Arsenal host Liverpool in a crucial Premier League match on Wednesday night at the Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners top of the table and eight players potentially unavailable for both sides
The New Year action continues as play host to in midweek Premier League action. It's a mouth-watering clash that will have huge implications on the title race, as well as the chance to qualify for the Champions League this season.
A late goal from a free-kick handed all three points to Liverpool last time, as got the better of . Since then, both teams have been on very different journeys with some fresh challenges ahead of them for the second half of the campaign.
Arsenal are clear favourites to win the title, having taken charge at the top of the table with an impressive run of form. Liverpool, on the other hand, experienced a drop in form since that win over the Gunners, but have built themselves back up to be in contention for the top four.
It sets up an intriguing meeting between the champions and, potential champions-elect, in another task for both sides to get through. Injuries and absences could play a large part in proceedings in north London so - with all that said - here's a close look at eight players who could miss out.
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike missed out on Liverpool's match with Fulham due to delayed muscle soreness, making him a doubt once again. While he is yet to train, the forward could be available once again for Thursday night's match.
Slot told the press about his fitness: "He has not trained with us until now, and let's see if he can today. I've said, I think, two or three days ago when we played Fulham that he is not going to be out for too long, but because games come so fast, he is in between, maybe training with the team, or it would take him one, two days extra."
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(Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
2. Riccardo Calafiori picked up an injury during the warm-up for Arsenal's clash against Brighton in late December. The defender remains out of action for the Liverpool clash, but Arteta gave a positive update on the star's possible return soon.
He said: "No, they're [Calafiori and Mosquera] out again... I think [they will return] pretty soon, they have to go to the last stage of the rehab, I think everything goes well, hopefully very soon they will be available for selection."
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(Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images))
3. Mohamed Salah won't be available for Liverpool while he participates in the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt. His side have reached the quarter-final, where they take on Ivory Coast on Saturday, January 10.
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(Photo by Mohamed Tageldin / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images))
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Cristhian Mosquera
Cristhian Mosquera is another injury absentee for Arsenal. The centre-back picked up an ankle injury against Brentford in early December, which came as quite a blow. As with Calafiori, Arteta said Mosquera won't be available against Liverpool, but is closing in on a possible return to action.
Alexander Isak is set for a spell on the side-lines owing to a fracture in his leg. The Liverpool star picked it up after scoring against Tottenham, with a late challenge leaving him unable to continue.
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(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images))
2. Liverpool have been without Wataru Endo since early December. Before the Fulham match, Slot revealed he hasn't been back in training yet, but he could close in on a return to action soon.
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(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images))
3. Another star who is set for a spell on the side-lines is Giovanni Leoni. The defender picked up an unfortunate ACL injury early in his Liverpool career, and won't be back until next season.
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(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images))
4. Youngster Max Dowman has enjoyed a breakout season at Arsenal, but that run in the team has been hit with a blow after picking up an ankle injury. The youngster is still recovering from the initial injury.
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(Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images))