Arsenal face Liverpool away at Anfield once again on Thursday, this time in the League Cup and likely with a lot of changes from Monday.
![Plenty of changes: Arsenal League Cup Predicted Lineup vs Liverpool 1 fbl eng pr liverpool arsenal 3](/static/uploads/2020/09/fbl-eng-pr-liverpool-arsenal-3-1024x683.jpg)
Arsenal face Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday, slipping to a 3-1 defeat to the English champions. They now have to prepare for another game against the same opposition at the same location in midweek.
Not only is it difficult to name the same team twice in a few days without risking fatigue and injury, but you also just expect a host of changes in the League Cup. Usually, it’s a chance to blood youth and give reserve options minutes.
Of course, Arsenal were unfortunate enough to draw Leicester City and Liverpool away from home in the first two rounds, which changes the manner of the task somewhat. But you still expect both managers to name weakened teams on Thursday.
Let’s have a look at our predicted Arsenal lineup against Liverpool.
Goalkeeper
![Plenty of changes: Arsenal League Cup Predicted Lineup vs Liverpool 2 liverpool v arsenal premier league](/static/uploads/2020/09/liverpool-v-arsenal-premier-league-1024x675.jpg)
This is one position where I’m not expecting a change. Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson is here as a backup now, but I think Mikel Arteta will stick with Bernd Leno. Rúnarsson will probably make his debut in the Europa League group stage in a lower-profile match.
Centre-Backs
![Plenty of changes: Arsenal League Cup Predicted Lineup vs Liverpool 3 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Gabriel after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on September 19, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton - Pool/Getty Images)](/static/uploads/2020/08/arsenal-v-west-ham-united-premier-league-32-790x1024.jpg)
With Kieran Tierney only just returning from injury, I think he’ll drop out for this one – unfortunately. Sead Kolasinac will have to come in, with Gabriel Magalhaes also replacing David Luiz in the middle.
On the right, I actually think Rob Holding will keep his place. The only real alternative is giving William Saliba his debut. Like with Rúnarsson, this doesn’t seem like a great occasion to do so.
Midfield and Wing-Backs
![Plenty of changes: Arsenal League Cup Predicted Lineup vs Liverpool 4 Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Dani Ceballos controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Fulham and Arsenal at Craven Cottage in London on September 12, 2020. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)](/static/uploads/2020/09/fbl-eng-pr-fulham-arsenal-15-1024x683.jpg)
Dani Ceballos only played a half against Liverpool on Monday, so he should be fine to start this one as well.
Joe Willock will probably come into the side alongside him, with Mohamed Elneny playing 90 minutes in the last game and Granit Xhaka more likely to rest before the match against Sheffield United.
Right now, we don’t know if Cedric Soares is fit for this one. Arsenal wrote on Sunday that he’ll return to full training ‘in the coming days’, but that might not be in time for this match. If not, Hector Bellerin should keep his place.
Bukayo Saka can come back into the team on the left. He performed well in last season’s 5-5 draw at Anfield and will hope to repeat that performance this time around.
Forwards
![Plenty of changes: Arsenal League Cup Predicted Lineup vs Liverpool 5 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal celebrates with teammate Dani Ceballos after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on September 19, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Will Oliver - Pool/Getty Images)](/static/uploads/2020/09/arsenal-v-west-ham-united-premier-league-2-1024x683.jpg)
Eddie Nketiah scored in the last round and will probably get another chance to score in this one, replacing Alexandre Lacazette in the starting lineup. Similarly, Nicolas Pepe should come in for Willian on the right.
Reiss Nelson will complete the same trio we saw against Leicester City, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a long shot to even make the squad. Arsenal don’t tend to use him in these games.
Predicted Lineup
![Plenty of changes: Arsenal League Cup Predicted Lineup vs Liverpool 6 Arsenal lineup graphic created with Chosen11.com](/static/uploads/2020/09/lineup-29.png)