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Injuries are mounting for Arsenal as they face the prospect of falling seven points behind leaders Liverpool after Sunday’s clash at the Emirates Stadium. As many as seven senior first-team players could be absent for Mikel Arteta, a list that will certainly include club captain Martin Odegaard and defensive key William Saliba. If Bukayo Saka is added to that list, it will be a huge challenge for the Gunners to extend their four-match unbeaten Premier League run against Liverpool.
Arne Slot’s side now appear to be arriving in London at the peak of their powers. After a favorable run of games to start the season, Chelsea and RB Leipzig were dealt impressively in back-to-back matches, meaning the Reds sit top of the pile in both the Champions League and Premier League. A win in the capital and they might look like the team to beat in the title race. Here’s how to watch the match and what you need to know:
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- Date: Sunday October 27 | Time: 10:30 AM ET
- Location: Emirates Stadium – London, England
- Live stream: Peacock
- Chances: Arsenal +145; Sign +240; Liverpool+190
Team news
Arsenal: With even Arteta admitting he doesn’t know his lineup yet, it’s fair to say there are a few positions up for grabs in the squad that will take the field at the Emirates on Sunday. Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori were not seen during the open training on Friday afternoon, but their manager has not yet given up hope. “We’re going to do our utmost to get them available somehow, but it’s very uncertain,” he said.
Meanwhile, Martin Odegaard, Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all missing, with the absence of the latter two causing further headaches for the left-back. Will Jakub Kiwior start there? Can Oleksandr Zinchenko hold his ground defensively? What about Timber, will he be fit enough to start or will Thomas Partey have to drop into the backline? All that and William Saliba is suspended. Headache after headache.
Possible Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Wood, Gabriel, Kiwior; Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard, Martinelli
Liverpool: Such confusion does not exist with Slot. There will be no Alisson, Harvey Elliott or Diogo Jota, the latter in particular being a thorn in Arsenal’s side over the years. Conor Bradley and Federico Chiesa are rated at 50:50, but neither would likely be a starter even if fully fit. “Nobody knows at this early stage who the biggest competitors will be,” Slot said, “but Arsenal will be one, so winning points against them is important.”
Possible Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, MacAllister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
Prediction
This may seem close, but in the end Liverpool should just about have the rhythm and organization to claim all three points against a cobbled-together Arsenal. CHOOSE: Arsenal 1, Liverpool 3