Liverpool set for huge Mo Salah and Sadio Mane blow for Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal

Liverpool will be without Mo Salah and Sadio Mane for their Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal.

The Reds will also be missing Naby Keita for both legs against the Gunners next month.

Background

Jurgen Klopp's men moved into the last four of the competition in dramatic style on Wednesday evening.

Liverpool beat Leicester City on penalties at Anfield after a thrilling 3-3 draw.

The home side had been trailing 3-1 at half-time but took the game to spot-kicks courtesy of a Diogo Jota strike and a last-minute Takumi Minamino goal after the interval.

It means the Reds are on the cusp of reaching a Wembley final (with the exception of the 2020 Community Shield) for the first time since beating beaten by Manchester City of the then-branded Captial One Cup in 2016.

Why will Liverpool be without Salah and Mane?

The first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final is due to take place at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium the week commencing Monday 3 January.

The return encounter at Anfield will go ahead the following week.

However, those dates clash with when Salah, Mane and Keita will be at the African Cup of Nations.

The trio are due to jet off to represent Egypt, Senegal and Guinea respectively.

The tournament is scheduled between Sunday 9 January– Sunday 6 February and it's likely their countries will want them to report for training beforehand.

Salah and Mane were both rested for the defeat of Leicester, with Keita coming off the bench.

Who will Arsenal be without?

In total, the Gunners will likely be absent of four players.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been stripped of the captaincy and been excluded from Mikel Arteta's side's past three games. He's due to represent Gabon.

Meanwhile, Thomas Partey (Ghana), Nicolas Pepe (Ivory Coast) and Mohamed Elneny (Egypt) will all jet off to link up with their respective nations.