Arsenal vs Liverpool: Preview, predictions and lineups | OneFootball

The biggest test of Arne Slot's reign arrives on Sunday afternoon as Liverpool travel to Arsenal in a mouth-watering Premier League clash.

Both sides are looking to dethrone Manchester City come the end of the Premier League season and the outcome of this weekend's encounter will have a major impact on the early stages of the title race. Liverpool are already four points ahead of Arsenal after eight matches and can extend that to seven with victory at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners will be eager to bounce back from last weekend's surprise defeat to Bournemouth but will have to do without some key players. William Saliba is suspended, Martin Odegaard is sidelined and there will be late fitness tests for Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori.

Liverpool's midweek victory over RB Leipzig in the Champions League means they have won ten of their 11 matches under Slot. Seven of those have come in the Premier League, with last weekend's 2-1 victory over Chelsea the biggest of the new era to date.

Here is 90min's guide to a blockbuster clash in north London.

Arsenal vs Liverpool H2H Results (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

How to watch Arsenal vs Liverpool on TV - UK and US

Arsenal team news

Bukayo Saka has missed the last two matches / Visionhaus/GettyImages

Arsenal have a number of injury concerns ahead of Sunday's clash, with influential defender Saliba also missing through suspension following his straight red card against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

Martin Odegaard, Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu are guaranteed absentees, while Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is "very, very uncertain" on the availability of Saka, Calafiori and Jurrien Timber.

Saka has been missing since the international break with a hamstring problem, while Timber was injured in the Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the start of October. Calafiori picked up a knee issue midweek against Shakhtar Donetsk and could miss out.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Liverpool

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Liverpool (4-3-3): Raya; White, Gabriel, Kiwior, Zinchenko; Partey, Rice, Trossard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.

Liverpool team news

Diogo Jota was injured against Chelsea last weekend / Carl Recine/GettyImages

Liverpool have a handful of absentees ahead of Sunday, although they did avoid sustaining any fresh injuries during the victory over Leipzig on Wednesday evening.

Alisson is still sidelined with a hamstring injury and Caoimhin Kelleher, who sparkled midweek, will retain his starting berth. Conor Bradley is also likely to miss out in the backline after picking up a knock over the October international break.

Harvey Elliott has been missing since the September internationals and won't return until mid-November, while Federico Chiesa continues to struggle with fitness setbacks at the start of his Liverpool career.

Slot confirmed that Diogo Jota will miss out at the weekend after being withdrawn before half-time against Chelsea last weekend. Darwin Nunez, who scored and impressed in Leipzig, will lead the line.

Liverpool predicted lineup vs Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Jones, Diaz; Nunez.

Arsenal vs Liverpool score prediction

This should be a belter. Both sides have been weakened by injuries but still boast a ludicrous amount of quality within their starting XIs and on their benches. They have both started the season positively and Sunday will be an opportunity to land a first psychological blow in the title race.

The absence of some key players in both lineups does add an element of uncertainty to this one and Slot's more measured approach means it may not be quite the same energetic thriller seen more regularly under Jurgen Klopp.

With both teams desperate not to lose this one, they may settle for a valuable point.