**Liverpool take on Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend. Some massive early injury news has been confirmed.**
Liverpool face a major test this Sunday. It's arguably their biggest test of the season, in fact, as they take on Arsenal at Anfield in the Premier League.
Article continues under the video
They're the reigning champions, after all, and have won all but one of their eight fixtures in the league. Though, that one defeat did come against a Brighton side that Liverpool just beat 2-0.
However, things might be a little different than planned. Early injury news confirms that this will not be two teams pitting their best XIs against one another and could, in fact, be a much-changed XI against another.
Mikel Arteta confirms injury news
---------------------------------
We know Liverpool will be without Hugo Ekitiké and Conor Bradley. Dominik Szoboszlai is racing back to get fit, too, and Andoni Iraola will have some big decisions to make regardless.
But it’s Arsenal who are up against it. Mikel Arteta confirmed some nasty injury news ahead of this clash, with the Gunners missing some of their very best for the trip to Anfield.
William Saliba and Christian Tzolis were known-absentees. Bukayo Saka’s midweek injury rules him out for a while, too, and Max Dowman is now suspended for the trip.
But Arteta made it known that Riccardo Calafiori, Noni Madueke and Declan Rice all missed the defeat to Fleetwood Town through injury. It’s not clear whether they’ll be ready to face Liverpool, either.
And that could leave Arsenal down _seven_ first-team players, most of whom would start the fixture if available. It puts them on the back foot, certainly, and it seems unlikely that the likes of Rice will be fully fit even if they do play.
Liverpool, then, have a golden opportunity here. One that could see them move just three points behind the title favourites after nine matches if they can win this.