Since this article was published, this game has been called off due to a coronavirus outbreak in the Liverpool squad. The first leg is now due to take place on January 13 at Anfield.

Both depleted by AFCON-related absences, Arsenal and Liverpool lock horns in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night.

The Gunners saw off Sunderland 5-1 in the quarter-finals to reach the last four, while Jurgen Klopp's men needed penalties to make it past an inspired Leicester City.

Match preview

It is always a shame when such entertaining spectacles are overshadowed by controversial refereeing or VAR decisions - such is the nature of the modern game - but Arsenal demonstrated clear signs of progression with their resolute performance against Manchester City on New Year's Day.

Bukayo Saka gave the Gunners a deserved lead in the first half, but Riyad Mahrez responded from the spot for the champions before Rodri's last-gasp winner sunk the 10 men of Arsenal, who had Gabriel Magalhaes sent off for two foolish yellow cards.

However, Mikel Arteta's side are clearly a different beast from the team that capitulated at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season, and the top-four challengers eased past Sunderland 5-1 to advance to the EFL Cup semis last month.

An arguably undeserved defeat to Man City ended a five-game winning run and 12-game unbeaten streak at home for the Gunners across all tournaments, but they have found the back of the net in each of their last nine matches and will certainly not turn their noses up to a shot at silverware - one that has eluded them for almost 30 years.

Not since the days of George Graham's management have Arsenal lifted the EFL Cup, but the in-form Gunners will undoubtedly sense an opportunity to go all the way this time around, especially with Liverpool working around absentees in the double figures.

Man City fans would have been cheering for more than one reason at the weekend, as title outsiders Liverpool and Chelsea both gave it their all in a true Stamford Bridge spectacle but were forced to share the spoils in a 2-2 thriller.

After escaping a potential red card within the opening seconds, Sadio Mane put Liverpool into the ascendancy before Mohamed Salah doubled the Reds' lead, but Chelsea would hit back through Mateo Kovacic and Christian Pulisic to rescue a point on home turf.

Jurgen Klopp's side have been no strangers to stalemates in recent weeks and were forced to do it the hard way against Leicester in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, but they eventually made it through via a nail-biting penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw.

That spot kick victory represents the Reds' only win from their last four in all tournaments, though, and with the irrepressible Mane and Salah both plying their trade in the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool may possess a rare underdog tag heading to the Emirates.

Arsenal's young guns slumped to a 4-0 defeat at Anfield earlier in the season, and the two sides will be meeting in the EFL Cup for the third season running, with Liverpool winning on penalties in 2019 before the Gunners responded with their own shootout victory last term.

Team News

Arsenal have lost Nicolas Pepe, Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Africa Cup of Nations duty, but the latter would have expected to miss out anyway.

Gabriel will serve his one-match suspension on Thursday following his sending off against Man City, while Sead Kolasinac is out injured and Calum Chambers remains a doubt with COVID-19.

Albert Sambi Lokonga and Ainsley Maitland-Niles will battle for midfield spots as Partey and Elneny miss out, and Arteta should trust Bernd Leno with the gloves.

As for Liverpool, Salah, Mane and Naby Keita are all away on AFCON duty, while Alisson Becker, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino returned positive COVID-19 tests before the Chelsea draw.

Andy Robertson returns from a ban to take his rightful place in defence, but Thiago Alcantara and Takumi Minamino may once again miss out alongside Nat Phillips, Divock Origi and Harvey Elliott.

Klopp ought to put out a strong XI here before resting his big-hitters for the FA Cup clash with Shrewsbury Town, but Curtis Jones and former Gunner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will push for places regardless.

Both managers were not available for their side's most recent Premier League games due to COVID-19, but Arteta reportedly hopes to be back on the touchline on Thursday.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Leno; Tomiyasu, White, Holding, Tavares; Xhaka, Lokonga; Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Nketiah

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Fabinho, Henderson; Gordon, Jota, Oxlade-Chamberlain

We say: Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool

Even with all of their absentees, Liverpool's staunch defence and beefy midfield can still frustrate this youthful Arsenal XI, but it is difficult to see the Reds experiencing much joy in front of goal.

If their performance against Man City is anything to go by, Arsenal simply need to keep a cool head and demonstrate a clinical edge to gain the upper hand in this tie, and we expect them to do just that.

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