Liverpool will take on Arsenal in another huge test for Andoni Iraola and his side in the Premier League, but the Gunners will be missing several important players

Arsenal will be without Max Dowman for the upcoming clash against Liverpool, after an independent panel upheld the decision to send off the youngster in his side's most recent clash.

It came in a Carabao Cup encounter against League Two side Fleetwood Town, where the Gunners went behind, only to draw level through Viktor Gyokeres. While Arsenal looked to push for a winner, a full-blooded tackle from Harrison Neal on Dowman left the winger frustrated, as he appeared to kick out at the opposition player in the process.

The referee viewed the incident as violent conduct, showing a red card to the 16-year-old, as he was given his marching orders. Arsenal was unable to find a winner, with a penalty shootout eventually falling on the side of Fleetwood, knocking out the English champions on a historic night.

The consequences of that game meant that not only was Mikel Arteta's side out of the competition, after reaching the final last year, but Dowman's dismissal meant a three-match suspension, which would include missing out on the match against Liverpool over the weekend.

Arsenal appealed the decision, clearly feeling as though a mistake had been made by the match officials, deeming the incident to not be violent conduct.

However, the FA has since revealed that an independent panel has ruled against overturning the decision, meaning that Dowman will remain suspended for the next three matches. A statement from the FA reads: "An independent Regulatory Commission has dismissed claims of both wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment for Max Dowman.

"The Arsenal player was sent off during their EFL Cup game against Fleetwood Town on Tuesday 27 October and will be suspended for three matches. The Regulatory Commission's written reasons for its decisions will be published in due course."

It adds yet another concern for Arteta to deal with ahead of the upcoming clash with Liverpool, as Bukayo Saka looks likely to miss out on facing the Reds with a muscle injury. That likely leaves Noni Madueke as the natural right-wing option to face the Reds, assuming that he is back from a small ankle problem he has been dealing with.

Christos Tzolis, Declan Rice, and Riccardo Calafiori are all doubts to face Liverpool, but the trio could all be available in some capacity. Meanwhile, William Saliba is certain to miss out as he continues to recover from a back injury he picked up during the summer on international duty.

Arsenal still has strength in depth, and it's something that will truly test Iraola and his team, which has plenty of quality but lacks the same level of depth.

There are doubts over the availability of Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz, with the pair closing in on a return this weekend, but without certainty on whether they will feature. Jeremie Frimpong will be unavailable as he is set to be out until after the international break with a hamstring concern.

Long-term injuries for Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, and Giovanni Leoni have all been managed through this season so far, with Iraola still waiting on them to feature at some point before the turn of the year.

It leaves two managers who need to be pragmatic with their options, having to craft a game plan that can land a result. For Arsenal, the match is a chance to assert dominance at the top, while Liverpool will want to test its long-term title credentials against the Gunners.