'No doubt': Sky Sports pundit says Arsenal have now been dealt a 'huge blow' ahead of facing Liverpool
Today at 07:00 AM
With a trip to RB Leipzig coming up on Wednesday, Liverpool can’t afford to look too far into the future.
The Reds face a tricky evening in Germany, with the Red Bull club sitting joint top of the Bundesliga. After seven games, Marco Rose’s side are unbeaten.
They did lose in the Champions League against Juventus, though, and given Liverpool’s form, the Reds should still fancy their chances.
After that comes easily the biggest test of Arne Slot’s team yet. Liverpool will head down to London for a date with Arsenal on Sunday.
The Reds have not won any of their past four Premier League games against the Gunners, losing each of their last two league visits to the Emirates Stadium.
And as they prepare to try and put that right on Sunday, Liverpool have been told that their hosts have been dealt a ‘huge blow’ in the build up to the game.
Arsenal suffer William Saliba blow
Throughout much of Jurgen Klopp’s reign at Liverpool, the Reds had an excellent record against Arsenal.
Klopp visited the Emirates as manager 10 times and won on five occasions. At Anfield, Arsenal lost seven of 12 matches against Jurgen’s Reds, winning only once on penalties.
However, the tide started to turn a little over the previous two campaigns. A visit to the red side of North London is now one of the most difficult on the Premier League calendar.
A big player in the Gunners’ recent resurgence under Mikel Arteta has been William Saliba. Along with Gabriel, the Frenchman has formed a resilient centre-back pairing which has often been hailed as one of the best in world football.
After Saliba was sent off during Arsenal’s shock 2-0 loss against Bournemouth on Saturday, though, the 23-year-old will miss the game against Liverpool.
READ MORE: William Saliba picks who is better out of Virgil van Dijk and Vincent Kompany
And according to former England centre-back Michael Dawson, Saliba’s absence is set to be a ‘huge blow’ to Arsenal’s chances of getting the better of Liverpool.
“It’s a huge blow,” Dawson told Sky Sports. “We’ve seen it before when Saliba hasn’t been there. Him and Gabriel, the relationship they have, they’re a real strong partnership.
“Does Kiwior come in, or does Timber go to centre-half or Ben White go to centre-half? Only time will tell. But he is going to be missed, of course he is, against a team that is top of the Premier League table in Liverpool.
“The attacking threat that Liverpool have as well will cause Arsenal problems, there’s no doubt in that,” added the pundit. “Whoever comes in won’t be as good as Saliba, they’ll miss him. But it gives someone an opportunity to go and express themselves.”
Will Bukayo Saka play against Liverpool?
Losing Saliba is a real disappointment for Arsenal ahead of what is a really big game in the Premier League.
The France international played all 38 of their league matches last season and had started each of their eight fixtures up until his sending off. He’ll be a massive miss for them.
But it may not only be Saliba who is not able to line up against Liverpool on Sunday.
Captain Martin Odegaard has been out since September and will not be fit to face the club he supported as a boy. Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka is locked in a race against time to be ready following a hamstring problem picked up with England.
Between them, Saliba, Odegaard and Saka missed just six Premier League games last season. They are each so crucial to Arteta. Liverpool have some issues of their own, of course, but it could be the perfect time to capitalise.
