Arsenal at Liverpool, lineups and match thread: Confidence builder or confidence destroyer?

This match comes at a pretty interesting time for Arsenal. After the mess that was this weekend, a competition like the Carabao Cup is a great chance to get things back on the right track, at least mentality-wise. Problem is, Arsenal’s opponent today is the high-flying Liverpool, who are starting to put the other 19 teams in the Premier League in the rearview in that competition.

I wouldn’t say this game is a measuring stick, where we can determine who Arsenal are in relation to the best team in the league - we already know that. This game, then, is more of a gut-check, more of a self-reflection opportunity. Even if Arsenal do not win, will they put up a fight, or will they second-half-Crystal-Palace it? Like, I suspect, a lot of you, I honestly don’t care if Arsenal win this game - the League Cup is not my favorite competition. I do care that Arsenal try to rally from the weekend’s disappointment, and try to kickstart things a bit with either a win or at least a good performance against Liverpool.

WHAT: Arsenal at Liverpool, Carabao Cup Round of 16

WHERE: Anfield

WHEN: Wednesday, October 30th 12:30 PM PT | 3:30 PM ET | 7:30 PM BT

US TV: Not broadcast. Streaming on ESPN+ ($$$).
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LINEUPS:

Arsenal - Martinez, Bellerin, Holding, Mustafi, Kolasinc, Torreira, Willock, Maitland-Niles, Ozil, Saka, Martinelli

Liverpool - Kelleher, Williams, Gomez, Van Den Berg, Milner, Lallana, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain- Elliot, Origi, Brewster