Arsenal face a major test of their Premier League title credentials away to Liverpool on Sunday, with several key players missing through injury. The Gunners, who are second in the league table with 21 points from eight games, have not won at Anfield in the league since 2012. Their record of seven wins and one loss from those eight games has them firmly in the title race, with a goal difference of plus eight from 13 goals scored and five conceded.
Mikel Arteta's side will be without top scorer Bukayo Saka, who has three goals this season, due to a thigh problem and defender William Saliba with a back injury. Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori are both rated as doubts, while Mikel Dowman is suspended. Liverpool also have significant absentees, including Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong. The full extent of the injury list for both sides will be confirmed closer to kick-off.
David Raya is expected to start in goal, with a back four of Jurrien Timber, Gabriel, Ezri Konsa and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Konsa scored in the recent 2-0 win over Everton. If Rice is fit, he will anchor a midfield alongside Bruno Guimaraes, with Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze operating ahead of them. Kai Havertz, who scored a penalty in the dramatic 1-1 draw with Fleetwood Town, is likely to lead the attack.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola commented on the challenge. "It doesn't look very big," he said of the task facing his team, a remark that may serve as motivation for the visitors.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions, a run of three wins and two draws that includes a 2-0 win over Everton and a 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich. Their most recent outing was a 1-1 draw with Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup, where Viktor Gyokeres scored. That result followed a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest and a 3-0 victory over Lille.
Victory at Anfield would be a huge statement, but history is against them. Their last league win there was over 14 years ago.
