Arsenal v Liverpool team news and predicted line-ups: Zinchenko & Szoboszlai updates ahead of showdown

Arsenal take on Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday afternoon in one of the most enticing fixtures of the FA Cup third round. Both clubs can claim to be in the hunt for the double this season – and perhaps even more depending on how they fare in Europe – but they are also heading in different directions at the moment, with Arsenal hoping to turn a recent patch of rough form around and the visitors looking to continue their forward momentum.

The hosts have not won any of their last three games, a run which includes a creditable draw at Anfield but also disappointing defeats at the hands of West Ham United and Fulham, and Mikel Arteta will have to do without as many as six players thanks to injury or international duty as he attempts to guide the Gunners to the first win since a victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on 17 December.

Liverpool, meanwhile, haven’t lost a meaningful game since the end of September, with only two defeats in dead rubber matches in the Europa League since then – both games in which Jürgen Klopp took full advantage of the opportunity to rest big names and rotate his squad. It will be interesting to discover whether he sees the FA Cup as another chance to give some key players a weekend off, but they certainly looked fresh enough in the brutal demolition of Newcastle United last Monday. Regardless, the Reds will have to make do without at least eight players.

We’ve assembled all the latest team news and injury updates below, and ventured some potential starting elevens ahead of one of the most mouthwatering games of the weekend.

Arsenal team news

Arsenal lose two players to major mid-season international tournaments, with Mohamed Elneny going to the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt and defender Takehiro Tomiyasu joining up with the Japan squad for the Asian Cup, both of which start next week and run until the middle of February. Thomas Partey, who has struggled with injury for several months, was not judged fit enough to be selected for Ghana so remains in London, but he is not expected back until next month at the earliest.

Elsewhere, we are awaiting an update on the condition of Oliksandr Zinchenko, who missed the match against Fulham after feeling tightness in his calf. It is not believed to be a severe injury, but Arteta has not provided any further information since telling reporters that the Ukrainian full-back would undergo a scan earlier this week.

The absentee list is rounded out by Fábio Vieira (groin), who has not played since the win over Burnley in November but could be back for Arsenal’s next league fixture against Crystal Palace, and Jurriën Timber (cruciate ligament), who is not expected to feature again this season. Bukayo Saka, who has been playing through an Achilles injury for some time, could be rested, while a cup game might be seen as a chance to give Aaron Ramsdale some time between the sticks.

Arsenal predicted line-up vs. Liverpool

Ramsdale; Kiwior, Gabriel, Saliba, White; Rice, Ødegaard, Havertz; Trossard, Martinelli, Jesus.

Liverpool team news

Liverpool have plenty of injury issues, especially in defence, and those problems will be compounded by the absence of star player Mohamed Salah, who will travel to AFCON with Egypt, and the club’s player of the month Wataru Endo, who has been called up to the Japanese squad for the Asian Cup. The next game either could be available for is the league game against Chelsea on the last day of January, although it would be a substantial shock if either Egypt or Japan crashed out of their respective tournaments at the group stage.

In terms of players stuck in the treatment room, the defence remains the biggest problem for Klopp’s side with both recognised left-backs, Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas (both shoulder), still out of action while Cameroonian centre-half Joël Matip will miss the rest of the campaign with a cruciate ligament injury. Robertson could return at the end of January, while Tsimikas is not expected back for the better part of two months.

Hungarian midfielder Dominic Szoboszlai is a doubt for the match against Arsenal after picking up a hamstring injury in the 4-2 win over Newcastle, with the summer signing seen limping after his second-half substitution. He has undergone a scan this week and we await further details. Liverpool are still missing long-term absentees Thiago Alcântra (hip) and Stefan Bajčetić (calf), although both could be back to full fitness by the beginning of February. Young Scottish winger Ben Doak (knee) rounds out the injury list – he underwent surgery in December and no return date has yet been set for the talented teenager.

Liverpool predicted line-up vs. Arsenal

Kelleher; Gomez, Quansah, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones; Gakpo, Núñez, Díaz.