Liverpool and Arsenal have confirmed their starting lineups for Sunday's Premier League main event at Anfield — and Andoni Iraola has handed 19-year-old Trey Nyoni his full Premier League debut in the biggest game of the season so far.
Nyoni keeps his place from the midweek EFL Cup win over Chelsea and is trusted ahead of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield. For Arsenal, Christos Tzolis starts on his first appearance since September 19, while Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Noni Madueke are all fit to start. A draw or a win will take the Gunners top of the Premier League; a home win will lift Liverpool into fourth and to within three points of Arsenal.
Nyoni Gets the Nod Over Gravenberch and Szoboszlai
Iraola has made seven changes to the side that beat Chelsea in midweek, but Nyoni — one of four starters retained from that cup tie — is the headline call. As Sports Mole reports, the teenager partners Alexis Mac Allister in midfield, behind a front four of Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak.
Szoboszlai, back from a hamstring setback, is only fit enough for the bench — the outcome Liverpool feared when Iraola rated him and Victor Munoz as having only a chance of returning in the build-up covered by our Szoboszlai and Munoz update. Munoz is also among the substitutes after his knee problem, as is Gravenberch, whose omission for a teenager in a game of this size is a huge statement of trust. In defence, Ronald Araujo, Milos Kerkez and Alisson Becker return for Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas and Giorgi Mamardashvili, alongside Virgil van Dijk and Jeremy Jacquet.
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Araujo, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez; Nyoni, Mac Allister; Barcola, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak. Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Szoboszlai, Tsimikas, Munoz, Gravenberch, Koumas, Ngumoha.
Tzolis, Rice and Calafiori All Start for Arsenal
Mikel Arteta makes nine changes from Tuesday's EFL Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town, with only Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber keeping their places. Havertz leads the line ahead of Viktor Gyokeres, who is on the bench, and the attack is transformed by returning names — exactly the boost flagged in this morning's triple-boost travelling-squad report.
Tzolis makes his first Arsenal appearance since September 19 after a hamstring injury, Madueke is fine after an ankle issue, Rice starts despite a hamstring scare alongside Bruno Guimaraes, and Calafiori has shaken off a knock to replace Piero Hincapie at left-back. Timber, preferred to Ben White, makes just his second Premier League start of the season, while Ezri Konsa, Gabriel Magalhaes and David Raya all return. The confirmed XI was also carried identically by The Sun's live coverage. Arsenal remain without Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, and Max Dowman is suspended.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Guimaraes; Madueke, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz. Subs: Kepa, Mosquera, White, Hincapie, Eze, Gyokeres, Merino, Zubimendi, Lewis-Skelly.
So What?
This is the only Premier League fixture on Sunday, and the stakes are simple. Arsenal start the day three places and six points above Liverpool and will leapfrog Manchester City into top spot with a draw or a victory — a remarkable position given they are still missing Saka and Saliba and were humiliated by Fleetwood in midweek. Liverpool, fifth and a point behind fourth-placed Chelsea, need a win to overtake the Blues and move within three points of Arsenal and City because of their inferior goal difference.
The benches could decide it. Iraola can call on Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Munoz and Rio Ngumoha if Nyoni's debut needs rescuing; Arteta has Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino in reserve. Both sides are in Champions League action on Wednesday, so neither manager can afford injuries — but neither can afford to lose this one.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Iraola has made the boldest call of the weekend. Starting a 19-year-old on his full Premier League debut, against the title favourites, ahead of two senior internationals, is either the moment Nyoni announces himself or the gamble that defines Liverpool's autumn — there is no middle ground at Anfield. Arteta, meanwhile, has got his returning stars back just in time, and a point is enough for top spot. Our verdict: Liverpool's trust in youth will be tested to breaking point by Rice and Guimaraes, and Arsenal's deeper, fitter first XI starts as favourite. Will Nyoni seize his moment, or has Iraola asked too much too soon? Tell us in the comments.
