Triple Arsenal injury blow leaves Mikel Arteta with selection headache for Liverpool trip

Rice, Calafiori and Madueke all sidelined with fitness concerns ahead of Sunday's trip to Liverpool, compounding Arsenal's woes after Carabao Cup exit.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed three first-team players are struggling with injuries after the Gunners' shock Carabao Cup penalty defeat to Fleetwood on Tuesday. Declan Rice was substituted against Everton after feeling a hamstring problem, Riccardo Calafiori was left out of the Fleetwood squad, and Noni Madueke has picked up a new ankle injury.

The injuries leave Arsenal severely depleted for Sunday's Premier League clash at Anfield. Bukayo Saka is already out with a quad injury expected to sideline him until Christmas, while youngster Max Dowman faces a three-match suspension after his red card against Fleetwood. Christos Tzolis may return to training this week after a hamstring injury but is not guaranteed to be available.

With no clear right-wing options, Arteta may be forced to deploy Kai Havertz in an unfamiliar position, though the German has struggled since returning from international duty with his own hamstring issue.