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Neil Jones

Liverpool Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Arsenal

The Reds travel to the Emirates for this weekend's plum Premier League fixture of the weekend looking to return to the top of the table

There is no doubt where the game of the weekend will be taking place.

Liverpool visit Arsenal on Saturday looking to return to the top of the Premier League table and maybe - just maybe - make something of a statement in terms of their title credentials.

The Reds were business-like in dispatching Cardiff City at Anfield last weekend and have had the rare luxury of a full week to prepare for their next fixture.

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Arsenal, though, should provide stern opposition. Unai Emery's side are unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions (winning 12 of those) and will be looking to put down a marker of their own in front of their home fans.

Here, Goal takes a look at everything you need to know ahead of Saturday's game...

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Liverpool Injuries

The big question marks for Liverpool surround captain Jordan Henderson and fellow midfield man Naby Keita.

Both players have missed the Reds' last two games with hamstring issues, and neither have yet returned to full training, making them serious doubts for Saturday's game.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Rhian Brewster remain on the long-term missing list, but otherwise it appears Jurgen Klopp has a clean bill of health.

Jordan Henderson Naby Keita Liverpool 2018

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Liverpool Suspensions

Liverpool do not have any suspended players for this game.

Likely Liverpool Starting Line-Up

Assuming both Henderson and Keita are out, the big question seems to be whether Klopp sticks or twists with regards to his set up.

Liverpool have used the 'double six' system in their last two games, with Fabinho and Gini Wijnaldum holding in midfield and a four-man attacking line up.

Adam Lallana started last weekend but was replaced by Xherdan Shaqiri in the second half, while James Milner also made an impact off the bench and had been in good form prior to the hamstring injury he suffered against Manchester City last month.

The decision seems to be whether to use Milner's graft and experience as a third midfielder, or to bring Shaqiri in to a 4-2-3-1 formation. Klopp, given the fixture, is likely to plump for the former, though it would be intriguing to see how Liverpool fared if they threw caution to the wind - Arsenal still look very vulnerable defensively despite their good run.

Elsewhere, Andy Robertson should return at left-back though Klopp must also decide whether youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold starts at right-back or if he uses Joe Gomez there with Dejan Lovren as a centre-back. Given Gomez's form in the middle, it would be a surprise if he was shifted for this game.

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Arsenal Team News

Arsenal will be without midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, who was sent off in their Carabao Cup win over Blackpool on Wednesday and will now serve a one-match suspension.

Right-back Hector Bellerin is a doubt after being taken off at Crystal Palace last weekend with a muscle problem, and with Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac both nursing hamstring issues, it means the Gunners are potentially light in the full-back positions. Granit Xhaka has been used as a left-back of late, something which will be music to the ears of Mohamed Salah & Co, for sure.

Elsewhere Laurent Koscielny and Konstantinos Mavropanos are out, as is midfielder Mohamed Elneny, who has a thigh problem.

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TV Channel & Kick-Off Time

The fixture will not broadcast live in the UK on BT Sport 1, kick off 5.30pm BST. In the United States the game can be watched live on television on NBC Sports, kick-off 12.30pm ET.

Best Opta Match Facts

Arsenal are winless in their last six Premier League meetings with Liverpool (D3 L3), their longest such run against them since a run of 12 between 1994 and 2000.
Liverpool have won just two of their last 18 away league games against Arsenal (D8 L8), though these victories have come in their last six such visits.
Liverpool have scored at least three goals in each of their last five league games against Arsenal (17 in total). Liverpool have never done this in six consecutive top-flight games against an opponent, while no side has ever done so in six against the Gunners.
The last five Premier League meetings between Arsenal and Liverpool have produced a total of 27 goals (5.4 per game).
Arsenal have scored at least twice in each of their last nine Premier League games, remaining unbeaten in their last eight (W7 D1).
Arsenal haven’t been ahead at half-time in any of their 10 Premier League matches this season. Indeed, if games finished at the 45 minute mark, the Gunners would be 17th in the Premier League table.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League games (W9 D2 L0), conceding just four goals in this run.
Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino has both scored and assisted in each of his last three Premier League games against Arsenal – no player has ever done this in four consecutive games against an opponent in the competition (Steven Gerrard vs Newcastle and Theo Walcott vs West Ham also three).
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored in all three of his Premier League games against Arsenal (one for Chelsea, two for Liverpool). Only Charlie Austin has a better 100% strike rate against the Gunners in the competition (4).
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is unbeaten in all five of his Premier League games against Arsenal – only Jose Mourinho (12), Gerry Francis (8) and Alex Ferguson (6) have waited longer for their first defeat against them in the competition.
The only previous meeting between Arsenal’s Unai Emery and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp was the 2016 Europa League final – Emery’s Sevilla beat Liverpool 3-1.
Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored five goals in his last three Premier League matches.