Arsenal's new £60m signing Eberechi Eze is named on the bench for the blockbuster clash with Liverpool at Anfield, even though Bukayo Saka is out with a hamstring injury.
Gabriel Martinelli comes in, while captain Martin Odegaard is only fit enough to be a substitute after suffering a shoulder injury in the 5-0 win against Leeds United. Mikel Merino comes in.
Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Merino, Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Sutton's predictions: Liverpool v Arsenalpublished at 11:01
11:01
My worry with Liverpool is exactly what Arne Slot talked about in pre-season. They're too defensively vulnerable.
They've already conceded four goals. Ibrahima Konate looks shot to pieces and has been all over the place in the last two games. He's been a great player in the past for Liverpool but right now he looks like a triallist.
If you're a Liverpool fan I guess the good thing is your side are still getting results. But if you want to win league titles you've got to be watertight and strong at the back, and I'm not so sure Liverpool are.
Liverpool got bullied by Newcastle. There's no reason why Arsenal can't bully them too. I've just got a sneaky feeling that Arsenal, bolstered by new signing Eberechi Eze, will exploit them.
Gossip: West Ham join European teams in race for Vieirapublished at 07:34
07:34
West Ham have entered the race to sign Fabio Vieira from Arsenal, but Stuttgart and another top Bundesliga club are also interested in the 25-year-old Portuguese midfielder. (Sky Sports Germany), external
Meanwhile, Brazil winger Rodrygo, 24, will remain at Real Madrid in this transfer window despite interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal and Liverpool. (Marca - in Spanish), external
Liverpool v Arsenal: key stats and talking pointspublished at 12:07 30 August
12:07 30 August
Matthew Hobbs BBC Sport journalist
One of the Premier League's biggest rivalries resumes this weekend when champions Liverpool host last season's runners-up Arsenal. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes as the title rivals prepare to face off.
Will defenders decide this game?
This fixture has seen 78 goals scored in the past 20 games - the most of any Premier League encounter since the start of 2015-16 - but how both teams defend may prove the deciding factor at Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool have scored in 98% of their games under Arne Slot (39/40) - the highest percentage by any manager in Premier League history. However, a revamped backline has looked increasingly vulnerable so far this season.
The Reds had let a two-goal lead slip against 10-man Newcastle on Monday night - until 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha won the game in the 10th minute of stoppage time, and in doing so became the second-youngest player to score on his Premier League debut.
Liverpool have conceded four goals from just six shots on target so far this season, suggesting they are giving up an uncharacteristic number of high-quality chances. Only Leeds have conceded more often per shot on target than Slot's men in 2025-26. It took Liverpool nine league games to concede four goals last term.
Arsenal's threat from corners
While Liverpool are bedding in new arrival Milos Kerkez, and have lost fellow summer signing Jeremie Frimpong to a hamstring injury, Arsenal's settled defence – founded on the formidable centre-half pairing of Gabriel and William Saliba – are yet to concede a goal in two Premier League matches.
The Gunners' rearguard effort at Old Trafford on the opening weekend was crucial to a 1-0 win against Manchester United.
Should Arsenal keep things tight at Anfield, a favoured weapon could be enough to settle the outcome. Mikel Arteta's side have scored 33 goals from corners since the start of 2023-24 - at least 10 more than any other side in the top five European leagues.
The Gunners have also scored from a corner in their past three games and will have done so in four for the first time if they do so again at Anfield.
Image caption,
Arsenal provide the biggest threat from corners in Europe
And while much focus may be on the recruitment of marquee forwards Viktor Gyokeres and Hugo Ekitike, keep an eye out for Jurrien Timber. The Arsenal full-back has scored two goals and assisted three in his past five Premier League starts.
In the 5-0 win over Leeds, Timber became the first defender to score two goals and get an assist in a Premier League fixture in more than a decade.
Arteta on Saka and Odegaard injuries, Eze's impact and Liverpoolpublished at 14:34 29 August
14:34 29 August
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Liverpool at Anfield (16:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Arteta offered a fitness update on Bukayo Saka who is "doing better" and will not require surgery but "will be out for a few weeks".
Captain Martin Odegaard "hasn't trained yet" and "if he does it will be tomorrow" but is "doing everything he can to make himself available".
Arteta also confirmed Christian Norgaard, Ben White and Leandro Trossard are all doubts for Sunday's match.
On Kai Havertz who has undergone surgery on a knee issue: "I think it will be weeks, but hopefully not months. Very unfortunate and very sad. This is our profession and now we lose another player for many weeks."
On new signing Eberechi Eze, who could make his Gunners debut at Anfield, Arteta said: "Very special energy, special aura around him and really willing. I heard a lot about him. He's gathered a lot of information on that pitch. Yes, very impressed with him."
Asked could Eze start, Arteta said: "We have options in that position, so let's see and I'm not going to give you any clues obviously."
On the challenge of facing the Reds at Anfield: "A very important one and we want to continue [their good start to the season]. We want to go to these stadiums with these types of atmospheres and come away with a win."
He was not drawn into commenting on interest in Bayer Leverkusen's Piero Hincapie: "You know the answer - I cannot talk about players that are not part of the squad."
Can he keep everyone happy with such a deep squad now? "The word is that I care. I care that everyone is as happy as possible - to make sure that every player feels that they're fulfilling their potential."
