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8 players set to miss Arsenal vs Liverpool as Arne Slot shares Hugo Ekitike injury update
Liverpool travel to Arsenal on Thursday night with both Premier League sides set to be without several key players due to injury and other factors.
Hugo Ekitike walks on to the pitch.
Hugo Ekitike is once again an injury doubt for Liverpool.
While the festive fixture period has now concluded, it doesn’t mean the schedule becomes any less hectic for either Liverpool or Arsenal. The two sides are poised for their midweek Premier League clash, with the Gunners welcoming the Reds to the Emirates Stadium for what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Arne Slot came out on top against Mikel Arteta in their last meeting, when a late free-kick goal from Dominik Szoboszlai secured all three points for the champions. Since then, both teams have embarked on very different paths with new challenges awaiting them in the second half of the season.
Liverpool suffered a dip in form following that victory over the Gunners, but have since rallied to put themselves back in the race for the top-four. Arsenal, on the other hand, are the clear favourites to clinch the Premier League title, having asserted their dominance at the summit of the table with an impressive run of form.
This sets the stage for a fascinating showdown between the reigning champions and the potential successors, presenting another hurdle for both teams to overcome. Injuries and absences could significantly influence the outcome of the match in north London so – with all that in mind – here’s our in-depth look at eight players who might be side-lined;
Giovanni Leoni
Giovanni Leoni of Liverpool in action during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Southampton
Another star who is set for a spell on the side-lines is Giovanni Leoni. The defender picked up an unfortunate ACL injury early in his Liverpool career, and won’t be back until next season.
(Image: (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images))
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Riccardo Calafiori
Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace
Riccardo Calafiori picked up an injury for Arsenal in late December. The defender remains out of action for the Liverpool clash, but Arteta gave a positive update on the star’s possible return soon.
He said: “No, they’re [Calafiori and Mosquera] out again… I think [they will return] pretty soon, they have to go to the last stage of the rehab, I think everything goes well, hopefully very soon they will be available for selection.”
Cristhian Mosquera
Cristhian Mosquera of Arsenal as he is substituted with an injury during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Brentford
Another Arsenal defender who has been out of action is Cristhian Mosquera. The centre-back picked up an ankle injury in early December. As with Calafiori, Arteta said Mosquera won’t be available against Liverpool, but is closing in on a possible return to ac
Youngster Max Dowman has enjoyed a breakout season at Arsenal, but that run in the team has been hit with a blow after picking up an ankle injury. The youngster is still set for a spell on the side-lines as he recovers.
Hugo Ekitike is once again an injury doubt for Liverpool.
While the festive fixture period has now concluded, it doesn’t mean the schedule becomes any less hectic for either Liverpool or Arsenal. The two sides are poised for their midweek Premier League clash, with the Gunners welcoming the Reds to the Emirates Stadium for what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Arne Slot came out on top against Mikel Arteta in their last meeting, when a late free-kick goal from Dominik Szoboszlai secured all three points for the champions. Since then, both teams have embarked on very different paths with new challenges awaiting them in the second half of the season.
Liverpool suffered a dip in form following that victory over the Gunners, but have since rallied to put themselves back in the race for the top-four. Arsenal, on the other hand, are the clear favourites to clinch the Premier League title, having asserted their dominance at the summit of the table with an impressive run of form.
This sets the stage for a fascinating showdown between the reigning champions and the potential successors, presenting another hurdle for both teams to overcome. Injuries and absences could significantly influence the outcome of the match in north London so – with all that in mind – here’s our in-depth look at eight players who might be side-lined;
Giovanni Leoni
Another star who is set for a spell on the side-lines is Giovanni Leoni. The defender picked up an unfortunate ACL injury early in his Liverpool career, and won’t be back until next season.
(Image: (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images))5 of 8
Riccardo Calafiori
Riccardo Calafiori picked up an injury for Arsenal in late December. The defender remains out of action for the Liverpool clash, but Arteta gave a positive update on the star’s possible return soon.
He said: “No, they’re [Calafiori and Mosquera] out again… I think [they will return] pretty soon, they have to go to the last stage of the rehab, I think everything goes well, hopefully very soon they will be available for selection.”
Cristhian Mosquera
Another Arsenal defender who has been out of action is Cristhian Mosquera. The centre-back picked up an ankle injury in early December. As with Calafiori, Arteta said Mosquera won’t be available against Liverpool, but is closing in on a possible return to action.
