Liverpool handed major boost for crunch Arsenal clash as Alisson passes late fitness test but Thiago Alcantara misses out on the squad with injury
- Thiago Alcantara is injured for Liverpool’s match with Arsenal on Monday
- Goalkeeper Alisson is fit for the clash at Anfield despite injury concerns
- Both missed training over the weekend due to injury and took fitness tests
- Alisson was crucial in Liverpool’s win over Chelsea last week – saving a penalty
- Thiago had a debut to remember against the Blues despite starting on the bench
- Liverpool and Arsenal are the only two ‘Big Six’ teams with 100 per cent records
Liverpool have boosted ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal as goalkeeper Alisson has passed a late fitness test.
However, marquee signing Thiago Alcantara misses out for the clash at Anfield – as the Reds look to continue their perfect start to the season against the Gunners, who also have a 100 per cent record in this campaign so far.
Both players were serious doubts before the match as they missed the Premier League champions’ training sessions over the weekend, though they did took late fitness tests on Monday.
Liverpool’s Alisson (left) is fit but Thiago Alcantara (right) misses Monday’s clash with Arsenal
Alisson (middle) was vital in Liverpool’s win over Chelsea last week, saving a crucial penalty
Manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Thiago, who joined the Reds in a £20million move from Bayern Munich this month, will be out until the international break.
Speaking to Sky Sports in a pre-match interview at Anfield, the German said: ‘After the international break, he will be fine – for sure.
‘That’s the situation at the moment, he’s not fit enough to be involved.’
Both Alisson and Thiago were crucial in Liverpool’s important 2-0 win over Chelsea last weekend. The former saved a second-half penalty from Jorginho to keep his first clean sheet of the new season.
Meanwhile, Thiago outpassed every Blues player in the second period of the match at Stamford Bridge – even though he only played 45 minutes.
Thiago’s Reds debut against Chelsea saw him make more passes than all of his opponents
Klopp already had midfielders Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ruled out of the Arsenal match, with the Liverpool captain injuring himself in the Chelsea match last weekend.
But Joe Gomez has returned for Liverpool after missing the Chelsea game, meaning Fabinho returns to midfield alongside Gini Wijnaldum and Naby Keita.
Ahead of Monday night’s showdown on Merseyside, Liverpool and Arsenal are the only two teams out of the ‘Big Six’ to have not dropped league points this season.
The Reds have started their Premier League title defence with wins over Leeds United and Chelsea, while Arsenal have beaten London rivals Fulham and West Ham in the build-up to the Liverpool fixture.
Liverpool are without Jordan Henderson (right) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (left)
The north Londoners have also won their last two matches against Liverpool – a 2-1 league victory at the Emirates Stadium in July before beating Klopp’s side in the Community Shield on penalties last month.
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Keita, Mane, Salah, Firmino
Arsenal XI: Leno, Holding, David Luiz, Tierney, Bellerin, Elneny, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles, Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang
