Arsenal eye triple injury boost vs Liverpool as key men near comebacks

Madueke, Rice and Tzolis could return for Sunday's trip to Anfield, while Saliba edges closer to first-team training after months sidelined with a back injury.

Arsenal face Liverpool on Sunday looking to bounce back from their shock Carabao Cup exit to Fleetwood, and Mikel Arteta has been handed a potential injury boost.

Noni Madueke missed the Fleetwood match with an ankle injury but is expected to be fit to start on the right wing at Anfield. Declan Rice was also absent after feeling hamstring tightness in last weekend's win over Everton; the club has managed his fitness carefully this season and hopes the midweek rest will allow him to recover. Christos Tzolis, sidelined for nearly a month with a hamstring injury picked up on Greece duty, could also feature if he comes through first-team training without issue.

William Saliba, who has not played this season while recovering from a significant back injury, has been doing individual work on the grass for three weeks and is approaching a return to first-team training. If he progresses without setbacks, he could be back in the matchday squad before the international break. Max Dowman was sent off against Fleetwood and faces a three-match ban, though Arsenal will appeal the decision.