Riccardo Calafiori and Declan Rice injury update ahead of Liverpool vs Arsenal | Football

Mikel Arteta has provided an injury update on Riccardo Calafiori, Declan Rice and Noni Madueke ahewad of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Liverpool.

Calafiori was a surprise absentee from Arsenal’s starting lineup last weekend as the Gunners eased to a 2-0 home win against Everton.

The Italian defender was brought on in the closing stages of that victory, but picked up a minor injury which subsequently saw him miss Arsenal’s shock defeat to Fleetwood Town in midweek.

Declan Rice and Noni Madueke were both also absent from that Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood after the pair also picked up minor injuries against Everton.

The Gunners face a tricky trip up to Anfield to take on Liverpool on Sunday as they look to get back to winning ways, but Arteta confirmed that both Calafiori and Rice trained on Friday ahead of the trip north.

‘They all trained today,’ Arteta said in his pre-match press conference.

‘They will train tomorrow and if all is okay, they will be available.’

Madueke’s involvement is somewhat less clear, with a decision to be made after training tomorrow.

‘We don’t know yet, we have a training session tomorrow, let’s see if he can complete it,’ Arteta said of the England winger.

Elsewhere, Arteta revealed that Christos Tzolis could be available for Sunday’s match after he trained on Friday. The winger has missed the Gunners’ last six matches with a hamstring injury.

William Saliba and Bukayo Saka remain sidelined with longer-term injuries, while Max Dowman is suspended after being sent off against Fleetwood.

Arsenal saw their appeal against the red card rejected, with a frustrated Arteta saying: ‘Very disappointed to be fair especially with the reckless tackle that he received. His reaction is minimal in compared to the action.

‘It is what it is, we have put every argument on the table to make a case for it, not only [was] Max’s action is clear, obviously we have a very different opinion, you have to read into the context, the age, the player.

‘It could have been really bad and we’re really lucky today that he doesn’t have a broken foot.’

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