Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
United Arab Emirates

Arsenalvs.Liverpool

sportsmole.co.uk, 25 October 2024, 08:10
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta is under pressure to find the perfect solution to William Saliba's suspension in Sunday's Premier League blockbuster against Liverpool at the Emirates.

The Frenchman will be watching on helplessly following his red card in last weekend's 2-0 loss to Bournemouth, and Arteta's rearguard may be further depleted by the absence of Riccardo Calafiori, who hurt his knee against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

Calafiori's chances of a comeback on Sunday are considered slim to none, so the Italian could join Martin Odegaard (ankle), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Kieran Tierney (hamstring) in the medical bay.

In brighter news, there is a good chance that Jurrien Timber could be back from a muscular issue in time for Sunday, where the Dutchman could take up right-back duties as Ben White moves across to partner Gabriel Magalhaes in the centre.

Interestingly, Myles Lewis-Skelly was selected to replace the injured Calafiori in midweek, but the vastly more experienced Oleksandr Zinchenko will surely get the nod from the off at left-back instead.

Thomas Partey and Declan Rice are immovable in midfield, and it would not be surprising to see Mikel Merino join the pair in the engine room, as Arteta prepares for an extremely physical battle.

Arteta could sacrifice Leandro Trossard for Merino if Bukayo Saka shakes off his hamstring concern in time for Sunday, and the Englishman is thought to have a good chance of being fit in what would be a monumental boost to the hosts.

Saka would no doubt form a fearsome front three with Kai Havertz - out to score for the sixth Premier League home game running - and Gabriel Martinelli, who boasts five goals and two assists from previous games against Liverpool.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Raya; Timber, White, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Merino, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

Show more

Top News

10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides who have had a contrasting start to the 2025 Major League Soccer campaign square off on Sunday morning as DC United and FC Cincinnati go head to head at Audi Field. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bristol City will continue their Championship playoff bid when they travel to the capital for Saturday's meeting with Queens Park Rangers. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich will host fierce rivals Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Saturday at Allianz Arena. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate is supposedly holding out for a mammoth pay rise before he commits his future to the Reds with a new contract. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hosts Bayer Leverkusen must beat Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday at BayArena and hope that Bayern Munich drop points if they have ambitions of retaining their title. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace have reportedly baulked at Liverpool's asking price for up-and-coming attacker Ben Doak, but the Reds could be willing to let him go for lower than their valuation. 10 April 2025 talksport.com Paul Scholes has claimed that he doesn't think that Ruben Amorim likes his Manchester United team. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides with similar starts to the 2025 Major League Soccer season are in action on Saturday as Orlando City welcome New York Red Bulls to Inter&Co Stadium. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly made contact over a summer deal for a Premier League goalkeeper in the wake of Andre Onana's latest horror show. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In what may prove to be a decisive match in the battle for European football, Borussia Monchengladbach will welcome Freiburg to Borussia Park on Saturday in their 29th Bundesliga game of the season. 10 April 2025 talksport.com Add Paddy Pimblett to the long line of Liverpool supporters who can't wait to see the back of Trent Alexander-Arnold. 10 April 2025 talksport.com Andre Onana's worst nightmares came true with a horror display against a Lyon side who had it in for him. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two mistakes from Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana prevented the Red Devils from securing a famous win over Lyon on Thursday night, with the Europa League quarter-final first leg in France finishing 2-2. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Rangers kept their Europa League hopes alive with a goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their quarter-final clash, despite playing the majority of the game with 10 men. 10 April 2025 talksport.com Always on top at Manchester United when it comes to production, Bruno Fernandes has now grabbed an impressive European record. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 1-1 draw by Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final clash on Thursday night. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to bounce back from their recent setback, Sporting Lisbon make the long trip to the Azores as they face Santa Clara in gameweek 29 of the Primeira Liga on Saturday evening. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides separated by just a point in the Primeira Liga standings will square off on Saturday, as Famalicao welcome Estoril Praia to Estadio Municipal for a round 29 showdown. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Porto will seek redemption following last weekend's nightmare showing when they travel to Casa Pia in round 29 of the Primeira Liga this Saturday. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Saturday's gameweek 32 action in Serie A pits second-bottom Venezia against cellar-dwelling Monza at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Los Angeles FC seek a response to their CONCACAF Champions Cup exit as they host the San Jose Earthquakes in Saturday's MLS contest at BMO Stadium. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Go Ahead Eagles will be hoping to return to winning ways in the Eredivisie this weekend when they travel to Rat Verlegh Stadion to face NAC Breda on Saturday evening. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will have a strong lead to defend in the second leg of their Conference League Quarter-Final after beating Legia Warsaw 2-0 at Stadion Legii Warszawa im. 10 April 2025 talksport.com Articles 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Southampton have reportedly added Will Still to their list of potential new managers ahead of next season. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Saturday brings us a David vs. Goliath clash in the Eredivisie, with defending champions PSV Eindhoven playing host to a struggling Almere City at Philips Stadion. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United attacker Amad Diallo has hinted at an imminent return for the Red Devils. 10 April 2025 talksport.com Tottenham can ease the growing pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou during their crunch showdown with Eintracht Frankfurt. 10 April 2025 talksport.com Manchester United get their make-or-break Europa League quarter-final against Lyon underway this evening. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly positioned ahead of Everton in the race for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap.