Team news confirmed from the Emirates as Hugo Ekitike misses out and Curtis Jones drops to the bench
Hugo Ekitike misses out for Liverpool as Cody Gakpo keeps his place against Arsenal. Curtis Jones drops to the bench and Alexis Mac Allister keeps his place in midfield with Jeremie Frimpong coming in on the right, while Ibrahima Konate starts at centre-half alongside captain Virgil van Dijk.
Ekitike was absent for Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Fulham despite flying to London for the game, with an MRI scan revealing the France international was at risk of a hamstring injury.
Arne Slot said he was hopeful of the 11-goal top scorer training on Wednesday but Ekitike is not risked for the game against Mikel Arteta’s men as the Reds aim to reduce the deficit on the Gunners to 11 points with a victory.
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Ekitike’s injury comes at an inopportune time for Slot, who is also without Mohamed Salah, who is still at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, and £125m Alexander Isak, who is expected to be sidelined until at least March with a broken leg.
As a result, Florian Wirtz is expected to operate as a ‘false 9’ with Gakpo stationed off the left. Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch make up the midfield three with Jeremie Frimpong starting in a wide right position and Conor Bradley at the back.
Frimpong was an impact sub against Fulham, supplying Gakpo with what looked to have been a last-gasp winning goal before Harrison Reed’s equaliser. And the speedy Dutchman is rewarded with a place in the starting lineup this evening.
Liverpool: Alisson; Bradley, Conate, Van Dijk, Question; Matthew, Mac Allister, Szomp; Frimpong, Wirtz, Gacpo.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Robertson, Gomez, Jones, Nyoni, Chiesa, Ngumoha, Ramsay.
Arsenal: Timber, Shallabhiya, the Gabriel, and the Gabriel; Zubindi, Rice, Odegaard; Similarly, Gyos, Transsarard.
Subs: Kepa, White, Jesus, Eze, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Merino, Lewis-Skelly.
