Match Day Thread Liverpool V Arsenal (LC)

i'm arsed about it

the only issue i have is how leicester were given time off to get everyone fit to play our league game and now they are all out again somehow.

 

I'm confused, Is the game on Thursday night the rearranged first leg or the second leg?

 

It's Jake the Peg's middle leg. Not that we can mention him any more...

 

Its the second leg but played first as the first leg was rearranged to be played second.

simplicity itself.

Please note that should there be a draw after both legs the teams will need to travel back in time to tomorrow night in order to play the extra time and take penalties.

 

It's bollocks

 

Then there'd be no point in playing the first leg which comes second, because we'd already know the outcome of the second leg which came first. Or something.

 

A paradox marty!

 

Press conference updates:

Alexander-Arnold & Alisson back in training
Liverpool v Arsenal (Thu, 19:45 GMT)
Liverpool
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson are back in training after returning positive Covid test results.
The Brazil goalkeeper missed the Reds’ 2-2 draw at Chelsea, while both he and Alexander-Arnold were ruled out for their FA Cup win against Shrewsbury on Sunday.
Thiago and Divock Origi remain sidelined.


Arteta whinging
The first leg of Arsenal's Carabao Cup semi-final with Liverpool was due to be played at home but with that game having been postponed because of Covid cases at Liverpool, the first leg will now be played at Anfield on Wednesday.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said: "The dynamics change because the timing of the games becomes different. It’s completely uncertain but it is what it is.

On Arsenal's team news, manager Mikel Arteta said: "It’s extremely volatile and uncertain. In the last week or so we lost so many players for many reasons and we are trying to adapt to that.
"There have been different reasons - some injuries, some Covid and some are at the Africa Cup of Nations."

Rowe-smith injury

England midfielder Emile Smith Rowe has been used off the bench recently but still managed to score in three straight games for Arsenal before their 2-1 home defeat by leaders Manchester City.

Manager Mikel Arteta said: "The importance he has in the team is without a doubt really positive. But he’s had an issue he’s been carrying which has affected his ability to train."

 

klopp shrugs at the loss of second leg at home.


The first leg was initially scheduled to take place at Arsenal but was postponed because of Covid cases in the Liverpool camp so is now taking place at Anfield.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said earlier it 'changes the dynamics' of the tie, and Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp agrees.
"Of course it makes a difference, specially with the power Anfield can produce," he said. "But we cannot change that. We couldn't play last Thursday, that's why we have to take it like it is."

 

klopp explains basic science to idiot reporters

After previously saying the Covid outbreak that led to Liverpool’s first-leg game at Arsenal being called off was caused by “a lot of false positives,” Klopp clarified his comments on the matter.
“It’s a positive test,” he said. “When you are able to do a re-test, a day afterwards, it is negative.
“You then need to do a third test. And between the first and second, and the second and third test, we can’t use the players.
“When we got the first results, we had to consider it was the right result.”

 

Shows what football does to people. In any day of life you’d be hammered if you tested positive and assumed it was a false positive so went about your normal business. But for some reason in football your trying to game the system according to opposition fans

 

Sports journalists aren't very bright.

 

My mate is. Bar supporting Utd and Robben...

 

fixed

 

any team thoughts?

Klopp seems to be saying that Alisson might play as ne needs a game but kelleher was told he would be playing the comp (presume that means other SF and a final if we are lucky and FA cup as well)

He's confirmed roberston got absolutely destroyed by the Shrewsbury oaf so tsimikas is likley to start.

It seesm all others bar origi, elliott and thaigo are fit

arsenal may be struggling for a midfield it seems as well. xhaka had covid and partey is at ACON. they sent niles and balogun on loan etc.


Klopp has dropped the "rhythm bomb" on us here so i half expect a full 11 in so much as possible.

Alisson
trent matip vvd tsimikas
henderson fabinho ox
minamino firmino jota

 

**** Thiago the injured prick

 

Unfortunately, I think this is going to be another unhappy night for us at Anfield.

We have too many absences/injuries in key areas, and we're missing even more midfielders than the Forest game.

Tomiyasu isn't back, ESR isn't fit, Odegaard isn't fit, Xhaka is 50/50, Partey, Pepe, Auba and Elneny are at AFCON...we are desperately short in numbers.

Our only hope is the scoreline is kept low, but I can see you winning this 3-0/3-1. Maybe even more, it wouldn't surprise me.

We just don't have the quality in depth.

 

Excellent jinx attempt

 

I wish it was, but with all these absences, it would take a Herculean effort to get a positive result (whilst also relying on you lot having an off day).

Our squad is severely depleted at the moment. I can't see how we get a good result.

 

We've a forward issue mate. If arteta realises he can pass it more than 5 yards along your goal line he can play long and absolutely kill us with pace.

Should be an interesting game!