Liverpool predicted line-up vs Arsenal – as Jurgen Klopp makes four changes but Diogo Jota out Due To…

 

Liverpool predicted line-up vs Arsenal – as Jurgen Klopp makes four changes but Diogo Jota on bench

Liverpool turn their attention to the FA Cup – and their third-round tie against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium couldn’t be much tougher.

The Reds and the Gunners are fighting it out for the Premier League title this season. After the festive period, Liverpool sit top of the table and five points ahead of fourth-placed Arsenal but there are still plenty of twists and turns to come.

And while the race to be crowned champions will be parked, there’s still a psychological battle to win – as well as a spot in the fourth round of the historic competition.

Liverpool have to prepare to life without Mo Salah and Wataru Endo for a period. Both have departed to represent Egypt and Japan and the African Cup of Nations and Asian Cup respectively. Certainly, losing Salah – who has scored 18 goals in all competitions this season – is a hammer blow. What’s more, Dominik Szoboszlai (hamstring) is also absent for the encounter after suffering a hamstring problem in the 4-2 win over Newcastle United on New Year’s Day.

Arsenal have been in stuttering form, losing their previous two games against West Ham and Fulham but will not be underestimated. They held Liverpool to an entertaining 1-1 draw at Anfield only two weeks ago and another entertaining battle could be in store.

Klopp has selection decisions to ponder and ahead of kick-off, here’s the Liverpool team predicted to face Arsenal.

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Chris Sutton has now given his prediction for Liverpool’s trip to Arsenal later today in the FA Cup.

Having recently met in the Premier League, the Reds will have the chance to get the better of Mikel Arteta’s side this Sunday in north London.

Whilst the likes of Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo are out for today’s match, Liverpool will be feeling confident that they can progress to the next round of the FA Cup with a win against Arsenal.

Liverpool FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League

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Yet speaking to BBC Sport, Sutton has now predicted that today’s encounter could end in a draw, a result that neither side will want given their current schedules.

Sutton said on today’s massive FA Cup clash: “As with every other tie, I really don’t know what sort of team Arsenal or Liverpool will put out.

“Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp have rotated their squad heavily in the FA Cup in previous seasons, but I have a feeling this one will end in the result neither manager wants, which is a draw.”

A draw is the last thing Liverpool and Arsenal will want

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Whilst January is quite a tame month for Liverpool and Arsenal, the last thing either side will want is an FA Cup replay in the coming weeks.

Both sides are going for the Premier League title as well as glory in Europe, and any unnecessary games will be welcome for either team as we begin 2024.

Moreover, with both squads already quite thin due to injuries and players out on international duty, Liverpool and Arsenal are far from their best given the names that will be missing for the next few weeks.

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Tony Cascarino has suggested that Harvey Elliott would start for every Premier League club despite not being a regular for Liverpool.

 

The 20-year-old midfielder has started just two league games this season with Jurgen Klopp’s side sitting top of the English standings heading into the FA Cup break.

And speaking on TalkSport, Cascarino has suggested that the England youth international has been unlucky not start more games given his obvious qualities and outstanding potential.

Liverpool FC v LASK: Group E - UEFA Europa League 2023/24

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The pundit said: “I’m going to mention Harvey Elliott because I think Harvey’s a little bit unlucky at times not to be in the team because he’s been terrific for Liverpool when he’s come on.

“I’m a big fan of Harvey Elliott, he reminds me of little Ray Houghton who was tenacious, always wanted the ball, chases everywhere, comes up with big goals. Harvey Elliott’s got that type of game in his locker, so I’m excited for him.

“Look, he’s up against one of the world’s best players in his position because he does favour the right-side of the forward line. He’s not as dynamic as Mo or as durable but there’s loads of quality to love about Harvey Elliott, he’d be in many Premier League teams, he’d be in many sides.”

Harvey Elliott’s time at Liverpool will eventually come

Crystal Palace v Liverpool FC - Premier League
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

It’s easy to forget at times just how old Elliott actually is, with the midfielder one of the youngest players featuring regularly for a top-six Premier League side.

And whilst it is frustrating that Elliott is yet to become an established starter at Liverpool, the 20-year-old’s time with the Reds will come eventually.

Indeed, Elliott has the potential to become a midfield superstar, and Klopp knows that the youngster will, in time, transform into the player that every fan knows the former Fulham man can become.

Fabio Carvalho has reportedly been subject to a number of loan enquiries, with the likes of Leeds United and Fulham interested in the Liverpool youngster.

Carvalho returned to Anfield this window after the Reds terminated the 21-year-old’s season-long loan spell at RB Leipzig, where the winger hardly featured.

Despite a few minutes in the UEFA Champions League, it was clear that the Bundesliga giants was a bad fit for Carvalho, who needs regular playing time if his development is to catch fire.

RB Leipzig v BSC Young Boys: Group G - UEFA Champions League 2023/24

And according to the Daily Mail, interest has been high in Carvalho since his return to Liverpool, with the likes of Leeds, Southampton and Wolves all interested in the youngster.

