It’s never dull when Liverpool and Arsenal face off in any cup competition. It’s like all the energy, the passion, quality, but also the madness shines through in these fixtures.This year’s EFL Cup semi-final double-header hasn’t even been played yet when it made the news. The first leg, that was supposed to be played at Emirates, was postponed due to the virus. Tonight we’ll watch the second leg that will be played before the re-arranged first leg. It seems silly and impossible, but it’s 2022 so it’s OK.This clip was from when Arsenal lost 3-0 to Liverpool in April, the reporter listed all of Arsenal’s absentees which Mikel Arteta interrupted that he ‘hates’ excuses and said Liverpool were the better team who deserved the win. Some managers need to hear this & get on with it… pic.twitter.com/Qmn4feFFUq— J͛a͛k͛e͛ 🌶 (@AFCJake2) January 5, 2022 The Reds are seeking a record ninth League Cup title. Arsenal has won it twice, and the Gunners are trying to rebound from being ousted from the FA Cup by Nottingham Forest.It will be interesting to see how the teams line up since some of their best players are away with their national teams in Cameroon. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita are at the AFCON, as are Arsenal quartet Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe, Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey.Quite a few players remain injured, too. Thiago and Divock Origi won’t be picked by Jurgen Klopp, while Mikel Arteta has to make do without Granit Xhaka, Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu.Arsenal fans rejoice because we are winning Liverpool today #ARSLIV pic.twitter.com/i7Q7hQI4tp— Sunshine ꨄ︎⍟ (@veebright) January 13, 2022 Both Arteta and Klopp appear to see tonight’s fixture as a problem. The EFL Cup wasn’t that important anyway, and injuries and infections have made it a nuisance. But the game has to go ahead – eventually. Arsenal’s Spanish coach told the press that the situation is “extremely volatile and uncertain”.”It is what it is. In the last week or so we lost so many players for many different reasons and we are trying to adapt to that. I will use the players that we have and make the most out of it. Obviously, after having Covid they are going through that illness in a different way. Some of them are having symptoms, some are being affected, some are struggling in their first few training sessions and some of them are completely fine. We’ll see.”Mikel surely knows how to get you going ahead of the match, that’s for sure.The winners of this two-legged tie will fight Chelsea for the trophy. The Blues have eased past Tottenham in the other semi-final on Wednesday night.EFL CUP – Semi-finalThursday22.45: (1.92) Liverpool (3.60) Arsenal (3.90)***odds are subject to change
