Injury Concerns Mount for Arsenal and Liverpool Ahead of Premier League Showdown
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Arsenal and Liverpool both face significant injury challenges as they prepare for their crucial Premier League clash on Sunday afternoon, with key players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard potentially sidelined.
The highly anticipated match between the two title contenders comes as both teams navigate early-season injury woes and contrasting starts to the campaign. While Arsenal has secured victories with clean sheets, Liverpool has relied on dramatic late goals to clinch wins in thrilling encounters.
Liverpool’s Injury Situation Appears More Stable
Liverpool appears to be in a more favorable position regarding player fitness. According to a team representative, “[Conor] Bradley has trained the whole week. Mac Allister started training again. So no injuries. Virgil [Van Dijk] is also OK.”
Captain Virgil van Dijk recovered from a dangerous challenge during a recent match, while Bradley has returned to action after a period on the sidelines. However, Jeremie Frimpong is expected to remain unavailable until after the international break, and the status of Alexis Mac Allister is still being assessed, though a return this weekend is possible.
Arsenal Grapples with Multiple Injuries
The situation is considerably more complex for Arsenal. During their 5-0 victory over Leeds United, both Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard sustained injuries. While initial reports suggested the issues weren’t severe, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed Saka will miss the trip to Anfield with a hamstring problem.
“No, no surgery,” Arteta stated during a Friday press conference. “It’s not as bad as the previous one. Obviously, very unfortunate to kick it off, he’s on the other side. It’s an action that requires full power from him. Then he clashed with the opponent, he needs to change pace again. And he felt something, so it will be out for a couple of weeks.”
Odegaard’s availability remains uncertain, as he has yet to resume training. “We don’t know yet,” Arteta admitted. “He hasn’t trained yet. And if he does, it will be tomorrow. He’s doing everything he can, we’re doing everything that we can to make him available, but we’ll have to wait and see tomorrow.”
The news is particularly concerning regarding Kai Havertz, who underwent surgery to address a minor knee issue. Arteta revealed, “I think it will be weeks, but I don’t know how many months. Very unfortunate, very sad for him…Obviously, we lose another big player for many, many weeks.”
Ben White and Christian Norgaard are also currently sidelined, with Arteta expressing cautious optimism about their potential return. “So that’s another two that we don’t know yet,” he said. “Again tomorrow we have another day, let’s see how they evolve.”
Sky Sports Offer & Transfer Deadline Day
Fans can catch all the action with a discounted Sky Sports package. Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering over 1,400 live matches.
As the transfer deadline approaches, Liverpool remains active in the market, with Alexander Isak and Marc Guehi reportedly among their targets. Fans can follow live updates on transfer deadline day with the ECHO via newsletters, WhatsApp communities, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook.
The mounting injury list presents a significant challenge for Arsenal as they prepare to face a formidable Liverpool side, and the outcome of Sunday’s match could have major implications for the title race.
