Liverpool will face an Arsenal side with only two available wingers this weekend after teenager Max Dowman was sent off in the Carabao Cup. Mikel Arteta's team arrive at Anfield having been beaten on penalties by Fleetwood Town.
Sixteen-year-old Dowman received his first senior red card for violent conduct following a retaliatory kick at Fleetwood player Harrison Neal, who had caught the youngster with a robust challenge. The Gunners then lost a tense penalty shootout, with £75m summer recruit Bruno Guimaraes seeing his effort saved by Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch.
Arteta's attacking crisis deepens
Dowman's red card leaves Arteta even shorter up front than he was before. The manager is grappling with an injury crisis among his attacking options and will have just two wide forwards for the trip to Anfield: Eberechi Eze, who is perhaps more suited to operating as an attacking midfielder in support of the striker, and Noni Madueke.
Arteta must also cope without the injured Bukayo Saka, who was withdrawn during their 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in the Champions League, alongside Christos Tzolis, who has been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring problem while on international duty with Greece.
Iraola's side closing the gap
Dowman would have been an option on the wing, either as a starter or from the bench, but his red card means he will miss the visit to Anfield. This is a huge boost for Iraola's side, who are improving as the season goes on.
The confidence-boosting 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion moved the Reds to within six points of Arsenal and Manchester City. A victory over the north Londoners this weekend would close the gap between them and the reigning Premier League champions to just three.
Liverpool have not lost to Arsenal in their last four matches in all competitions and have not been beaten by them at Anfield in the Premier League since 2012, when Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla secured a 2-0 away victory. The Reds have since won seven of their last 10 Premier League meetings at Anfield.
League Cup focus before Arsenal
Before they can think about Arsenal, the Reds have their own League Cup battle at home to Chelsea to deal with. They play host to the Blues, who lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham on the weekend, on Wednesday evening.
With Arsenal now out of the League Cup, Iraola may now be eying the competition as an excellent opportunity to collect his first silverware in England.
