Arsenal set for huge Liverpool selection boosts

The international break has been far less grueling this time around with Arsenal having entered in much finer fettle than the most recent two, while the exciting climax of many World Cup qualifying campaigns has helped matters.

Some players have seen their dreams of taking part in the greatest sporting event on the planet dashed, while others can just about start to pencil the dates in on their calendars.

Come Saturday, however, they will all be back in north London with international football being the last thing on their minds as a trip to Anfield awaits for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Arsenal are still sweating on the fitness of Thomas Partey for the weekend despite the club being ‘hopeful’ of his return, while other previous absentees such as Kieran Tierney is back in action and seemingly back to his best (double nutmeg and goal saving tackle? Oh yes).

Arsenal could be handed huge Liverpool selection boosts with Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino injury doubts for Premier League clash

However it’s the Gunners’ opponents who have more to be worried about on the injury front, with the possibility of them missing three key players for the Merseyside meeting, on top of other notable absentees.

Roberto Firmino had to be substituted early on in his side’s Champions League win over Atletico Madrid with what Jurgen Klopp described as a ‘serious hamstring’ injury, joining Sadio Mane in the forward line who also limped off in Senegal’s draw with Togo. He is now doubtful for the weekend, reports the Liverpool Echo.

In midfield there are a host of injured for Klopp to contend with, as Jordan Henderson was the latest to join the treatment room having left England duty early for ‘further assessment’ on an unknown issue.

Those three are already key members of the starting lineup, and they join Naby Keita and James Milner in also being unavailable.

Is it a boost to Arsenal? It’s a huge boost. There is no point disguising where the two clubs are at present, and if one of, if not the, toughest away trips in Europe is made a smidgen easier with the absences of key Liverpool players then it undoubtedly provides a helping hand.

Klopp’s starting lineup is still exceptional even with those players out, but the bench is certainly weakened and it gives Arsenal even a 5% greater chance of securing a result, then it’s welcome.

How serious are these injuries? In the case of Senegal and England, both nations have secured top spot in their groups so they needn’t call upon Mane or Henderson, so these precautionary steps might be just that.

However, come Saturday, Arsenal will take all the help they can get.