'Falling for it' - Jamie Carragher delivers brutal Arsenal message after Gary Neville Liverpool plea

Ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville has told Arsenal to "go and shock" Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. However, Reds icon Jamie Carragher has raised suspicions around the fitness concerns within the Gunners' camp.

Mikel Arteta has been open about the issues he's facing at the Emirates Stadium which worsened after Riccardo Calafiori limped off during their win over Shakhtar Donetsk. The Italian has joined a list of possible absentees after William Saliba (suspension) and Martin Odegaard were ruled out.

The Spaniard cast doubt over the involvement of Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber following their respective injury concerns. Arsenal are looking to bounce back following their 2-0 defeat away at Bournemouth last time out in the Premier League - and after Saturday afternoon's win for Manchester City the north London club are now six points off the pace.

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Neville noted the "narrative" around Arsenal and their recent performances, but with the scrutiny over their squad fitness, the ex-United full-back said it would be a good time for them to hand Arne Slot a second Liverpool defeat. "That's been the sort of narrative this week, hasn't it?," he said.

"Arsenal aren't contributing to that. Mikel Arteta or his coaching staff, or their players, but they can't let that noise get into their heads. They have to really think about going out there on Sunday and winning. Can Arsenal afford to see Liverpool seven points clear of them at 6.30pm on Sunday evening? They just can't.

"That's not because they can't get that back over a season, but we're talking about a team that are trying to make that final step to win a league. And I think if you've got three or four players missing... it would be the best time for them to go and win on Sunday. The best time to go and shock everybody.

"It would be - not a surprise Arsenal winning - but because of the players that are out, there is something building that; 'Liverpool are the favourites'. Go and shock us, go and do something, go and play.

"Go get within one point of Liverpool and, all of a sudden, things change again. So that's, for me, where I think the game is for Arsenal. For Liverpool, they can afford to just let the crowd get a little bit nervy and sit back for 25 to 30 minutes because they're good defensively and see what Arsenal do."

Saka, Calafiori and Timber were all missing from team training when cameras were at their London Colney training ground during the build-up. Fears were allayed slightly when images emerged on social media of both the England and Holland internationals 'with the team' at their hotel on Saturday night.

The Liverpool icon was sceptical of the amount of injury problems in the capital, especially with the television footage showing the trio all absent. He argued: "Gary's right, we've all been there as players when some of your best players [are out].

"You've got to fight and they're going to probably need the crowd as well to maybe try and get them over the line. "I saw on Sky Sports News it was saying five or six players hadn't trained, but I'm not falling for it.

"They're definitely in the gym and then they come out when the camera's gone. I've seen all that one before.

"I'm not falling for it. Hopefully Arne Slot and the Liverpool team are not falling for that as well."