Arsenal team news vs Liverpool: Shkodran Mustafi only player that can return from injury for Unai Emery's side

Mustafi still has some work to do on a hamstring injury if he is to play at Anfield on Saturday

Arsenal are unlikely to be able to welcome back any of their injured players when they travel to Premier League leaders Liverpool on Saturday.

Rob Holding (knee), Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin), Hector Bellerin (calf), Henrikh Mkhitaryan (ankle) and Danny Welbeck (ankle) are all out for Unai Emery’s side.

Defender Shkodran Mustafi is the only man with a slight chance of being involved but his return from a hamstring problem is not expected to come this weekend, while club captain Laurent Koscielny should be fine following a foot issue in the match at Brighton.

The French defender completed 70 minutes in the 1-1 draw while Mustafi has been out of action since Arsenal’s home win against Huddersfield in early December.

“Saturday is another match. We will recover the players, we are going to look at how Koscielny is and if Mustafi is OK. While we are close to top four, I can have big motivation,” said Emery after drawing against Brighton.

“Today for me was very important. It was a very important three points, but football is like that and in 90 minutes we draw”

Nacho Monreal missed the Boxing Day match as a precaution after being forced off in the first half against Burnley with a “muscular injury” could also miss the trip to Anfield.

There are no fresh concerns over the fitness of Mesut Ozil, who played 45 minutes against Brighton, as his battle to establish himself in Emery’s side continues.

Provisional squad: Leno, Cech, Martinez, Jenkinson, Lichtsteiner, Koscielny, Papastathopoulos, Mustafi, Medley, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Elneny, Torreira, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Iwobi, Ozil, Saka, Lacazette, Aubameyang, Nketiah.

PA