Liverpool play host to Arsenal this weekend and it appears Andoni Iraola has been handed a huge advantage over Mikel Arteta's side

Liverpool will face an Arsenal side with only two available wingers after teenager Max Dowman got himself sent off. Mikel Arteta's team will arrive at Anfield wounded after being beaten on penalties by Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup.

Sixteen-year-old Dowman was handed his first senior red card against the League Two side. He received his marching orders for violent conduct following a retaliatory kick at Fleetwood player Harrison Neal, who had caught the youngster with a robust challenge.

The Gunners subsequently suffered defeat in a tense penalty shootout, with £75m summer recruit Bruno Guimaraes watching his effort be kept out by Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch. While being knocked out by the Cod Army is infuriating enough, Dowman's red card has left Arteta even shorter up front than he was before.

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Arteta is grappling with an injury crisis among his attacking options. He will have just two wide forwards at his disposal for this weekend's trip to Anfield.

Those are Eberechi Eze, who is perhaps more suited to operating as an attacking midfielder in support of the striker anyway, and Noni Madueke.

Arteta must also cope without the injured Bukayo Saka, who was withdrawn during their 2-2 stalemate with Bayern Munich in the Champions League, alongside Christos Tzolis, who has been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring problem while away on international duty with Greece.

Dowman would have been an option on the wing, either as a starter or from the bench, but his red card means he will miss their visit to Anfield. This is a huge boost for Iraola's side, who are improving as the season goes on.

The confidence-boosting 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion moved the Reds to within six points of Arsenal and Manchester City. A victory over the north Londoners this weekend would close the gap between them and the reigning Premier League champions to just three.

Liverpool have not lost to Arsenal in their last four matches in all competitions and have not been beaten by them at Anfield in the Premier League since 2012, when Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla secured a 2-0 away victory.

The Reds have since enjoyed a positive record over Arsenal at home, winning seven of their last 10 Premier League meetings at Anfield. Iraola will be confident his side can carry on that record after the impressive win over Brighton.

But before he can think about Arsenal, the Reds have their own League Cup battle at home to Chelsea to deal with. They play host to the Blues, who lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham on the weekend, on Wednesday evening.

With Arsenal now out of the League Cup, Iraola may now be eying the competition as an excellent opportunity to collect his first silverware in England.