LIVE: Liverpool v Arsenal | EFL Cup

Time: 15:30 ET

Venue: Anfield

It’s time to take a step back from the chaos of the Premier League as we get stuck into some Carabao Cup action. The final sixteen teams remaining in the competition will compete for the right to play in the quarter-finals, with all eight fixtures being played later on this week.

The game that we’re going to be looking at today will see two giants of the English game, Liverpool and Arsenal, square off at Anfield in what will serve as the second meeting of the season between the top six sides.

Jurgen Klopp has hailed Trent Alexander-Arnold as the perfect example of how Liverpool’s “hungry” youngsters can become first-team regulars.

Alexander-Arnold made his 99th appearance for Liverpool in Sunday’s 2-1 win against Tottenham, almost three years to the day since being handed his senior debut against the same opponents in an EFL Cup fourth-round tie.

The England international has gone on to become an integral part of Klopp’s plans and was this month named on the 30-man shortlist for the 2019 Ballon d’Or.

“The reason he has achieved this in such a short space of time, one of the four youngest in LFC history I believe, isn’t just because he has amazing ability,” Klopp told Liverpool’s matchday programme.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROHzMQZZyv0

Klopp gave competitive debuts to three players in Liverpool’s EFL Cup win at MK Dons last month and has hinted he could turn to the youngsters again for today’s last-16 tie with Arsenal.

Caoimhin Kelleher, Ki-Jana Hoever, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Rhian Brewster all started the 2-0 win in Milton Keynes, while Herbie Kane, Pedro Chirivella and Sepp van den Berg came off the bench.

Arsenal

Unai Emery, as a direct contrast, is being heavily questioned as fans and media members alike wonder whether or not he’s still the right man for the job.

The Gunners seem to be regressing despite some of the new faces they’ve been able to bring into the club, and they still appear to be suffering from the same leadership issues that have been painfully evident for well over a decade now. They’ve got time to resolve it, but they can’t afford to pick up too many more notable losses.Xhaka is expected to be rested after his controversial substitution against Palace, with Bellerin being tipped to start as Tierney is rested.

LIVE: Liverpool v Arsenal | EFL Cup