Liverpool vs. Arsenal: League Cup Semi-finals (first-leg), 19:45 Thu 13th January 2022

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Underlying stats can be misunderstood and misinterpreted quite easily.

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Of course he’d be well advised to consider the thread starter too. Once he knows what he’s up against he’ll probably just forfeit the tie.

False positive/false negative…whichever it might be…any chance of this lurgy has to be taken seriously…

I’m really surprised that the body in charge of the cup has seen the evidence and decided it’s fine, as opposed to the talking heads on talk radio and on Twitter who haven’t seen any of the evidence and just spew utter vitriol, then again Murdoch owns the group that includes Talksport so it doesn’t surprise me.

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Granit Xhaka is a doubt after contracting the virus last week, while playmaker Emile Smith Rowe and right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu have picked up fitness issues.

Meanwhile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe, Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny are at the Africa Cup of Nations and the club have sanctioned loans for Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Folarin Balogun, leaving Arsenal short of midfield and attacking options.

Possible Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Sambi Lokonga, Patino; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Lacazette

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They just need a couple of COVID cases now to postpone this game, surely?

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Trent and Ali are back according to Klopp.

Salah, Mané, Keita, Divock, Thiago not available.

Harvey close.

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What is the point of him if he’s not available at a time when he ought to be starting games…

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It’s unfortunate he got a whack on the knee in last champions league game. Maybe he should avoid making contact with opposition players :thinking: 🤷

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Good news on Harvey. JK also said he was ‘positive’ about the Mo contract situation. Was full of praise for him. First in, last out (of training), etc. He was asked about the ‘false positives’ but didn’t give much away about that. He didn’t mention any new Covid cases.

Looks like we might have a strong team available tomorrow which should boil a lot of Arsenal piss, now they are now struggling to get a team out.

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Close to team training yes, finnaly. :+1:

Line up time then…I want Klopp to go for this full strength. Get a solid result to take to the Emirates. I want the final and the cup. We’re close enough now that it’s time to hit go.

I’d go Ali in goal, but I think we’ll see Kelleher - which I’m fine with. Robbo was only a minor knock, so he’s likely fit, but I’d not be surprised to see Kostas start and Robbo start the PL fixture on the weekend. I think Taki could get a start, but how that works with Bobby and Jota I’m not sure - maybe Gordon gets a shot?? Gomez is the other one…he has to get a game at some point…maybe against an Arsenal side without big units…

Kelleher

Trent Gomez Virgil Tsimikas

Hendo Fab Jones

Gordon Bobby Jota

Bench: Ali, Ibou, Robbo, Ox, Taki, Morton, Neco, Milner etc

I’m probably miles off what we’ll see…

Think Klopp goes with a strong lineup since a lot have not played in a while.

Becker

TAA Matip van Dijk Robertson

Henderson Fabinho Ox

Minamino Firmino Jota

It would be a complete cluster mess…

But is it wrong I want Arsenal to have to request a postponement for Covid just to see their fans completely implode over it and somehow try to fit it into their already self-contradictory conspiracy theory?

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No it’s utterly fucking hilarious if they ask for a postponement.

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Think I’d be starting with something like this and only bringing Bobby and Jota on if required. Sucks that Origi is out right now. I doubt Arsenal will through the kitchen sink at this, big game for them at the weekend.

----------------Kelleher---------------
Williams–Gomes- Mattip-Tsmikas
-----Ox–Morton–Milner------------
—Gordon–Taki—Jones-----------

And funnier again if its denied

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Especially if it ends up meaning they play the second leg when Salah and Mane are back :rofl:

But why did they loan out three players when they knew they were short? They’ve got another 20 days to loan them out.

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Not just that, but also if the 2nd Leg reverts back to being at Anfield as originally schedulled

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