Arsenal predicted line-up vs Liverpool as Bukayo Saka decision made

Mikel Arteta could restore both Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber to Arsenal's starting line-up for the blockbuster clash with Liverpool after both players reported for duty at the Gunners' team hotel on Saturday night.

Saka and Timber have not figured for Arsenal since before the international break, but their presence at the hotel suggests they are in contention to return against Arne Slot 's men.

The news will buoy Arsenal fans, given the North London club has been suffering something of an injury crisis in recent weeks, with several other players still unavailable for the meeting with Liverpool.

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Two key players who certainly won't be playing for the host team are Martin Odegaard and William Saliba. Odegaard remains sidelined after sustaining ankle ligament damage in September, while Saliba is suspended having been sent off against Bournemouth last weekend.

Meanwhile, there were no reports of Riccardo Calafiori being present at the team hotel after he sustained a knee injury during Arsenal's Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk, while Takehiro Tomiyasu also recently suffered a setback in his comeback from a knee injury.

It will be intriguing to see how Arteta lines his defense up without Saliba, Calafiori and Tomiyasu, and the logical decision would be to partner Gabriel Magalhaes with Ben White in the middle. Timber will likely start at right-back if deemed fully fit, with either Oleksandr Zinchenko or Jakub Kiwior on the opposite flank.

Outside of the defense, Odegaard is the only Arsenal player who will definitely miss the match, and the Gunners have been playing without their captain since the September international break so we have a good idea of what their front six should look like.

Thomas Partey and Declan Rice will likely start together in midfield, with Gabriel Martinelli lining up on the left wing, and Bukayo Saka taking his usual spot on the right wing. If Saka is not deemed fit enough to start, Raheem Sterling could be given the nod. Meanwhile, through the middle, Leandro Trossard will likely start behind Kai Havertz.

Predicted Arsenal line-up vs Liverpool: Raya; Timber, White, Gabriel, Kiwior; Partey, Rice; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli; Havertz