Arsenal hosts Liverpool in the first of the EFL Cup semifinals. The match will be played on Thursday, January 6th at Emirates Stadium (London)
Mikel Arteta's team eliminated West Bromwich (6-0), Wimbledon (3-0), Leeds United (2-0), and Sunderland (5-1) on their way to the semifinals of the League Cup. Arsenal finished 2021 very well. The Gunners won five games in a row in all tournaments. A successful streak helped them advance to the EFL Cup semifinals and take 4th place in the Premier League standings. So, Arsenal has every chance to gain a spot in the group stage of the next Champions League. However, the Gunners began the new calendar year with a defeat. On January 1, they lost to the leader of the Premier League standings, Manchester City (1-2). The hosts were close to a draw but conceded the decisive goals in one of the last attacks.
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Liverpool knocked out Norwich (3-0), Preston (2-0), and Leicester City (3-3 and 5-4 on penalties). The Reds are spending a less convincing segment compared to the Londoners. After the home victory over Newcastle in mid-December (3-1), the men of Jurgen Klopp couldn’t win in regulation time of four consecutive matches. In the Premier League, Liverpool scored only two points in three rounds and lagged 11 points behind the leading Manchester City. On January 2, the Reds lost points in an away confrontation with Chelsea (2-2). By the 26th minute, they were leading by two goals after the accurate shots of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, but Chelsea leveled the score even before the break.
The last official game of these teams was played in the current season. On November 20, Liverpool hosted Arsenal in the Premier League Matchday 12 and hammered the guests from London with a 4-0 score. Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah, and Takumi Minamino scored for the Reds Liverpool will not be the favorite of the upcoming match at Emirates Stadium, but it will be a two-legged confrontation. Therefore, it is beneficial for the Reds to preserve the chances of reaching the final before the return leg at Anfield, where they traditionally show excellent performance. Moreover, many important players will return from the infirmary. Klopp’s charges don't even have to win, as a draw in London will be a good result. Arsenal's chances seem preferable at first glance, but the Gunners may be hindered by the departure of Partey, a key player in midfield. In addition, Arteta's players spent a lot of energy on the confrontation with Manchester City, and this may affect their game. Let’s believe in the visitors.
Prediction for the match: Liverpool to win with +0.5 handicap
