Arteta confirms Calafiori, Madueke and Rice doubts for Arsenal's trip to Anfield

Mikel Arteta confirmed on Tuesday night that Riccardo Calafiori, Noni Madueke and Declan Rice are injury doubts for Arsenal’s Premier League visit to Liverpool on Sunday, compounding a miserable evening that saw the Gunners knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League Two side Fleetwood on penalties.

All three players were absent from the squad that travelled to Lancashire, with Arteta explaining their situations after the final whistle. “Calafiori was out, Noni was out with an ankle, and Declan was feeling a problem the other day against Everton, which is why I had to substitute him,” the Arsenal manager said.

The absences forced Arteta to name a strong starting line-up despite the cup tie, as the squad is already stretched by longer-term injuries to William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis. The situation will worsen further at Anfield, with young midfielder Max Dowman suspended after receiving a red card against Fleetwood.

There is some cause for optimism regarding Rice, who was spotted training with his team-mates on Monday before the cup tie. Arteta will be eager to have the England midfielder available given the scale of the fixture, with Arsenal currently level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League following Saturday’s 2-0 win over Everton.

Arteta was visibly deflated by the Carabao Cup exit, calling it a “very sad day” and acknowledging that Arsenal had squandered a dominant performance. “When we create the volume of shots and chances we did, you have to score three, four or five,” he said. “If you don’t, there are no margins, and that’s the reality.”

The defeat ends Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Carabao Cup for the first time in 34 years before the quarter-final stage, in what Arteta conceded may be the biggest shock in the competition’s history. After facing Liverpool, Arsenal travel to Slavia Prague in the Champions League before hosting Hull ahead of the November international break.