LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: Declan Rice of Arsenal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Arsenal FC and Everton at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Declan Rice is a slight doubt for Arsenal's game against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
It doesn’t get much bigger for Liverpool as it hosts the defending champions today, looking to boost its own title credentials as Andoni Iraola aims to continue an impressive run for the Reds.
Arsenal heads to Anfield today seeking its first Premier League triumph at the ground since September 2012 — a drought spanning 13 top-flight matches that the Gunners are desperately looking to bring to an end this weekend.
To achieve that, Mikel Arteta's side will need to be defensively watertight. David Raya returns to the starting line-up after being rested during Tuesday's Carabao Cup embarrassment against League Two side Fleetwood Town.
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There remains uncertainty over the right-back position, with both Jurrien Timber and Ben White having each played 45 minutes in midweek. The more defensively-minded Timber appears the likelier choice as Arteta prioritizes a clean sheet at Anfield.
At center-back, Ezri Konsa is set to line up alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, while concerns persist over Riccardo Calafiori's fitness at left-back following the unspecified knock he picked up against Everton last weekend.
The Italian did take part in Friday's training session, keeping him in contention, though should he fail to recover in time, Piero Hincapie could step in having featured against Fleetwood in midweek. Given his recent return from injury, Hincapie may be limited to around an hour, with Myles Lewis-Skelly on standby to complete the match, reports Football London.
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That said, it remains far from certain that Calafiori will be ruled out altogether. In midfield, Declan Rice appears poised to line up alongside Bruno Guimaraes.
The duo started together in Munich and currently appear to be Arteta's preferred midfield partnership, although Rice did feel his right hamstring in the closing stages of the 2-0 triumph over the Toffees.
In attack, matters are somewhat more complicated. Bukayo Saka remains on the sidelines while Max Dowman is suspended following Arsenal's unsuccessful appeal.
Noni Madueke, fitness permitting, is set to take up the right-wing berth.
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal injured during the UEFA Champions League 2026/2027 match between Bayern Muenchen and Arsenal at Fussball Arena Muenchen on October 21, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by GSI/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka will miss Arsenal's trip to Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Arteta confirmed on Tuesday that Madueke had sustained an ankle problem against Everton. The expectation is that he should be available to feature, however, barring any late setback.
Martin Odegaard is then expected to operate as the No. 10, while Eberechi Eze should take up a position on the left flank for the Gunners.
At center-forward, the spot remains wide open. Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres, who got on the scoresheet, both struggled on Tuesday against the Cod Army, and it remains possible that Mikel Merino could earn the nod ahead of both.
Knowing Arteta, however, he is likely to stick with Havertz despite the German being desperately short of form, having failed to find the net since the 2-1 home victory over Chelsea prior to the last international break.
Predicted Arsenal line-up vs Liverpool: Raya; Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Guimaraes; Madueke, Odegaard, Eze; Havertz.