Predicted Lineup Ahead of Carabao Cup Clash

What will change from Monday?

Likely, quite a bit. Arsenal face a beleaguered Sheffield United in the Premier League on Sunday and it goes without saying that the top-flight takes priority.

Another trip to Anfield awaits on Thursday, and I can say with certain degree of confidence that it won’t be quite as one-sided. Difficult, no doubt, but not anywhere near the level we saw Liverpool play in the most recent meeting. Such a magnificent side they are.

Ideally, we’d see an entirely new team take to the turf to ensure legs are fresh across the board, although with injuries – especially in defence – expect a few familiar faces in Mikel Arteta’s lineup.

The situation remains the same as before. Winning the Carabao Cup would be another welcome trophy to the cabinet, one that reinforces the fine work the Spanish boss is doing, but nobody will lose much sleep over a defeat on Merseyside. Doesn’t mean we don’t want to win, though.

Winning every game is the standard that is set at Arsenal, of course, but other competitions have such a huge bearing on the club’s future that fans and manager alike will not be too downbeat. It will be the players who struggle to gain first team minutes that will suffer the most.

Which is why we can expect a solid displays from a number of fringe players on Thursday. Who will they be? Well, this is one potential outcome.