Mikel Arteta has named Martin Odegaard on the Arsenal bench after he suffered an injury against Leeds, while Alexis Mac Allister starts for Liverpool.
Odegaard returns after injury scareWill start on the bench at AnfieldMac Allister named in the XI after absence at NewcastleFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Both Liverpool and Arsenal have been handed huge boosts ahead of their blockbuster Premier League clash at Anfield on Sunday with key players returning. The starting lineups for both teams are out, with Mac Allister starting for Arne Slot's side and Odegaard being named on the bench.
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Mac Allister was not named in the squad for last weekend's Premier League encounter against Newcastle United at St James' Park, although the Reds did not feel the Argentine's absence after beating Eddie Howe's side 3-2 courtesy a Rio Ngumoha injury-time winner. Mac Allister returned to training this week and has immediately returned to the XI.
On the other hand, Odegaard had to be taken off against Leeds last week after falling awkwardly on his shoulder. Reports indicated that the Norwegian playmaker could miss the trip to Anfield on Saturday, with Gunners boss Arteta also claiming on Friday that the captain hadn't returned to full training. He was, however, named in the squad for the Liverpool game after completing training with the rest of the squad without any issues, prompting Arteta to include him among the nine substitutes.
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Arsenal are without a number of first-team players heading into the Liverpool game. Arteta will be without the services of forwards Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, midfielder Christian Norgaard and defender Ben White. Perhaps the biggest blow, though, is the absence of Bukayo Saka, who suffered a hamstring injury in the game against Leeds. Arteta has already confirmed the winger "will be out for the next few weeks."
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The winner between Liverpool and Arsenal could gain a handy advantage in the early stage of the season as they remain the only two sides with a perfect record following Spurs' 1-0 loss to Bournemouth on Saturday.