Arteta's Injury Boost: Four Could Return for Liverpool Clash

Arsenal arrive at Anfield on Sunday chasing something they have not managed since 2012: a Premier League win on Merseyside. They do so on the back of the worst week of Mikel Arteta's season, but the manager used his Friday press conference to hand his side a crucial boost – as many as four senior players could be fit enough to face a Liverpool side rediscovering its swagger under Andoni Iraola.

A Miserable Night at Fleetwood

The context is painful. Arsenal's Carabao Cup campaign ended in the fourth round at fourth-tier Fleetwood Town, who knocked the champions out on penalties in midweek. It was a result nobody inside the club saw coming, and it arrived with three key names missing from Arteta's squad altogether. Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Riccardo Calafiori all sat out the defeat because of injury concerns picked up days earlier.

Rice felt discomfort in his hamstring during the 2-0 win over Everton last weekend. Madueke has been nursing a minor ankle issue. Calafiori came on for the closing stages against Everton but, by Arteta's own account, was reduced to simply standing up front by the end of the match – he went straight down the tunnel at full-time.

Four Could Return at Anfield

Speaking on Friday, Arteta indicated that Rice, Madueke and Calafiori all have a real chance of making the squad to face Liverpool, alongside winger Christos Tzolis, who has not featured for Arsenal since the 3-0 defeat at Brighton last month. Tzolis returned early from the last international break with a hamstring injury but has since stepped up his recovery and returned to first-team training, with a late call still to be made on his involvement.

Madueke's situation is less clear-cut. Pressed specifically on the winger, Arteta was more guarded: "We don't know yet," he said, leaving the final call to be made before Arsenal travel to Merseyside. The Gunners have not won a Premier League game at Anfield since 2012 – a run this injury boost gives them their best chance yet of ending.

Dowman's Red Card and Arteta's 'Disneyland' Warning

The Fleetwood defeat carried a second sting. Sixteen-year-old Max Dowman was sent off in the 85th minute after reacting to a heavy challenge from behind by Fleetwood's Harrison Neal, and he will now serve a three-match ban. A visibly angry Arteta spoke to Dowman as he left the pitch, and the manager addressed the incident publicly for the first time on Friday, telling the teenager "we are not in Disneyland" and insisting he will hold him to the same standards as every other first-team player.

Arteta said he had warned Dowman before kick-off about dealing with provocation and revealed the pair spoke again on Thursday, with "no issues at all" between them. He pointed out that Dowman had also been sent off playing for England's Under-19s earlier this month, in a match against the United States, again after heavy challenges. Former Arsenal player Paul Merson criticised Arteta's public reaction to the red card, saying the manager would not have given a more senior player such a furious dressing down in the same circumstances.

Iraola Refuses to Call It a Title Race – Yet

Across Merseyside, the mood could hardly be more different. Liverpool are enjoying their best run under Iraola, winning four games in a row before progressing past Chelsea in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup in midweek. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has suggested the Reds could emerge as Arsenal's closest title challengers given the uncertainty surrounding Manchester City this season – a feeling that would only grow if Liverpool win on Sunday and close to within three points of Arteta's side.

Iraola, though, is refusing to get carried away. "It's good if the fans have expectations and think we can win. But if you ask me, it is still very early in the season," the Liverpool boss said. "I said before, it's still October, take one game at a time, and I always say the first reference is normally when we have played against each other once, halfway through the season, and then you can start looking at the standings. Now we are in a position where we need to improve, keep getting better."

Szoboszlai's Return Could Tip the Balance

Liverpool have their own fitness subplot. Iraola could be boosted by the return of Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz, with the manager giving both a chance of involvement. "We still have two days," Iraola said. "I think they have a chance, yes."

Szoboszlai's last comeback from injury, against Brentford two weeks ago, lasted only 31 minutes. His history in this fixture makes his potential return significant – the midfielder scored a stunning free-kick in Liverpool's 1-0 win over Arsenal last season.

Merson's Verdict: A Must-Win Six-Pointer

Paul Merson believes Sunday is close to a must-win game for Liverpool if they want to be taken seriously as title contenders. Writing in his Sky Sports column, Merson pointed out that Arsenal arrive at Anfield with a six-point lead, with Liverpool six points behind joint-leaders Arsenal and Manchester City. "Liverpool are starting to cook a little bit, but they have got to win this Sunday if they want to be in the Premier League title race," Merson wrote. "If they don't win, they stay six points behind at least and still have to go to the Emirates. You're then asking Arsenal to lose two football matches without you losing one."

He added that a Liverpool defeat would also hurt their other aims: "It's also must-not-lose for Liverpool as they still need to stay on track for the Champions League places." But the stakes cut both ways. "If Arsenal go and win against Liverpool, that could nearly be it for the Premier League title," Merson warned. "You then start to think: who's going to go and beat them?" He flagged the fixture as one of only three or four genuinely difficult games left on Arsenal's calendar this season, alongside a trip to Manchester City.

History offers Liverpool some encouragement. Iraola beat Arteta's Arsenal three times in his last four meetings with them as Bournemouth head coach, though his first heavyweight test at Anfield as Liverpool manager – against City earlier this month – ended in defeat. Liverpool head into Sunday on a five-game winning run; Arsenal, despite the Fleetwood setback, are unbeaten in six.

Arsenal's last PL win at Anfield

2012

Arsenal's lead over Liverpool

6 points

Kick-off

Sunday, 4:30pm (Sky Sports Super Sunday)

Dowman's ban

3 matches

Liverpool's run

5 wins in a row

Arsenal's run

Unbeaten in six

Arsenal travel to Anfield on Sunday with a fitness picture transformed from the one that took the field at Fleetwood in midweek, even if Madueke's involvement remains in doubt. Liverpool, boosted by the possible return of Szoboszlai and Munoz, know exactly what is at stake under Iraola. As Merson put it, this is the kind of game that could define the rest of the Premier League season for both clubs.