Liverpool faces Arsenal this weekend and Jürgen Klopp has a major injury worry going into the game, while Mikel Arteta has his own problems in a game the hosts must win.
Liverpool meets Arsenal once again only weeks after the pair clashed in the FA Cup third round. On that occasion, the Reds won 2-0 thanks to Luis Díaz’s strike and a Jakub Kiwior own goal. The win secured Liverpool’s entry into the next round of the FA Cup, and now the two teams meet in the Premier League.
It’s first against third and Arsenal, who was once top of the table, now finds itself six points off Liverpool and desperately needing a win to remain in the race. Liverpool’s demolition of Chelsea in midweek means that the Reds are six points clear of Manchester City and Jürgen Klopp’s farewell tour could end with multiple trophy wins, something most fans wouldn’t have believed at the beginning of the season.
Going into the game against Arsenal, Klopp has the usual long-term injury worries, but also some new ones. Klopp revealed that Darwin Núñez is a doubt for his side for the game after picking up an injury against Chelsea.
“A little side story you don’t know, I don’t know if Darwin will be available or not because after 20 minutes, someone stepped on his foot,” he said. “Very painful after the game.
“He only took the boot the game off after the game because he didn’t want to see it before. He knew there was something.
“He left the stadium in a boot and it was not a football boot. Nothing broken, x-ray clear but swollen. We have to see if he can get his foot back in a football boot or not. That takes time. I didn’t see him this morning so we have to wait a little bit.”
Hopefully the Uruguay international should be fit to at least take his usual spot in the matchday squad. If the club’s social media activity is anything to go by, he should be fine.
Andy Robertson is back fit after his long layoff, and so Klopp’s only long-term casualties remain Thiago Alcântara, Stefan Bajcetic, Joël Matip and Ben Doak, while Kostas Tsimikas is waiting for the green light to make his return. Alexis Mac Allister suffered a knock to the knee against Chelsea but is expected to feature against Arsenal.
Mohamed Salah is out following his forced return from AFCON after picking up a hamstring issue, although he won’t now be heading back to the tournament following Egypt’s exit. Wataru Endō remains at the Asian Cup with Japan, but Trent Alexander-Arnold is back to full fitness, although he faces a fight for his place in the side from the in-form Conor Bradley.
As for Arsenal, Thomas Partey is close to a return for the Gunners having been out since October. Partey has returned to training and despite not featuring in the win against Nottingham Forest, he could be involved against Liverpool.
Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus is a doubt after Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta revealed he has been fighting a knee problem. Arteta still has longer term casualties such as Jurrien Timber and Fabio Vieira, who are all still some time away from playing again. Takehiro Tomiyasu is still away at the Asian Cup, but Mohamed Elneny could be back from AFCON.