Lauded by Jurgen Klopp as an ‘outstanding’ prospect, it’s easy to see why so many English clubs are now interested in signing Carvalho on loan.

And given how bad the youngster’s time in the Bundesliga went, a return to the Championship could be exactly what Carvalho needs to hit his stride again at Liverpool.

Liverpool have to loan out Fabio Carvalho to the Championship this month

Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League Carvalho
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Carvalho made his name in the Championship with Fulham before making the move to Liverpool, and a return to England’s second-tier could be a wise decision from the Reds.

It’s obvious that Carvalho needs a reset if he is to hit his exciting potential, with the 21-year-old a player who could still make some sort of impact at Liverpool.

Yet that can only happen if Carvalho finds his mojo again, and a loan to the Championship could do just that, with the division an ideal development ground for the Liverpool youngster.

Liverpool should be keeping a very close eye on Brighton’s latest movements in the transfer market.

The Seagulls have become renowned as one of the best recruiters in Europe over recent years. From Alexis Mac Allister to Moises Caicedo to Kaoru Mitoma, Brighton rarely miss.

And according to journalist Fabrizio Romano last night, they may now be on the verge of securing another one.

Romano claimed that Brighton are well on the path to securing the signing of left-back Valentin Barco from Boca Juniors.

Seeing as Liverpool have also been linked with Barco, this should have piqued the interest of the Reds. But given where he’s going instead, it’s unlikely that Liverpool will be too deterred.

Should Barco follow the path the likes of Mac Allister have trodden already, he’ll be at one of the Premier League’s big boys in a matter of years.

Brighton ready for next project

The reason Liverpool should be closely watching Barco at Brighton is that they could well need a new left-back in the next two or three years.

We all love Andy Robertson and can’t wait to see him back fit. But turning 30 in a couple of months, the Scot isn’t going to keep going forever.

Kostas Tsimikas is an able deputy for now, but perhaps isn’t quite of the profile to succeed Robertson when the time comes.

Should Barco take to Brighton and do well, he could very well be exactly the right player at exactly the right time.

Boca Juniors v Estudiantes - Copa de la Liga Profesional 2023

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Currently only 19, the Argentine won’t be the finished article just yet. But if there’s one thing the Seagulls excel at, then it’s turning rough diamonds into polished gems.

Passing through the finishing school at Brighton is by now a well established ritual. Prove you have what it takes at the Amex before moving on to one of the country’s elite teams.

Obviously, not all of the players who excel on the South Coast have been able to effectively make the next step up. But in Mac Allister, Liverpool seem to have found one who hasn’t had that trouble. Given that the Reds’ No.10 has already spoken well of Barco, that’s a decent looking sign.

Of course, the caveat to all this is that the Seagulls don’t often sell their players on the cheap. In the two or three years it takes Liverpool to need a new starting left-back, Barco’s price may have sky-rocketed. Nevertheless, if the Reds weren’t truly interested before, then they should be now.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has cleared up whether he’s trying to sign former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.

Six months after leaving Liverpool for Saudi Arabia, Henderson is reportedly angling for a move back to the Premier League.

With that in mind, Pochettino was surprisingly asked about potentially bringing the 33-year-old to Stamford Bridge this moth.

Speaking via Football London after Chelsea’s 4-0 FA Cup win over Preston North End yesterday, the Argentine didn’t necessarily rule out a move for Henderson.

“To be honest we didn’t talk about names,” Pochettino replied. “At the moment we are not talking about bringing players. I saw Behdad here in the manager’s room with Paul and Laurence. I think tomorrow we are going to have a chat because we will be in the training ground.

“We didn’t talk about names or talk about position, we didn’t talk to bring players. For now, we are focusing on players like Andrey Santos to see what we are going to do.”

Pochettino quizzed over Henderson move

This would be up there with one of the most bizarre transfers in the history of football.

Personally we think Henderson may well be trying to get himself a move back to Anfield this month. That in itself would be strange, but for the former Liverpool skipper to end up at Chelsea would be downright unbelievable.

Pochettino’s answer here didn’t categorically appear to rule out bringing Henderson to Stamford Bridge. However, it seems virtually impossible that it would be something he’s looking at.

Having been playing in a poor league in-front of tiny crowds for the past half-a-year, there should be serious questions over Henderson’s current standard.

Jordan Henderson

 

 

 

There may be Premier League teams who would take him on, but Chelsea surely won’t be one of them.

Imagining for a second that this did happen though, and Henderson’s reputation at Liverpool would be lower than ever. He’s already not the most popular man in the world due to the way he left Anfield last summer.

But to join one of the Reds Premier League rivals would sink him to new levels. If there is potential there, then it will end up being a question of just how desperate Henderson is to get out of Saudi Arabia.

To see him playing for any other English club – barring Sunderland – will be strange anyway. But after the decision he made to move to the Middle East, nothing would surprise us from Jordan anymore.

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