Liverpool vs. Arsenal: Preview and betting tips

Liverpool and Arsenal will play the first semi-final of the Carabao Cup on Thursday. The game is at Anfield, the rematch at the Emirates. Both teams have limited options, as a number of national team players have left for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Liverpool did qualify for the next round of the FA Cup at the weekend, but have been waiting three rounds to win the league. They are third in the table, but are already eleven points behind first placed Manchester City. It doesn’t look like the title is on the cards.

Arsenal, on the other hand, unexpectedly left the FA Cup after losing 0:1 to Nottingham Forest. The ending in the cup was all the more unexpected because the Gunners have been in good form in the Premier League and have jumped into the top four of the competition.

Liverpool cannot rely on mainstays Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah, who are at the Africa Cup of Nations. So the attention is on Diogo Jota, the author of 12 goals and two assists.

Gabriel Martinelli made his debut for Arsenal in December, scoring three goals and assisting two. Emile Smith-Rowe has been coming off the bench in recent weeks, yet he boasts a league record of 7+2.

Liverpool’s defence has stopped working in December, getting at least two goals in three of their last five games, even conceding three times against Leicester.

Arsenal, on the other hand, have been on a tear, scoring at least four times in three of their last five games, despite Mikel Arteta sidelining captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Considering Liverpool’s strength at home, I think the Reds will take the game and win.