Arsenal can lay down a marker in the Premier League title race at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Mikel Arteta will hope to put the extra day of rest to good use when Arsenal face Liverpool this weekend. On Sunday afternoon, the Gunners will lock horns with Andoni Iraola's side at Anfield in what could later prove to be a Premier League title showdown.

Although Arsenal fell victim to one of the biggest upsets in the history of English football on Tuesday night, crashing out of the Carabao Cup fourth round at the hands of Fleetwood Town, they've had the luxury of an additional 24 hours to recover and prepare for a potentially season-defining clash.

The Gunners currently share top spot in the Premier League with Manchester City; only a three-goal difference separates the two. Liverpool currently trails the leaders by six points, with Brighton a point clear in third place, but this weekend could throw a spanner in the works.

At Saturday lunchtime, Chelsea could leapfrog the Reds with a win over Manchester United. Then, later in the afternoon, Enzo Maresca can knock the Seagulls down a peg or two while also extending his side's lead over Arsenal in the title race.

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If Xabi Alonso and Manchester City can defeat the Red Devils and Brighton, respectively, by a combined 14-goal difference, third place will become mathematically possible to achieve for Chelsea.

Then, on Sunday afternoon, Arteta will lock horns with Iraola. The Gunners will hope to reclaim first place, while Liverpool will look to narrow the leaders' advantage at the top of the Premier League.

Although the Reds were a little slow out of the gates this term, they boast one of the most expensive frontlines in the Premier League. Liverpool have only lost once, too; they've also conceded in the opening half an hour in two of their three draws, so they're not as far off the pace as the six-point differential may suggest.

This weekend will be the ultimate test of the Merseyside outfit's credentials in the title race, and Iraola will be desperate to lay down a marker. Unfortunately for the Spaniard, and fortunately for his fellow countryman Arteta, Liverpool will have only three days to recover and prepare after knocking Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will have four days. The extra 24 hours of rest could weigh heavily in the Gunners' favour this weekend, especially with some big names nursing knocks, niggles, and strains.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday night, Arteta complained about a few injury problems in the squad. The Arsenal gaffer said: "[Riccardo] Calafiori was out, Noni [Madueke] was out with an ankle, and Declan [Rice] was feeling a problem the other day, which is why I had to substitute him."

Although Rice was not fit enough to make the matchday squad, he was fit enough to go pumpkin picking instead. Rather than travel up to Blackpool, the Arsenal midfielder visited Tulleys Farm in Crawley.

As it stands, it remains unclear whether Rice, as well as Calafiori and Madueke, will be available for selection at Anfield. But Arteta will be expected to provide an update when he faces the press on Friday afternoon.