Arsenal v Liverpool: Team news

MatchArsenal v Liverpool: Team news

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By Glenn Price

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Arne Slot looks set to have the same squad to choose from when Liverpool head to Arsenal on Sunday.

The head coach reported at his pre-match press conference that the Premier League trip to Emirates Stadium will come too soon for Conor Bradley, Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota, who all missed the midweek win at RB Leipzig.

"I think they feel good but not when it comes to playing for us during the weekend," Slot told reporters on Friday morning.

"Federico might train with us today or tomorrow – but Diogo definitely not. And Conor Bradley, let's see if he can be with us tomorrow."

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker also remains sidelined, along with Harvey Elliott.

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The trip to the capital is the second of three consecutive games away from home for the Reds.

"That's part of our lives [and] that's also what the players are used to," Slot said. "If they play Champions League or, like last season, Europa League, you know these challenges are there.

"You also know they are experienced in this, how to take care of their body, what to do immediately after the game and in the days after to prepare themselves in the best possible way."

Virgil van Dijk is in line to captain the club for the 100th occasion, while Ryan Gravenberch could bring up the milestone of 50 Liverpool appearances.

Arsenal, meanwhile, will give every opportunity for Riccardo Calafiori, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber to prove their fitness.

Calafiori was forced off in the second half of their Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday – a match that Saka and Timber did not feature in.

Mikel Arteta said on Friday afternoon: "We are going to do our very best to somehow have them available. But obviously it's very, very uncertain.

"[Calafiori] needs some more tests. Yesterday he had some, today he's going to have some more. From there, we will know, because last time we thought it was really bad and he ended up playing two days after or three. Let's see how it is.

"[Saka] has done a bit of training on the grass. How far we can get to Sunday, that's a different question. We have another day, which is the good thing [because] this week had an extra day. We will see.

"Timber, again, it was the first session that he could have some involvement. He's been out for a while. We expect him to be further back [than] where he is at the moment. But again, we have to wait and see."

However, Arteta will definitely be without the suspended William Saliba, who has played in all of the Gunners' league fixtures so far alongside centre-half partner Gabriel Magalhaes.

Asked about his plans in the heart of the defence, the Arsenal boss said: "We have different options, players that have already played there before.

"It's true that that partnership has been very stable. We have to find a different solution."

There was no update provided on the status of Martin Odegaard, Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Last match

RB Leipzig 0-1 Liverpool (October 23): Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk (October 22): Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Jesus, Martinelli, Trossard, Havertz.

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This article has been automatically translated and, while all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, some errors in translation are possible. Please refer to the original English-language version of the article for the official version.