Liverpool vs Arsenal Carabao Cup preview: How to watch, lineups, controversy, & prediction

Arsenal Team News vs Liverpool – Will Granit Xhaka Be Available?

Arsenal are short on numbers. Very, very, short on numbers.

Arteta revealed as much as nine absences for the defeat at Nottingham Forest, and while he still managed to field a strong enough starting lineup, the fear is that it will be a similar looking lineup for the next few matches without much firepower in reserve.

One major boost is the return of Gabriel from suspension, with the centre-back having served his one-match ban over the course of the weekend. Elsewhere in defence Arsenal are sweating on the fitness of Takehiro Tomiyasu with a calf strain, while Emile Smith Rowe is also dealing with a muscle injury.

"“It depends [if Smith Rowe and Tomiyasu will return],” the manager said. “They were injured and they couldn’t play. Gabi was suspended. I’ll have to see in the next few days how they were.”"

Beyond the quartet on AFCON duty, the other major absentee is Xhaka, who tested positive for Covid in days leading up to the game. If there is anyone to beat a lateral flow test it is him, but as Arteta said, it will depend on his wellbeing.

"“I don’t know,” Arteta said on Xhaka. “It will depend on the next few games and how he’s feeling.”"

As for Liverpool, they will welcome back a number of players who were ‘false positive’ from the previous leg and who also had to sit out their FA Cup clash with Shrewsbury. Thiago is a certain absentee with injury, and Alexander-Arnold should be back as well despite testing positive just before the initially scheduled first leg.

Barring Salah, Mane and Keita, they’re near full strength.

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