Mikel Arteta reveals Arsenal's missing trio are injury doubts for Liverpool clash

Rice, Calafiori and Madueke are injury doubts for Liverpool after missing the Fleetwood cup loss; Saka sidelined until Christmas with thigh injury.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed after Tuesday's Carabao Cup penalty loss to Fleetwood Town that three key players missed the match due to fitness issues. Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Noni Madueke were all unavailable, with Madueke nursing an ankle problem and Rice having been substituted in the previous game against Everton with an unspecified issue.

All three are now doubts for Sunday's trip to Liverpool as Arsenal attempt to recover from their shock exit to the League Two side. The injury crisis is deepening, with talismanic winger Bukayo Saka expected to be sidelined until Christmas after suffering a thigh injury against Bayern Munich. Summer signing Christos Tzolis is also on the treatment table. Teenager Max Dowman will miss the next three games after being sent off during the Fleetwood match.