Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on William Saliba: "I am not going to be able to help you much today because have another training session later today. Until that happens we are not going to know. He had a little niggle but I think it's going to be a matter of days so let’s see.

For Leandro Trossard, Arteta said it is going to be a "matter of days" but for Kai Havertz it’s "a matter of weeks".

On Havertz he added: "He’s doing really well, doing stuff on the pitch but I think he needs time."

For Gabriel, Arteta said "it's weeks as well" but that he is doing very well.

Image source, Getty Images

A large part of Arsenal's successes so far this season have come from their solid defence. This included a run of eight games without conceding throughout October and the start of November.

But the Gunners have now conceded in each of their last four matches, and manager Mikel Arteta has a few headaches regarding his once serene back line.

Centre-back Gabriel remains out with a thigh problem, while fellow central defender William Saliba remains a doubt for Brentford after missing the 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday because of a knock.

Added to that, full-back Riccardo Calafiori is one yellow card away from a ban, and was subbed in the second half at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal

In addition to those injury updates, Mikel Arteta has called on the Arsenal fans to be like "animals" and create a big atmosphere at Emirates Stadium tomorrow night to help the team in another important match.

Full quotes coming right up.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football reporter at Arsenal's training ground

Mikel Arteta says it is going to be matter of days for William Saliba and for Leandro Trossard before they are fit.

But it's going to be a be a "matter of weeks" for Kai Havertz and centre back Gabriel.

The Arsenal manager went on to say that the way the players have dealt with the challenges the squad has faced with injuries has been "the key of the season".

Image source, Getty Images

As for most clubs, it is a packed month coming up for the Gunners.

Will they still be clear at the Premier League summit come the new year, or will a rival have the opportunity to bridge the gap?

• December 3: Brentford (h) - Premier League
• December 6: Aston Villa (a) - Premier League
• December 10: Club Brugge (a) - Champions League
• December 13: Wolves (h) - Premier League
• December 20: Everton (a) - Premier League
• December 23: Crystal Palace (h) - League Cup
• December 27: Brighton (h) - Premier League
• December 30: Aston Villa (h) - Premier League

Arsenal

Arsenal have not lost a game in all competitions since August 31. However, they have dropped points in two of their last three Premier League games.

It shakes out with the Gunners currently five points clear of second-placed Manchester City heading into the latest round of fixtures.

If City beat Fulham tonight, the gap is down to two and the pressure is on before Arsenal host Brentford on Wednesday night.

Opta remain confident Arsenal will see this through however, giving them a 78.69% chance of winning the league in their latest predictions.

They say Man City only have an 11.43% chance. Indeed, the stats gurus predict that Arsenal will finish 11 points ahead of the Citizens.

But when are titles ever won on a spreadsheet?

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal

That's all from Arne Slot - let's now turn our attentions to Mikel Arteta.

The Arsenal manager is scheduled to address the media shortly.

Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

Here's everything Arne Slot discussed in his news conference earlier today:

• Slot was encouraged by the performances of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, but added Isak suffered cramps during Sunday's match
• The Liverpool boss described Mohamed Salah as a disciplined, top professional after he was dropped at the weekend
• He said he has been impressed by Wednesday's opponents Sunderland and the mentality they show
• Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Joe Gomez "are not able to play three 90 minutes in a week"
• Conor Bradley is back in training and could return against Leeds United at the weekend
• Discussing the abuse managers receive, Slot said he only feels support from the fans in the stadium

Aadam Patel
BBC Sport Liverpool reporter

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has confirmed Mo Salah will depart for AFCON on December 15, which means his last game is expected to be on 13 December against Brighton.

If Egypt go all the way to the final, then Salah won’t return to Merseyside until January 19 at the earliest. That would mean missing seven games, including the match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 8 January.

Slot refused to say whether he would leave Salah out over the next fortnight, but the Dutchman admitted that Salah was disappointed after he was left on the bench on Sunday.

Liverpool have lost their last two games at home and Sunderland will be licking their lips at the prospect of winning at Anfield in the league for the first time since 1983.

Regis Le Bris’ side will go into Wednesday’s game ahead of Liverpool in the table and Slot is aware of how tough a test the Black Cats will pose.

Liverpool

It's promoted sides Sunderland and Leeds this week for Liverpool, with matches against Brighton and Tottenham to follow in the Premier League before Christmas.

This time next week, they'll be preparing to get back to winning ways in the Campions League against Inter Milan, after their heavy loss to PSV left them 13th in that competition.

They also host strugglers Wolves in their final game of 2025, another match they will expect to win.

Alan Shearer
MOTD pundit

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool picked up an important win on Sunday, but I still don't see the defending champions getting back in the title race now.

Instead, their aim is probably the Champions League places, which is something they should have enough for with the ability in their squad.

It was an important three points because Arne Slot was under pressure and he made a big call to leave Mohamed Salah out, but it worked out for him.

It was huge for Alexander Isak to score his first Premier League goal for Liverpool too. He's had to wait longer than he would have wanted for it, and the Liverpool fans have had to wait as well.

Read Shearer's full column here

Another positive for Liverpool, beyond the result on Sunday, was Alexander Isak getting his name on the scoresheet.

The club record £125m signing scored his first Premier League goal in eight appearances, ending his joint-longest scoring drought in the competition (also seven games from April-May 2023).

Speaking on Match of the Day, pundit Alan Shearer said Isak is showing positive signs - but still needs to work on his connection with his Liverpool team-mates.

Can the former Newcastle man continue to build momentum against Sunderland?

Yet, despite their struggles - and they have struggled - the Champions League positions are only three points away. Even second-placed Manchester City are only four points better off.

Do you think that should be the target now, Liverpool fans? Or do you believe the title is still there to be won?

From six defeats in their past seven Premier League games prior to facing West Ham, I'm sure most supporters will just be hoping it's back-to-back wins after tomorrow.

They haven't won consecutive league games since beating Everton on 20 September.

The headline team news for Liverpool on Sunday was the dropping of Mohamed Salah.

The form of the club's third-highest ever scorer has been among the team's major concerns this season

Dominik Szobozslai took up much of the Salah role on Liverpool's right side, and notably struck a better balance between going forward and defensive work. His heatmap, on the left below, shows work either side of the halfway line.

Compare that with Salah's heatmap in defeats against Nottingham Forest and Brentford [central and right] highlight the time he spends positioned high up the pitch.

Arne Slot played down dropping Salah and referenced he may well start against Sunderland on Wednesday. But greater balance to Liverpool's right flank, which has been targeted by opponents, may prove key to stabilising this season.

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on Football Daily

Not a problem at all. I think Liverpool have been on such a bad run and Mo Salah's been an incredible player for Liverpool over the years but he’s just another player and he should be treated no differently.

And if he’s out of form, which he has been and is no where near the level he has been in recent seasons then he should be dropped and have to work his way back into the team.

Andros Townsend
Former Tottenham midfielder on Monday Night Club

I think [Mo] Salah would have taken that [being benched] personally. The best players in the world want to be playing every minute of every game. They have an ego and they don’t like not being deemed good enough to play in those games. He would have taken that personally.