Arsenal head to Anfield on Sunday for a crucial Premier League clash with Liverpool carrying a host of injury concerns, with Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Riccardo Calafiori all doubtful. The reigning champions are looking to bounce back from a shock Carabao Cup exit to Fleetwood, a penalty shootout defeat that also saw 16-year-old Max Dowman sent off.
Dowman's red card for retaliating after a challenge by Harrison Neal was upheld by the Football Association on Thursday, and his resulting three-match suspension rules him out of the Liverpool game. Mikel Arteta's side drew 1-1 with their fourth-tier opponents before losing on penalties, one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
Rice and Madueke fitness doubts
Declan Rice trained on Monday but was not in the squad for the Fleetwood game, missing just his second match of the season. Arteta confirmed the midfielder's absence was due to a knock rather than rest.
"Declan finished with a problem the other day [against Everton], that is why I had to substitute him," Arteta said after the loss to Fleetwood.
Noni Madueke, meanwhile, was not spotted in training on Monday after picking up an ankle issue against Everton. With Arsenal short in wide areas and Dowman suspended, a positive update on Madueke is a priority for supporters.
Calafiori and Saka concerns
Riccardo Calafiori was a surprise omission from the starting XI against Everton, having started all of the previous seven Premier League games. He came off the bench in the second half and spent much of stoppage time up front before going straight down the tunnel at full-time.
"Yeah, I wasn't that mad to change those two from their positions," Arteta said. "It was because he had a slight issue, we don't know what it is, it seems to be something very small, but he was cautious about it."
Bukayo Saka is out indefinitely with a quad issue after being forced off early against Bayern Munich. Arteta has said the winger faces weeks on the sidelines.
"We have to wait. It will be weeks," Arteta said before Arsenal's win over Everton. "I think in a week or 10 days we're going to have another scan because there's so much fluid at the moment."
Other injury updates
Christos Tzolis has been out with a hamstring injury suffered while playing for Greece against the Netherlands in early October. Arteta has said the winger is progressing well and could be in contention for the Liverpool match.
William Saliba has yet to play this season due to a long-term back injury exacerbated while on international duty with France. He recently resumed individual work on the grass at Arsenal's training ground, with another MRI scan scheduled to assess his recovery.
Arteta's pre-Liverpool press conference on Friday is expected to provide further clarity on the fitness of Rice, Madueke and Calafiori ahead of the trip to Merseyside.
