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Liverpool face an injury crisis ahead of Monday’s Premier League clash against Arsenal for fear of Thiago Alcantara and Alisson.
New signing Thiago was expected to make his first start for Jurgen Klopp’s team against the Gunners, after he replaced Jordan Henderson during last week’s win over Chelsea.
However, the Spanish midfielder has missed training at Melwood this week, as has goalkeeper Alisson.
Both will have fitness tests on Monday morning, but they are big doubts heading into two games against Arsenal in the space of four days, with Mikel Arteta’s team visiting Anfield again for Thursday’s Carabao Cup clash.
Henderson is still out with the thigh injury that forced him to go against Chelsea, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is out with a knee injury, so Klopp appears to be without three senior midfielders.
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
The Liverpool manager hopes Fabinho can ease the injury crisis in the center of the park by resuming his regular duties, after taking over as central midfielder last week amid injuries to Joel Matip and Joe Gomez.
Matip is out until October, but Gomez returned to training on Friday, so he should be in shape to resume his central defense partnership with Virgil Van Dijk.
That would free Fabinho to play in midfield alongside Gini Wijnaldum and Naby Keita.
James Milner is a doubt for the game, but Klopp’s midfield options could also be boosted by Curtis Jones, who impressed in the Carabao Cup win over Lincoln midweek, scoring two goals in a display of action.
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
However, Alisson’s absence from training is a concern. It is not yet known why Thiago or the No1 Reds did not train, but Klopp hopes his first-choice goalkeeper can play against the Gunners.
Alisson missed 10 games at the start of last season, and then more just before the lockout.
His substitute Adrián had a good season substituting for the Brazilian early last season, helping the Reds win the European Super Cup on a penalty shoot-out, but was poor in defeats to Chelsea and then to Atlético de Madrid just before the close of football.
Takumi Minamota, Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi scored against Lincoln last week, while new signing Diogo Jota also made his debut, but he’s likely to have to settle for bench spots at best.
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Liverpool got off to a shaky start to their title defense by overcoming a seven-goal thriller against Leeds.
In terms of transfers, the Reds completed the signing of Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota of the Wolves also arrived, in a deal with a potential value of £ 45 million.
Young Ki-Jana Hoever is set to head to Wolves in a £ 10 million deal, while Gini Wijnaldum remains linked to Barcelona. There is much to follow.
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Arsenal are likely to have Kieran Tierney available after a groin problem, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Granit Xhaka and Willian should return to the side after Arteta made changes for last week’s Carabao Cup victory. in Leicester.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Cedric Soares (both twins), Pablo Mari (ankle), Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring), Emile Smith Rowe (shoulder), Calum Chambers and Gabriel Martinelli (both knee) are missing for the Gunners.
Liverpool predicted XI (4-3-3): Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Gómez, van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Keita; Bad, Firmino, Mane.
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