Mikel Arteta 'mind games', Bukayo Saka injury confession - Arsenal vs Liverpool score prediction

Arsenal will be determined not to lose any further ground in this season's Premier League title race when meet Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. The Gunners host the Merseysiders, at the Emirates Stadium in the top-flight, as they look to bounce back from last week's defeat away at Bournemouth.

will be without centre-back William Saliba for the match, due to his suspension, while there's also uncertainty surrounding the .

Martin Odegaard is already ruled out, while there are doubts over England star , Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are also side-lined with their respective injuries.

are currently four points behind Liverpool in the table - and a win for either club could have a significant impact on the Premier League title race despite it still only being late-October.

Here, football.london writers hand out their predictions for the impending Premier League clash;

Mark Wakefield

The majority of the pre-match talk going into Arsenal vs Liverpool has been focused on injuries and suspensions that the Gunners are being forced to manage. But the reality is the home side should still have enough quality to get the three points against the Merseyside club.

However, there will be an air of trepidation given Liverpool are coming to the Emirates Stadium having won 11 of their 12 matches in all competitions, so far. But Arsenal have the home advantage, so I'm expecting both teams to cancel each other out.

Score prediction: Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool

Liam Wood

Suggestions that this game is a must-win for Arsenal is, perhaps, wide of the mark given the title race is still in its early stages. It might be better to bill it as a must-not-lose.

A point would be a good result for each team and, while Liverpool have pretty much swept all before them so far this season, their more measured approach under Arne Slot lends itself to tight contests against the big boys. That was the case last time out against Chelsea, but Arsenal are a little more streetwise, and especially so on home turf.

Score prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool

Stephen Killen

Too early in the season or not, there's a point that this is an important game for both Arsenal and Liverpool. Only those who have been battling Manchester City that the margin for error is incredibly small.

Sitting top of the table after yesterday's win against Southampton, City will be watching on with relative comfort knowing their title rivals over recent years will go to battle, looking to apply the pressure. Liverpool, more so, have the prospect of reclaiming top spot should they win.

Arsenal will slip six points off the summit, should they fail to win, which would require the Merseysiders and City dropping points across the season - while maintaining an impervious run.

With Arsenal's recent struggles and Liverpool showing little signs of a Jurgen Klopp hangover, it feels like this is a match ready to explode. Expect goals.

Score prediction: Arsenal 2-3 Liverpool

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James Quinlan

I don't buy into the narrative that Arsenal with a few players injured or suspended are the underdogs as they have the quality to beat anyone in the Premier League. Liverpool have been caused plenty of problems at the Emirates Stadium in recent years - that will play on their minds - and it's Arteta's job to whip up the crowd and utilise that to his advantage.

That said, they look a different entity under Slot - one more measured between attack and defence compared to the style Klopp employed - and even when not controlling matches, they have proven they can come out on top.

Without Saliba, that Arsenal defence is going to struggle against an attack that are sharing the goals between all five or six of them, plus nobody has got the better of their midfield yet, really.

Score prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool

Matthew Abbott

The Reds will rarely have a better chance to win against the Gunners in north London than they do today. They could be without arguably their three best players; Odegaard, Saliba and, potentially, Saka.

Their recent home record against Liverpool has also hardly been as imperious as it once was, with Klopp's team winning thrice in three competitions over the last three years. It is by far the most significant challenge for Slot - but so was the trip to Old Trafford, the game in Milan, the visit of Chelsea, and Wednesday's match with Leipzig.

Score prediction: Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool