Liverpool and Arsenal are set to lock horns in the English League Cup on Thursday night and both Jurgen Klop and Mikel Arteta will be forced to shuffle their squad to accommodate a number of absentees.

For the home side, Klopp should have a largely fit squad to pick from with a few notable exceptions.

In defence, Trent Alexander-Arnold And Alison are back from isolating with COVID but this game is likely to come too soon for the pair. As such, Caoimhin Kelleher is likely to remain in goals, with a back four of Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and James Milner at right-back.

Thiago Alcantara remains out with injury and Naby Keita is on international duty, so in midfield we’re likely to see Klopp go with a midfield trio of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Curtis Jones.

Similarly, Liverpool are still without Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah due to the African Cup of Nations, so Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should make up the club’s attacking trio on the night.

Like Liverpool, Arsenal are also missing a number of first team players because of international duty.

In defence we should see the return of Takehiro Tomiyasu at right back, with Ben White and Gabiel in the centre and Keiran Tierney on the left. Aaron Ramsdale should retake his spot between the posts.

The absence of Thomas Partey in midfield is likely to be tackled with a duo of Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka, with Emile Smith Rowe returning from injury to take up his spot in the No.10 position.

In attack, Arsenal are without Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, so Alexandre Lacazette is likely to lead the line, with Bukayo Saka on the right and Gabriel Martinelli on the left.

How Liverpool and Arsenal could line up in League Cup