'Anderson can show Tuchel what he might bring to World Cup side'published at 12:35 29 August
12:35 29 August
Alex Howell Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Elliot Anderson has received his first call-up to the senior England squad - reward for the 22-year-old's excellent displays since his move to Nottingham Forest.
Anderson was part of the England Under-21 side that retained the European Championship in Slovakia in the summer.
He was an important part of that team, with spectators and, importantly, FA staff remarking about how he played like a senior professional.
Anderson was named in team of the tournament and looks like he is going to be given his chance to cement his place as the third midfielder in Thomas Tuchel's side.
Nobody has been able to tie down the place next to Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham and, even though Bellingham is out for this window, Anderson can show the England manager what he might be able to bring to a World Cup side.
Which players might Arsenal sell to facilitate Hincapie deal?published at 11:57 29 August
11:57 29 August
Sami Mokbel Senior football correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
Porto and Arsenal are in talks over a move for Jakub Kiwior moving to Portugal, and Bayer Leverkusen's Piero Hincapie is viewed as a direct replacement for Kiwior in Mikel Arteta's squad.
There is interest in attacker Reiss Nelson, who has suitors from across Europe. Fulham have approached the Gunners over Nelson but are reluctant to sign the winger on a permanent deal or a loan with an obligation to buy.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, Albert Lokonga and Fabio Vieira – who has interest from Stuttgart - can also leave this month.
Arsenal are mindful of complying with Uefa's squad cost ratio regulations and want to ensure players are sold before executing their interest in Hincapie.
Who got the luck of the Champions League draw?published at 19:26 28 August
19:26 28 August
Chris Collinson BBC Sport statistician
Based on the average Uefa coefficient of their opponents, PSV Eindhoven have been handed the toughest draw in the league phase. Not only do they face the champions of England, Germany and Italy – Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Napoli – but they will also play two of the top three seeds from Pot 2 in Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid.
Manchester City and Liverpool have also been given a fairly tough gauntlet of games, with both sides drawn against 15-time winners Real Madrid. Pep Guardiola's side will also play Bayer Leverkusen and Napoli as well as two of the top seeds from Pot 4 in Galatasaray and Monaco. Arne Slot's side will play last year's finalists Inter and Atletico Madrid.
Atalanta will likely be the happiest club following the draw after being given the most favourable fixtures. While they do have to face champions Paris St-Germain and Club World Cup champions Chelsea, they were also drawn against the two lowest seeds in Pot 2 – Eintracht Frankfurt and Club Brugge – as well as two of the three lowest seeds in Pot 3 in Slavia Prague and Marseille.
Both north London clubs should also be fairly happy with the draw. While they do have to play Bayern Munich, Inter and Atletico Madrid, Arsenal were otherwise drawn against low-seeded teams in Pots 2, 3 and 4, including Celtic's Kazakh conquerors Kairat Almaty. Tottenham also received favourable draws in terms of opponents from Pots 2 and 3, avoiding the likes of Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid and Napoli.
'Gunners have a tough league phase to contend with'published at 18:35 28 August
18:35 28 August
Alex Howell Arsenal reporter
Image source, Getty Images
The Champions League is the elite of European football so having tough matches is not a surprise.
However, the Gunners do have a tough league phase to contend with as they face Inter Milan away from home and Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid at home.
They faced Inter Milan in the league phase away from home last season and suffered their only loss before the knockout stage to Inter thanks to a Hakan Çalhanoglu penalty in added time of the first half.
The Gunners reached the semi-finals of the competition last season but were without a recognised striker as they beat Real Madrid before being beaten by Paris Saint-Germain in the last four.
Mikel Arteta has strengthened his squad so they have much more quality and depth this season and he will hope that is enough to take them another step further in the competition this season.
Arsenal's final pre-season game of this season was against Athletic Bilbao, a match they won comfortably. That will give them confidence and hope that they can replicate the result as they travel away to Bilbao for one of their eight league phase games.
Arsenal learn Champions League opponentspublished at 17:48 28 August
17:48 28 August
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal's Champions League draw is complete and Mikel Arteta's side now know which eight clubs they will meet in the 36-team league format, which was used for the first time last season.
The Champions League fixture list with match dates and kick-off times will be published no later than Saturday, 30 August.
The Gunners will face:
Bayern Munich (H)
Inter Milan (A)
Atletico Madrid (H)
Club Brugge (A)
Olympiakos (H)
Slavia Prague (A)
Kairat Almaty (H)
Athletic Bilbao (A)
Champions League group phase dates:
Matchday 1: 16–18 September 2025
Matchday 2: 30 September–1 October 2025
Matchday 3: 21-22 October 2025
Matchday 4: 4-5 November 2025
Matchday 5: 2-26 November 2025
Matchday 6: 9-10 December 2025
Matchday 7: 20-21 January 2026
Matchday 8: 28 January 2026
Champions League knockout stage dates:
Knockout phase play-offs: 17-18 and 24-25 February 2026
Watch and follow Champions League draw livepublished at 16:49 28 August
16:49 28 August
Image source, Getty Images
There are six Premier League teams in this season's Champions League.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Tottenham are about to find out who they will face in the league phase of the 2025-26 competition.