Jamie Carragher not falling for Arsenal's injury news ahead of Liverpool game

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher is "not falling for" Arsenal's injury crisis ahead of their clash with Liverpool.

The Gunners are set to be without injured quartet Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori when they welcome Liverpool to the Emirates on Sunday. They will also be without William Saliba, who was sent off in their 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth last weekend.

With Arsenal having dropped points to Bournemouth, the game against Liverpool is almost a must win, despite the Premier League season only being eight rounds into the 2024/25 campaign. Should Liverpool, who sit top of the table, beat Arsenal on Sunday, then they will open up a seven point gap between themselves and Mikel Arteta's side.

• Bukayo Saka injury latest before Liverpool as Mikel Arteta delivers huge triple Arsenal update

• England boss Thomas Tuchel told he can't ignore 'sensational' Liverpool star

However, speaking on Sky Sports' Friday Night Football, Carragher has claimed Arsenal needs to deal with their absences like any other club would. Carragher said: "People will say Arsenal don't have the squad. But I don't think anyone's got the squad when your best players are missing.

"Liverpool can't replace Virgil van Dijk, that's Saliba for Arsenal. That's something you've got to deal with. We've all been there as players, you've got to fight and they're going to need the crowd to maybe try and get them over the line.

"I saw on Sky Sports News today that five or six players haven't trained but I'm not falling for it! They're definitely in the gym and they come out when the cameras gone. I've seen all that one before. I'm not falling for it so hopefully Arne Slot and the Liverpool team are not falling for that as well."

Host Kelly Cates then interjected: "It is confirmed that William Saliba is out [due to suspension]", to which Carragher replied: "They've got that one but I'm not having any others."

Liverpool.com says: "We can see both sides of the coin here. The reality is, Arsenal has been hit hard by injuries to their captain and their best attacker in Odegaard and Saka. Add in the injuries to Calafiori and Timber who could have played in Saliba's absence and you can see why Arsenal fans feel they're heading into the clash with Liverpool undermanned. That said, to be the best, you have to beat the best. If Arsenal are thinking they can't beat Liverpool without their best players (we suspect they won't be thinking that), then they don't deserve to win on Sunday."