Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is sweating over the fitness of a handful of midfielders ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with title rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

The Gunners hold a one-point advantage over the Reds at the top of the standings with 17 games gone, having leapfrogged their Merseyside foes by sinking Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 last weekend.

None of Mohamed Elneny (hamstring), Jorginho (foot), Jurrien Timber (knee), Fabio Vieira (groin), Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf) or Thomas Partey (thigh) were fit to face the Seagulls, and the former two are facing races against the clock to be given the green light for Saturday.

Arteta also revealed in his pre-game press conference that Partey has not yet resumed team training, but any returning players should have little impact on the visitors' starting XI anyway.

Indeed, David Raya retains control of the gloves, while William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes continue to form a formidable barrier in front of the on-loan Brentford goalkeeper.

Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White will have the arduous task of keeping Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz quiet, while Declan Rice will act as the Gunners' deepest-lying midfielder again.

Ahead of him, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz - fresh from scoring his fourth goal in seven matches - will provide support to the attacking trident of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, the latter two of whom were on target in last season's 2-2 draw at Anfield.

Arsenal possible starting lineup: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli body check tags ::