Liverpool remain without keeper Alisson for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal at Anfield. The Reds and the Gunners are the only teams left in the division with perfect records after two games, meaning a win for either side will see them as the outright Premier League leaders when the latest round of fixtures is complete.
Liverpool have seen off Norwich and Southampton, while Arsenal have picked up victories over Newcastle and Burnley. Alisson sustained a calf injury in the 4-1 victory over the Canaries and will miss out again when Arsenal visit.
Summer arrival Adrian has deputised in his absence and is set to continue in goal when the North Londoners visit Anfield for the late kick off on Saturday.
Midfielder Naby Keita has been backed to make a big impact this season after struggling to really make his mark in his debut campaign with Liverpool but his only outing so far has been a 24-minute cameo in the Community Shield loss to Manchester City.
The former RB Leipzig man picked up the injury in the build up to the UEFA Super Cup win over Chelsea and is set to miss out against Arsenal, but manager Jurgen Klopp says he isn’t too far away from making a return and expects to be without Keita for, at most, another “couple of weeks”.
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Defender Nathaniel Clyne completes Liverpool’s absentee list as Dejan Lovren has recovered from illness.
The Croatian continues to be linked with a move away from Anfield as the European transfer window is open until September 2 but the latest speculation suggests Lovren’s wage demands have scuppered his chances of heading to Serie A, and he may well remain on Merseyside.
Arsenal smashed their club-record to land Nicolas Pepe from Lille in the summer but manager Unai Emery has used him sparingly so far, with the Ivorian playing 65 minutes of Premier League football across two games so far.
Pepe could be included in the starting line-up at Anfield and the man he replaced against Burnley, Reiss Nelson, looks the most likely candidate to make way.
Mesut Ozil could be involved in the squad after recovering from illness despite questions over his long-term future at the Emirates Stadium and combative midfielder Granit Xhaka faces a fitness test following injury.
