Liverpool v Arsenal: Team news

The captain, Jordan Henderson, and Andy Robertson are both ‘pretty close’ to being available for the 5.30pm GMT kick-off having picked up knocks during the international break.

“Hendo and Robbo didn’t train with the team yet, they did their recovery stuff, rehab stuff and didn’t train with the team yet,” Jürgen Klopp told reporters on Friday lunchtime.

“It will be a late, late, late, late decision about that.”

If Henderson is involved against the Gunners – the first of three successive home fixtures for the Reds – he will achieve the milestone of 500 club appearances in his career.

Fabinho is expected to be up for selection after returning from Brazil duty, and Sadio Mane has been declared ‘fine’ and trained this week following a rib injury while representing Senegal.

“Sadio is good and Fab only came back late and he did recovery and so I hope he can train today, that’s the plan,” added Klopp. “I didn’t hear anything different yet, but in the end we all have to wait until tomorrow.”

Roberto Firmino (hamstring), Joe Gomez (calf), Curtis Jones (eye), Naby Keita (hamstring) and James Milner (hamstring) are all ruled out for the Gunners’ visit, however.

Elsewhere, Harvey Elliott stepped up his rehabilitation from ankle surgery with a first running session outside at the AXA Training Centre on Monday but remains sidelined.

Arsenal, meanwhile, must assess the availability of forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and midfielder Thomas Partey for the trip north.

Both missed matches during the international break, for Gabon and Ghana respectively, and their condition will be judged on Friday, according to Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.

“We have to assess [Aubameyang] and see how he is and make a decision,” Arteta told the media. “We have a lot of players who have been through some different games, issues, little injuries, so today we have to test everybody and see how we are to play tomorrow.

“Same again [for Partey], he could not play for the national team, he really tried to do that because they had a massive game and he really pushed for that one, but he wasn’t close enough to do that.

“Again, it’s something we have to assess today because he hasn’t done enough [preparation work].”

Sead Kolasinac is out after sustaining an ankle injury while playing for Bosnia and Herzegovina last weekend, and Granit Xhaka is in rehabilitation for a knee ligament issue.

On the challenge of playing at Anfield, Arteta added: “It is always a test, it is a fascinating stadium to play football in. You have to be at your best, and raise the level to your maximum standards – emotionally, physically, tactically – because if you don’t you will be exposed.

“Going to Anfield is always a test, but if you are able to do that, there are not many grounds as good as there to feel that you are a proper footballer.”

Last match

West Ham United 3-2 Liverpool (November 7): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Salah, Jota.

Arsenal 1-0 Watford (November 7): Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tavares, Saka, Lokonga, Maitland-Niles, Smith Rowe, Lacazette, Aubameyang.