Rice, Madueke and Calafiori doubts cloud Arsenal's build-up to Liverpool showdown

Arsenal’s chaotic Carabao Cup exit on penalties against League Two Fleetwood Town has left Mikel Arteta facing a mounting injury headache ahead of Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Liverpool. Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Riccardo Calafiori all missed the fourth-round tie at Highbury Stadium, and the fitness of all three remains uncertain.

The Gunners needed a Viktor Gyokeres equaliser to force extra time before losing 5-3 on spot kicks, with Bruno Guimaraes among those to miss from twelve yards. The evening was further soured when teenager Max Dowman was sent off for retaliation and appeared to be reprimanded by Arteta as he left the pitch — a suspension that adds to an already stretched pool of wide options.

Rice played in Saturday’s Premier League win over Everton and trained on Monday, but Arteta confirmed after the Fleetwood defeat that the England midfielder was absent with a minor injury. According to The Standard, Rice is expected to be available against Liverpool, with a fuller update anticipated at Arteta’s pre-match press conference.

Madueke was not seen in training on Monday, and Arteta revealed the winger picked up an ankle problem during the Everton match that prevented him from travelling to Fleetwood. With Bukayo Saka already sidelined and Dowman now suspended, Arsenal’s options on the flanks are severely limited, making a positive update on Madueke particularly important before the Liverpool fixture.

Calafiori featured in the Champions League before the Everton game but did not start against the Toffees and was absent entirely at Fleetwood. The Italian left-back was visibly struggling with a knock late in the Everton match after coming on as a substitute, though Arteta described any injury as ‘slight’. Arsenal will hope he is fit to feature on Sunday.

The Liverpool game forms the second half of a top-four weekend, following Saturday’s fixture between third-placed Brighton and league leaders Manchester City. Arteta’s squad depth — and his ability to field a competitive back line and attack — will be tested by how many of the three absentees are cleared to play.