Arsenal will travel to Anfield on Sunday for a significant Premier League meeting with Liverpool, but Mikel Arteta faces several selection concerns as he prepares his team for the encounter. According to a report by Football London on Friday, October 30, 2026, six players have fitness concerns, while another youngster is unavailable through suspension.

The Gunners head into the fixture following a disappointing Carabao Cup exit against fourth-tier Fleetwood Town. Tuesday’s fourth-round contest finished 1-1 before Fleetwood produced a 5-3 victory in the penalty shootout to secure a memorable progression.

Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave the lower-league side the lead before the interval, but Viktor Gyokeres brought Arsenal level after the restart. The visitors subsequently struggled to find a decisive goal, with goalkeeper Jay Lynch making several important saves to preserve Fleetwood’s chances. The result made Arsenal the first reigning Premier League champions to lose a League Cup tie against a fourth-tier opponent.

Their league performances have, however, been considerably stronger. Arteta’s side sit second with 21 points from eight matches, level with Manchester City, who occupy the top position because of their superior goal difference. Arsenal have also recorded an impressive defensive return, conceding only five goals. Their most recent league outing ended in a 2-0 victory over Everton.

Liverpool are fourth on 15 points, six behind Arsenal, making Sunday’s meeting important for both teams as they seek to improve their positions. However, the availability of key players could influence how the managers approach the contest.

Arsenal have several concerns, beginning with Bukayo Saka, who remains out with a quadriceps injury suffered against Bayern Munich. The winger is expected to require between six and eight weeks to recover, making a return before December unlikely. William Saliba is another major absence, having yet to play this season because of a persistent back problem.

Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Riccardo Calafiori and Christos Tzolis are also being monitored. Rice experienced hamstring discomfort before leaving the pitch against Everton. Although he returned to training on Monday, he was not included against Fleetwood. Madueke also missed that match because of an ankle problem. Both could still be considered for Sunday if their recovery progresses without complications.

Calafiori’s situation appears less concerning after Arteta previously described his injury as slight. Tzolis, meanwhile, is recovering from a hamstring problem that has ruled him out of the previous five matches, although his availability remains uncertain.

Max Dowman will definitely miss the Liverpool fixture after an independent regulatory commission rejected Arsenal’s appeal against his dismissal against Fleetwood. He must serve a three-match suspension, also ruling him out of the upcoming games against Hull City on November 7 and Newcastle United on November 21.

Liverpool have their own fitness issues. Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong are reportedly unavailable. Ekitike is recovering from an Achilles injury, while Bradley is nearing a return to full training.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Víctor Munoz remain doubts. Szoboszlai is dealing with a hamstring problem without a confirmed return date, while Munoz has been managing a knee injury sustained against Brentford.

Liverpool advanced in the Carabao Cup after beating Chelsea on penalties following a 1-1 draw. Both Arteta and Liverpool’s coaching staff are expected to provide further updates during Friday’s media commitments, which should offer a clearer picture of their available players ahead of Sunday's meeting.