Topic: Arsenal vs Liverpool, now 13 Jan 2022, Pre-Match Thread

[Sharado]

Could be a very cobbled together side for this one so hope we come away with enough. Really want that trip to wembley, this team is far too good to only win trophies across a couple of seasons. Come on redmen.

[Nick110581]

Jota to lead the line with Jones and Ox one side if Taki / Bobby aren't fit.

Have to play a full strength side for this as need to win a Cup.

[Brain Potter]

I would go as strong as we possibly can. It’s the semi final, and we can play the kids on Sunday v Shrewsbury.

[rawcusk8]

I would be tempted to throw in a couple of the big boys for this as they’re likely to have a week off, the game against Shrewsbury is where we’ll see wholesale changes.

Kelleher
Neco
Gomez
Ibu
Robbo
Fab
Milner
Ox
Jota
Jones
Taki

Pretty decent side, Arsenal will make a few changes but I think with both teams being so close to a final we’ll see a few more first teamers.

[markedasred]

Imagine for a moment that I'm not sitting here in 2 jumpers typing on to a screen, but that I am before you as a crowd with my shirt off roaring this:
When Liverpool Football Club beat Barcelona Financial Cheats at Anfield in 2019, Shaqiri and Origi were leading the line, and the greatest footballer on the planet was in the stands wearing a T-shirt that said Never Give Up. Thetax dodger who won the ballon d'or this year was sat on his arse on our grass having his hair ruffled by Robbo.

[Fazak_Red]

Absolutely no excuse to be resting anyone for this.

[HardworkDedication]

Lots of rumours on Twitter that we have more covid cases and that our training ground has been shut.

[rawcusk8]

Hearing something happened at Liverpool’s training ground. Players sent home. Could be covid related. #lfc

Indy Khalia is an accepted source on here? Have I missed something?

[wah00ey]

Game could be off 'cos of Covid.

[jonnypb]

Never thought I’d say this in a league cup game, but strongest team possible please. Arsenal are coming good and will be a tough game. Stay in the game and bring them back to Anfield with it in our hands.

[Lfc1105]

Game could be off 'cos of Covid.

As Will FA Cup and 2nd leg if turns out to be true, potentially 14 new cases across players and staff including all 3 goalies now. Could be all load nonsense but don’t sound good if true.

Jam packed schedule Arsenal will be screaming we forfeit no doubt.

[spider-neil]

Is having games called off now a good thing or a bad thing?

[David Struhme]

I would go as strong as we possibly can. It’s the semi final, and we can play the kids on Sunday v Shrewsbury.

Agreed

[exiledintheUSA]

Is having games called off now a good thing or a bad thing?

Honestly games will have to be forfeited, only so many dates can be shifted.

[fowlermagic]

If those rumours are true then the fixture list will be a shyte show soon. Should just play a one game even if its at their place as no need for 2 games to decide a league cup semi final. Pure nonsense which is all down to $$$$.

I would have gone with

........Kelleher
..Konate ...Virgil....Gomez
Trent..........................Robertson
........Fab......Keita
Jones......Jota.......Ox

[kaesarsosei]

Got a bad feeling this isn't going to happen now, but if it does then anyone who thinks we should not be playing a full strength side (with possible exception of the keeper) wants their head looking at.

6th Arsenal - full strength
9th Shrewsbury - maximum sensible rotation/kids
13th Arsenal - full strength, or minimal rotation with an eye on Palace Brentford
16th - Brentford

That's almost a perfect schedule for rest & rhythm when you factor in the quality of our FA Cup opposition and being at home. I would actually have preferred the second leg to be next Wed and not Thur to allow an additional days rest before Brentford.

[Sudden Death Draft Loser]

If those rumours are true then the fixture list will be a shyte show soon. Should just play a one game even if its at their place as no need for 2 games to decide a league cup semi final. Pure nonsense which is all down to $$$$.

I would have gone with

........Kelleher
..Konate ...Virgil....Gomez
Trent..........................Robertson
........Fab......Keita
Jones......Jota.......Ox

 

[El Lobo]

Madness that they didn't make this a single leg

[rocco]

Isn’t Keita gone to the AFCON

[Elzar]

Would be absolute classic that the games we can't play are ones that can't be pushed later in the season...

3 Cup games in a week need playing, otherwise we're going to be playing about 4 times a week once we return.

[DangerScouse]

As you allude to, indy khaiia is a not a credible source,  a fella in the chippy by Anfield or a blue taxi driver from Delta are far more credible

Seems like he is!!

[DangerScouse]

https://twitter.com/TimesSport/status/1478369314612916227?t=PdPU4MTwtEjxL0tCAzTosA&s=19

[wah00ey]

As you allude to, indy khaiia is a not a credible source,  a fella in the chippy by Anfield or a blue taxi driver from Delta are far more credible

Drives me up the wall when people don't indy khaiia, especially on the mini-roundabouts in the village.







(sorry)

[newterp]

https://twitter.com/TimesSport/status/1478369314612916227?t=PdPU4MTwtEjxL0tCAzTosA&s=19

You know what's funny about this if we couldn't field a team? This will be the one game and first time that the FA will say too bad - 3-0 win to Arsenal.

[exiledintheUSA]

You know what's funny about this if we couldn't field a team? This will be the one game and first time that the FA will say too bad - 3-0 win to Arsenal.

Naturally, we've always been operating under a different set of rules.

[Nick110581]

Oh well.

Season is a farce so surely we will have to play with our U12s.

[clinical]

Yet they didn't want to make it a single leg.

[disgraced cake]

Depressing if that's true but the season always promised to descend into farce again and we've seen plenty of that over the past month. Was looking forward to these cup games too after seeing any hopes of winning the title extinguished in the last couple of weeks. As much as a joke the sport has turned into I'm looking forward to Covid not being a part of it anymore.

[clinical]

I bet they make us play it even without a recognised GK and we'll accept it.

[Too early for flapjacks?]

Might have to make this a one off game next week. Probably at the Emirates.

[Sudden Death Draft Loser]

I bet they make us play it even without a recognised GK and we'll accept it.

Maybe Milner will get his chance to complete the set of having played in every position.

[Nick110581]

Surely we won't have the desired amount of players.

[Gods_Left_Boot]

Surely we won't have the desired amount of players.

We didn't have enough players two years ago at Villa either, with the whole squad in Qatar for the CWC, but we were forced to forfeit the League Cup anyway.

[Fazak_Red]

Becoming a proper farce this now.

[Nick110581]

We didn't have enough players two years ago at Villa either, with the whole squad in Qatar for the CWC, but we were forced to forfeit the League Cup anyway.

This is slightly different.

We choose to play that game.

[Samie]

Kirkby training complex hasn't been closed though. WTF! 

[Nick110581]

Kirkby training complex hasn't been closed though. WTF! 

Training cancelled.

[tubby]

Maybe some of our African guys picked up the virus too and will need to come home and not play the AFCON?

[Samie]

Training cancelled.

Yeah I got that but the training complex isn't closed. As in people are still working there. Usually they shut it all down due to Covid.

[Gods_Left_Boot]

This is slightly different.

We choose to play that game.

The club requested to move the LC tie and the request was denied, if I'm not mistaken, so our only choice was whether we wanted to send the U18 (and therefore de-facto forfeit) the League Cup or the CWC.