Bukayo Saka available to face Liverpool while William Saliba remains a doubt

Bukayo Saka is available to face Liverpool while William Saliba remains a doubt

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed that star winger Bukayo Saka is available to face Liverpool, while doubt remains over William Saliba.

Saka missed the opening hour of the Leeds United game last weekend due to illness. He is back 100% now and should be available to start on Sunday.

With regards to Saliba, the Frenchman picked up a back injury during the second leg of the Europa League last-16 tie against Sporting CP before the international break. Arsenal have been silent to give us a timescale of when he will return.

Bukayo Saka set to sign new Arsenal contract amidst Liverpool links. — Bukayo Saka is available to face Liverpool this Sunday. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arteta, though, did mention an unnamed player who will be back in training before the Liverpool game. Here’s what he said (h/t Evening Standard):

“No, no real changes to the rest of the players who were injured. Yes, he is [if Saka is available].

“We have some hope with one of them who will maybe be able to train but we’ll see … I’m not going to tell you [who]!”

Apart from Saliba, Eddie Nketiah has been out injured for a while now. The unnamed player has to be one of them because Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny are ruled out for the season due to their injuries.

Whichever team Arsenal puts out on Sunday will be a tough one for Liverpool to beat, even at Anfield. The Gunners have lost their last six league games at this venue with an aggregate score of 22-4 though.

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta looks on during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 1, 2023 — Can Arsenal finally win at Anfield after so many defeats in that stadium recently?. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) /

But, we all know this is a different Arsenal side. More importantly, it is an absolutely mediocre Liverpool side at the moment. Hence, Arteta’s men should go into this game as clear favourites.

The pressure is anyway on them to deliver because they are in a title race, unlike the Reds. Dropped points at Anfield would raise Manchester City’s hopes of retaining the title for the second time since winning it back in 2021.