second team breezing through the last round and our first team doing similarly in the league, I think this will be a tough match. Arsenal have a better squad than most teams in the Premier League and if we play two youngsters at centre back their front players should expect to get some joy. There must be a parallel universe where the game is won by a surprise Harry Wilson masterclass, but with several first teamers on the bench if necessary I like our chances either way.
« Last Edit: October 1, 2020, 09:47:35 pm by Tepid T₂O »
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