Premier League holders, Liverpool, hosts Arsenal at Anfield on Thursday night for the second time in less than four days, the previous encounter on Monday, 28 September ended in a 3-1 win for the Reds.
Alexandre Lacazette put Arsenal in front before goals from Sadio Mane and Andrew Robertson and new signing Diogo Jota won it for Liverpool.
“We will come back on Thursday and try to win again,” says Arteta.
“I am happy that we competed throughout the game and I think there are a lot of things that we can do better – and we will do better – and that’s going to help us so much in the process.
“To play here with character and to play our way and now we just accept that they were better and that they are better at the moment and that we have to improve. This is the level that we have to reach.”
Arsenal has an uphill battle as they face a repeat of the fixture which ended 5-5 last season with Liverpool winning on penalties. Liverpool also hasn’t lost at Anfield for a while.
This match will be the 16th time Liverpool and Arsenal have met in the League Cup, making it the most played fixture in the history of the competition.
And with rounds two, three, and four having been played in consecutive weeks, there will be a break in the competition after the latest round of matches. The Carabao Cup will resume in December with the quarter-final fixtures.
Team News
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, since sustaining a knock in the 2-0 win at Chelsea on 20 September, is still not fit enough to feature in this fixture.
Injuries have also held back Joel Matip and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain while Kostas Tsimikas is sidelined as well, having picked up a thigh issue in last week’s 7-2 third-round win at Lincoln.
Thiago Alcantara who tested positive for coronavirus is also unavailable although 17-year-old defender Billy Koumetio will have his fitness checked ahead of a potential first-team debut. It remains to be seen if Rhian Brewster is part of the matchday squad as he continues to be linked with a move.
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, might look to rotate his squad for their return trip to Anfield. Cedric Soares and Sokratis Papastathopoulos are back in full training following their respective calf problems, so could feature.
Iceland international goalkeeper Alex Runarsson may be in line for his debut, while Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson, Bukayo Saka, and Nicolas Pepe are all expected to be involved.
Pablo Mari (ankle), Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring), and Calum Chambers (knee) all continue their recovery along with Emile Smith Rowe (shoulder) and Gabriel Martinelli (knee).
Prediction
Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal
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