Arsenal fans hopeful as three key stars are missing from Liverpool training ahead of their clash

Arsenal fans hopeful as three key stars are missing from Liverpool training ahead of their clash with Arsenal

Thiago Alcantara has given Liverpool a timely boost ahead of their crucial clash with Arsenal.
The Spain international returned to training on Thursday as the Reds prepare to face the Premier League leaders on Easter Sunday at Anfield.
Liverpool midfielder Thiago is back in training for Sunday’s match against Arsenal.

Thiago has missed the last ten games with a hip injury.

Liverpool have not been on track in recent weeks, including a defeat at the hands of Manchester City, a loss to Bournemouth and a dull draw against Chelsea.
After crashing out of the Champions League against Real Madrid, finishing in the top four is Jurgen Klopp’s best chance at a successful season from this position.

And it means no more dropped points, especially at home, but they face a tough test against Arsenal, who are flying high after seven straight Premier League wins. Thiago, who has missed the last 10 games, will give Klopp a smile, but three key players were absent from Liverpool’s Melwood training centre.

Mohamed Salah, Joe Gomez and Diogo Jota were all absent from Thursday’s session.

But according to the Liverpool Echo, that’s thanks to the club giving the trio a day off to recover after Tuesday’s draw at Stamford Bridge.
Gomez and Jota started in West London, while Salah came off the bench late against his former employers.

There is no suggestion that the trio have any hesitation in playing against the Gunners in Merseyside. Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk was training after missing the trip to the capital due to illness.
In another push for Liverpool, Luis Diaz has boosted his chances of a return for the first time since injuring his knee against Arsenal in October.

Diaz is in contention to join the Arsenal squad

He was seen doing a full workout, with midfielder Naby Keita alongside rehabilitation coach David Rydings.

Whether Thiago and Diaz will be involved against Mikel Arteta’s side remains to be seen, while Klopp is wary of dismissing them too soon.

Though it’s more likely that Diaz is involved as he’s been improving his fitness in training over the past week. Liverpool go into the game against Arsenal eighth in the table and know that if they don’t secure the vital three points they could drop further out of the top four.
With ten games to go, they are ten points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.

Arsenal fans remain hopeful to pick up another win due to the injury rumours gotten from Liverpool camp. Do you feel they should dwell more on it or ignore the rumours and put up a good performance against Liverpool?

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William Saliba happy to focus on Arsenal title bid as contract talks continue

William Saliba insists he is “so happy” at Arsenal as contract negotiations continue behind the scenes of an increasingly compelling Premier League title bid.
The Gunners are eight points clear at the top after a 2-0 derby win at Tottenham on Sunday.

An own goal from Hugo Lloris and a long-range effort from captain Martin Odegaard secured Arsenal’s first-ever victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and propelled them higher up the table.

France international Saliba has played a big role in the club’s revival after making his debut earlier in the season after being loaned out three times from north London.

His performances have been so high that he is set to sign a new contract with Arsenal and he is ready to continue the talks in the background as Mikel Arteta’s side seek glory. “We are delighted because the derby is an important match, and it was also an away game,” he said.
“We know it’s not easy to win here, so we are so happy. We didn’t concede a goal and scored two.

“We are focused on ourselves. We are not targeting our rivals. We have to continue like this and only focus on ourselves.
“I’m so happy here. The club are talking to my agent and me, the only thing I can do is (focus on my football). I’m so happy here.”

After Spurs’ victory, Arteta said a continued title challenge “would need almost perfection” for the rest of the season, with Saliba now hitting back with a win over Manchester United – the only team Arsenal should beat this season – looking for the next weekend.

“It’s never enough,” he replied when asked what it meant to be eight points clear at this stage. “We know we have a lot of games to play. We have to be focused because things can change quickly. If we lose a game we can’t have confidence afterwards, so we have to be focused to go ahead and try to win. We focus on ourselves.

“There is no pressure. It’s better to have that pressure when you’re up than when you’re down. It’s better to continue like this and we don’t need to be under pressure.

“We know we have a big game next week. We know they beat us. They are the only team to have beaten us in the Premier League this season and we want to beat them again at home. “We will prepare for this match very well, I think, and I hope we win in front of our fans. We will continue. We didn’t know about it before (Arsenal could win the championship), but when summer started, I said tell me we can do something “.