Arsenal vs Liverpool: Latest on Saka’s Injury, Team News, and Expected Lineup for the Premier League Match

Arsenal are concerned about the fitness of several key players ahead of their Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday, particularly Bukayo Saka.

William Saliba will be unavailable due to suspension after receiving a red card against Bournemouth last weekend. Kieran Tierney (hamstring), Martin Odegaard (ankle), and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also likely to miss the match.

However, there is some optimism regarding Saka’s fitness as he tries to recover from a hamstring injury. While he has started training again, his participation on Sunday remains uncertain.

Saka sustained his injury during England’s Nations League defeat to Greece at Wembley earlier this month and has not played since. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta commented, “He’s done a bit of training on the grass… We will see.”

Defenders Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are also doubtful for the match against league leaders Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. Timber has been sidelined since early October due to a muscle issue.

“Timber, it was the first session that he could have some involvement,” Arteta noted. “We expected him to be further along than he is at the moment. Again, we will have to see.”

Calafiori left the pitch during Arsenal’s victory over Shakhtar Donetsk after twisting his knee awkwardly. “He needs some more tests,” Arteta explained. “Last time we thought it was really bad and then he ended up playing two days later. So let’s see.”

If both Timber and Calafiori are unavailable, Arteta will face challenges in defense, especially without Saliba. Ben White may need to move to center-back alongside Gabriel, while Thomas Partey could shift to right-back. Arteta has three left-back options in Jakub Kiwior, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Regarding Saka, Calafiori, and Timber, Arteta said, “We’re going to do our very best to somehow have them available. But it’s very, very uncertain.”

Arsenal’s predicted lineup (4-2-2-2) includes: Raya; Partey, White, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Merino; Saka; Martinelli; Havertz, Trossard.

Doubts: Calafiori (knee), Saka (hamstring), Timber (unspecified muscular problem)
Injured: Odegaard (ankle), Tierney (hamstring), Tomiyasu (knee)
Suspended: Saliba

Time and date: 4:30pm GMT on Sunday, October 27, 2024
TV channel: Sky Sports
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Referee: Anthony Taylor

Arsenal squad includes: Neto, Raya, Setford; Calafiori, Gabriel, Heaven, Kiwior, Timber, White, Zinchenko; Havertz, Jorginho, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Nwaneri, Partey, Rice; Jesus, Martinelli, Saka, Sterling, and Trossard.