Liverpool and Arsenal have both been handed injury problems ahead of the showdown, but the Reds should go into the clash as slight favourites after their dominant start to the campaign
Liverpool are ramping up preparations for their biggest game of the season as they travel to the Emirates on Sunday for a pivotal title clash against Arsenal.
The Reds sit top of the Premier League after seven wins from eight games and Arne Slot will know that victory over the Gunners in north London will open up a significant gap between themselves and Mikel Arteta’s men.
Both teams have been handed injury problems ahead of the showdown, but Liverpool should go into the clash as slight favourites after their dominant start to the campaign.
Mirror Football has taken a look at the major breaking news and rumours around Liverpool ahead of the crucial match.
Arne Slot without three players for Arsenal clash
Slot will be slightly concerned ahead of the Arsenal game after confirming Diogo Jota will be unavailable to face the Gunners, having come off injured in their 2-1 win over Chelsea last week.
Jota is one of three players that are set to be missing as the Dutchman also revealed Conor Bradley and Federico Chiesa are not like to make the trip to north London.
“I think they feel good, but not when it comes to playing for us at the weekend,” said Slot when asked about the trio’s fitness. “Federico might train with us today or tomorrow, but Diogo definitely not and Conor Bradley, let’s see if he can be with us tomorrow.”
It means that Slot should continue with Darwin Nunez as his main striker – having deployed the Uruguayan for victories against Chelsea and RB Leipzig, where he scored the winner.
Andy Carroll opens up on Liverpool move
Andy Carroll will go down as one of Liverpool’s major transfer flops after failing to make an impact following his £35million switch from Newcastle in 2011.
The towering forward arrived at Anfield with huge expectations after firing in 11 goals in the first half of the 2010-11 season, coming in as a direct replacement for the outgoing Fernando Torres, but he only managed 11 goals in 58 appearances for the Reds.
Carroll, who now plays in the fourth tier of French football with recently relegated Bordeaux, has spoken about the pressure he faced after arriving at Liverpool – but insisted he had “no regrets”.
He told the Athletic: “When I went to Liverpool, obviously the fee and everything… I was still only 21, had never left Newcastle, was told to pack up my life and go across there, and then it didn’t start well. The media were a lot different and I was in the spotlight on a grander scale.
“Would I rather have stayed at Newcastle? All day long, it’s my hometown club. But I don’t regret going to Liverpool, I don’t regret anything. It turned me into who I am, it made me stronger. I wouldn’t change anything.”
Souness questions Slot tactics
It’s fair to say most Liverpool fans are over the moon with Arne Slot’s impact at Liverpool after taking on the unenviable task of replacing Jurgen Klopp – but club legend Graeme Souness has taken a cautious approach towards the Dutchman.
While things are going rosy for Slot and his team, ex-Liverpool boss Souness has questioned how the manager would adapt to a run of defeats – and also took issue with some defensive displays which are “not the Liverpool way”.
He insisted Slot’s Liverpool had not convinced him yet so far this season and believes Manchester City and Arsenal were ahead of them as things stood.
Souness added: “Slot has made a fantastic start and I think his management will be enjoyed by the players. But we must remember that they’re winning games at the moment. His problems will start when they start to lose a few games and I guarantee that, sooner rather than later, you will see a very different Arne Slot.
“He closed out the game against Chelsea and it was less exciting, which is not the Liverpool way. But as long as you’re winning while you do that, you’ll get plaudits.
“When you don’t win, that’s when people start saying, ‘That’s not the Liverpool way’, and all the other cliches will be trotted out.”
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