Arsenal could be without four key players vs Liverpool

February 25, 2021 Arsenal's Dani Ceballos, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Bukayo Saka, Hector Bellerin and David Luiz [REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis]

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could be without four of his first-team players for Saturday's visit of Liverpool.

Defender David Luiz has already been ruled out by the Gunners after experiencing discomfort in his right knee.

Youngsters Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe are also doubts for the match, with Saka still experiencing the right hamstring issue that forced him to pull out of the England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland.

Smith Rowe suffered a quad injury on England under-21 duty, and like Saka will be assessed ahead of the game against the Reds, with both given every chance of making the match.

Granit Xhaka is another doubt though, with the Swiss midfielder missing training on Friday due to illness.

Xhaka will be assessed on Saturday before the Gunners decide whether or not he'll be available.

Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 26, 2020 Arsenal's Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring their third goal with Emile Smith Rowe and Alexandre Lacazette [Pool via REUTERS/Andrew Boyers]

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is in no doubt that his side will face a tough game against Jurgen Klopp's men despite the Reds' patchy form and their own injury issues.

"I can talk about what they've done - I've seen a lot of games and what they're still producing and the stats will support that," he said.

"They are, if not the best, the second best team in every department that we coaches have to analyse.

"But then this is football, the ball has to be in that net and the final action has to provide a moment to win a football match.

"And then you have some individuals that dictate the quality of your team.

"Sometimes you cannot predict those things, so I think it's a lot of things."