Max Dowman
Youngster Max Dowman has enjoyed a breakout season at Arsenal, but that run in the team has been hit with a blow after picking up an ankle injury. The youngster is still set for a spell on the side-lines as he recovers.
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Arsenal injury, suspension list and return dates vs. Portsmouth: Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera latest
Arsenal will begin their bid to win the FA Cup for the 15th time in their history when they travel to Fratton Park for Sunday’s meeting with Championship strugglers Portsmouth.
The Gunners missed the chance to further extend their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table in Thursday’s underwhelming goalless draw against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
While their five-game winning league run came to an end, Mikel Arteta will be pleased with the fact that his side are now unbeaten in seven competitive matches ahead of Sunday’s cup tie and Wednesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of Arsenal’s latest injury and suspension news ahead of the clash with Portsmouth, who are languishing in 21st spot in the Championship standings.
Piero Hincapie
Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)
Hincapie was forced off with what appeared to be a muscle problem in the 57th minute of Thursday’s draw with Liverpool. Arteta now faces a nervous wait to discover the full extent of the defender’s injury.
Kai Havertz
Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Match fitness
Possible return date: January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)
Havertz has recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of action for months. However, he has been left out of Arsenal’s last two matchday squads as he continues to build up his fitness. There is a possibility that the forward could make his first appearance since August in Sunday’s FA Cup clash.
Riccardo Calafiori
Status: Out
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: January 14 (vs. Chelsea)
Calafiori has sat out Arsenal’s last four matches with a muscle injury. The defender is making progress in his recovery, but he is not expected to be ready for the upcoming trip to the south coast.
Cristhian Mosquera
Status: Out
Type of injury: Ankle
Possible return date: January 14 (vs. Chelsea)
Like Calafiori, Mosquera is closing in on a return to action after missing over a month of action due to an ankle injury. However, the former Valencia defender will not be available for selection this weekend.
Max Dowman
Status: Out
Type of injury: Ankle
Possible return date: Unknown
Max Dowman is likely to be out until February after sustaining an ankle problem while playing for Arsenal Under-21s in last month’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United.
ARSENAL’S SUSPENSION LIST
Arsenal have no players suspended for the third-round tie.
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal remain in the driving seat to clinch the Premier League title crown this season – and they could strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad to bolster their chances.
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Whether or not the right players are out there remains to be seen, but with Arteta enduring several injury blows already this season – particularly in defence – the manager will be keeping a close eye on potential targets.
The Gunners splashed the cash in the summer, bringing in the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera to the Emirates Stadium – so a loan deal might favour the club
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There could also be high-profile exits, both loans and permanent deals, with young midfield talent Ethan Nwaneri linked with an exit. Other youngsters could also make loan moves to get a taste of first-team football.
With that said, football.london takes a closer look at all the moves completed by Arsenal so far this January.
Read the latest information on injuries, suspensions and availability in the Liverpool men’s squad.
Injuries
Hugo Ekitike
Ekitike was unavailable for the clash with Fulham because of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). Arne Slot was asked whether he will be fit for the game at Arsenal on January 8.
Slot on January 7: “He has not trained with us until now and let’s see if he can today.
“I’ve said, I think, two or three days ago when we played Fulham that he is not going to be out for long but because games come so fast he is in between maybe training with the team or it would take him one or two days extra.”
Wataru Endo
The midfielder has been out of action with an ankle injury since appearing in the 3-3 draw at Leeds United on December 6.
Alexander Isak
Isak is facing a spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture on December 22.
He sustained the issue while scoring against Tottenham Hotspur two days prior.
Slot on December 23: “It’s going to be a long injury. For a couple of months. That’s a big, big, big disappointment for him and as a result of that of course also for us.”
Slot did also confirm he is confident Isak will be able to play again during the 2025-26 season.
Giovanni Leoni
The defender is amid a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the end of his debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.
Slot on September 26: “He is not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL and it means he will be out for a year. Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game… it’s very hard to take the positive side.
“There’s never a positive side – but you always try to look at a positive side and that is that he is still so young, so he has so many years still to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that.”
Availability
Mohamed Salah
After featuring off the bench versus Brighton on December 13, the forward is now with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah scored in the group games against Zimbabwe and South Africa to help his country reach the last 16. They are next in action on January 5.
Suspensions
Conor Bradley
Bradley is one yellow card away from receiving a one-match suspension in the Champions League.
The Reds travel to Marseille on January 21 for matchday seven of the league phase and then host Qarabag a week later.
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