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Liverpool vs. Arsenal: Champions Travel to Anfield Without Saka and Saliba
Arsenal are level on points with leaders Manchester City, while Liverpool trail by six points. In Germany, Sunday's top-of-the-table clash in Liverpool is only on pay TV via Sky.
By Marcel
Automatically translated from German · may contain errors · Read the original
Liverpool host English champions Arsenal on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 5:30 p.m. German time (CET) in the top match of Matchday 9 in the Premier League. The visitors travel to Anfield without Bukayo Saka and William Saliba. The hosts are concerned about Florian Wirtz.
The match was originally scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31. Liverpool confirmed the move to Sunday on Aug. 17. The return fixture at Emirates Stadium in London follows on Feb. 6, 2027.
Arsenal level with City, Liverpool trailing
After eight games, Arsenal have seven wins and 21 points. Since Oct. 24, the defending champions have been level on points with Manchester City again. City lost 2-1 at Aston Villa that day, their first defeat of the season. Arsenal are second only because of an inferior goal difference.
Liverpool are fourth with 15 points. With a win, the Reds could cut the gap to Arsenal to three points; with a defeat, it would be nine. Arsenal won their first league title since 2003/04 last season, while Liverpool were champions in 2024/25.
For Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, it is the first league meeting with Arsenal in his first season. His predecessor was Arne Slot. On the other side is Mikel Arteta, who said after the 2-0 win over Everton: "We are champions, and to be champions you have to win games consistently."
The most recent league meetings were tight. In January 2026, the teams drew 0-0 in London, with Liverpool's Conor Bradley hitting only the crossbar. In the last game at Anfield in August 2025, Liverpool won 1-0, and in May 2025 the match there ended 2-2.
Saka out for weeks
Saka injured his thigh on Oct. 21 in the 2-2 Champions League draw at Bayern Munich and had to come off after about ten minutes. "I think it will be weeks," Arteta said. The BBC expects a layoff of at least six weeks. Saka had scored four goals in eleven games this season.
Center back Saliba has not yet played a game this season because of back problems. At center back against Everton, Ezri Konsa scored his first goal for Arsenal in the 7th minute from a corner. Gabriel headed in the 2-0, and he played on despite a blow to the leg. Christos Tzolis (thigh) is a doubt, while Riccardo Calafiori is expected to be available after minor complaints.
Liverpool worried about Wirtz
Wirtz twisted his ankle in the 2-0 win over Brighton on Oct. 25 and was substituted in the 65th minute. According to the club, the ankle problem is probably not serious but needs further examination. Wirtz himself said it was "not too serious." Against Brighton, his deflected shot led to an own goal by Pascal Groß.
Liverpool are missing Hugo Ekitiké, Giovanni Leoni and Bradley for the long term. Iraola considers a return of Jeremie Frimpong before the international break very difficult. Dominik Szoboszlai (thigh) is more likely to miss out, and Víctor Muñoz (knee) is a doubt.
Up front, Alexander Isak is a certain starter: He scored five league goals in six games through mid-October and most recently also scored against Brighton. The official lineups will be announced about an hour before kickoff.
Busy midweek schedule for both teams
On Tuesday, Oct. 27, Arsenal lost 1-0 in the League Cup at fourth-tier Fleetwood Town, according to VAVEL's live ticker. Aaron Loupalo-Bi scored the goal after about 20 minutes. Arteta fielded a heavily rotated team, including Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyökeres, Martín Zubimendi and Piero Hincapié.
Liverpool play as early as Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 9 p.m. in the League Cup round of 16 against Chelsea. On Nov. 4, the Reds face Fenerbahce in the Champions League, while Arsenal play Slavia Prague on the same day.
Broadcast only on Sky
In Germany, Sky shows the match live on Sky Sport Premier League and Sky Sport Top Event, with coverage starting at 5 p.m. The match is streamed on WOW and Sky Go, and in Austria it is on Sky Sport Austria 2. Sky holds the rights to the Premier League through the 2030/31 season.
There is no legal free livestream, and the public broadcasters ARD and ZDF and the commercial channel RTL are not showing it either. Free streams on illegal sites violate copyright and often contain malware. The clubs and the league earn nothing from them.
Tickets are practically no longer available through official channels. Liverpool sold only to registered members, and the allocation of 3,052 tickets for Arsenal fans is sold out.
