Date: Thursday 8th January, 2026
Time: 9:00 pm
Stadium Emirates Stadium
Referee Anthony Taylor (England)
Goal Scorer:
Team News
Arsenal
Now blessed with the best kind of selection problems again, Arteta may only be missing three players for the visit of Liverpool; Max Dowman and Cristhian Mosquera are definitely out with ankle problems, and Riccardo Calafiori is also missing with his “very awkward” unspecified injury.
Kai Havertz was omitted from the squad to face Bournemouth for load management reasons, and given the strength in depth of Arsenal’s attacking contingent, it would not be a total surprise to see the recently-recovered German spared once more.
After Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke got the nod out wide at the Vitality Stadium, Leandro Trossard and history-chasing Bukayo Saka are now primed to return; the latter is aiming to become the first Arsenal player ever to score in four straight league home games vs. Liverpool.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
Liverpool
Liverpool are nowhere near as fortunate on the attacking front, as Mohamed Salah (AFCON) and Alexander Isak (leg) are definitely out, and Slot admitted on Wednesday that Hugo Ekitike was yet to train with the team after missing the Fulham draw due to muscular issues.
Florian Wirtz – scorer of Liverpool’s first against Fulham – is also not operating at full fitness as he manages a hamstring problem, but there is no suggestion that the £116m man will miss the clash with the leaders.
Giovanni Leoni (ACL) and Wataru Endo (ankle) will play no part in Thursday’s game, though, and Slot may very well stick with the same XI from Craven Cottage, although Jeremie Frimpong is an alternative in either the right-back or right-wing slots.
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Jones; Gakpo
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool