FA Cup: Arsenal vs Liverpool: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Published at :January 5, 2024 at 12:44 PM

Modified at :January 13, 2024 at 11:28 AM

Premier League title rivalry meet in the third round of FA Cup

Arsenal stand as the club with the most FA Cup victories, having lifted the trophy 14 times, with Mikel Arteta claiming his inaugural club trophy in 2020. Meanwhile, Liverpool, aiming for their ninth cup win this season, have shown significant improvement under Jurgen Klopp compared to their underwhelming performance last year.

Although they broke a 16-year FA Cup drought in 2022, this tournament has generally posed a challenge for Klopp’s team. With the Carabao Cup semi-finals approaching shortly after this match, Liverpool might not prioritize an extended run in the FA Cup, potentially placing it lower on their list of objectives.

Kick-Off:

Sunday; 7 January 2024, 04:30 PM GMT (06:15 PM IST)

Location: Emirates Stadium

Form

Arsenal (all competitions): D-W-D-L-L

Liverpool (all competitions): D-W-D-W-W-

Players to watch

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Bukayo Saka continuously poses a challenge for the opposing goalkeeper, the Arsenal winger persistently will test Liverpool. In the English top-flight league, Saka has showcased his talent across 19 appearances in the Premier League, netting 6 goals and delivering 6 assists. His consistent threat on goal and creative contributions underline his impactful presence on the field for Arsenal.

Luis Diaz (Liverpool)

Luis Diaz, recognized for his exceptional dribbling skills and attacking mentality, has swiftly made his mark by consistently challenging defenders and boosting counter-attacks. His recent performances, both at club and international levels, have been impressive. Given Liverpool’s formidable attacking options, Klopp can depend on Diaz to contribute goals and help secure victories for The Reds.

Match Facts

Only Manchester United (10) have eliminated Liverpool from the FA Cup more often than Arsenal (8).
Liverpool have only been eliminated from the FA Cup at this stage in one of the last 12 seasons.
Arsenal have lost just three of their last 49 FA Cup home games.

Injury and Team News

Arsenal faces uncertainty with Oleksandr Zinchenko’s injury status, especially given Takehiro Tomiyasu’s imminent departure for the Asian Cup before Sunday’s match. Mohamed Elneny has also departed for the Africa Cup of Nations, while Thomas Partey and Fabio Vieira won’t recover in time to play. Despite the possibility of Arteta fielding a strong lineup before a 13-day winter break, recent consecutive losses have raised concerns about the form and fitness of some of his regular starters.

Liverpool, without Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo for the month, face concerns over Dominik Szoboszlai’s hamstring issue following his early exit in the win against Newcastle. There’s a chance for young full-back Owen Beck to start following his recall from a loan spell at Dundee

Head-to-Head

Matches: 240

Arsenal: 82

Liverpool: 94

Draws: 64

Predicted lineup

Arsenal predicted lineup (4-3-3)

Ramsdale; Kiwior, Gabriel, Saliba, White; Nelson, Rice, Odegaard; Trossard, Nketiah, Saka

Liverpool predicted lineup (4-3-3)

Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones; Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz

Match prediction for Arsenal vs Liverpool

The absence of Salah will undoubtedly be felt by the Merseysiders, yet they’re known for maintaining competitiveness even when rotating their starting lineup. Despite this, Arsenal is expected to leverage their home ground advantage to secure a spot in the fourth round of the competition. It’s a widely acknowledged sentiment that neither team wishes for a replay due to the additional strain it puts on their schedule.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool

Telecast

India: Sony LIV

UK: BBC

USA: ESPN+

Nigeria: Supersport

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