Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz both have a chance of returning for Liverpool against Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday, Andoni Iraola has confirmed, in a double boost ahead of the biggest test of the Reds' season so far.
Iraola refuses to rule either man out
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Iraola would not guarantee either player a place in the squad, but he kept the door firmly open. "I think they have a chance," the Liverpool head coach said, in quotes carried by Liverpool's official team news. "They have a chance. But I don't know for sure if they will be involved or not. We still have two days so I think we have a chance, yes."
The pair last appeared a fortnight ago at Brentford, where both picked up the minor injuries that have kept them out since. Szoboszlai's problem is the hamstring issue that has stalked him since the international break: he returned at Brentford only to be withdrawn early with the same injury, and he has sat out five of Liverpool's last six matches in total. Munoz, who scored in that Brentford game, damaged a knee in the second half and has not played since.
Even a place on the bench would matter. Szoboszlai is Liverpool's reigning Player of the Season and one of the first names on Iraola's teamsheet when fit, while Munoz offers a direct wide option in a squad stretched by a brutal schedule — Sunday is match seven of nine in a 28-day spell between international breaks.
Who is still out
The good news stops there. Jeremie Frimpong remains sidelined with the muscle injury he suffered minutes after coming on at Brentford, and Iraola has already ruled him out until after the November international break. Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are all long-term absentees, and Sports Mole's full injury round-up confirms Liverpool at least have no suspensions to worry about.
That list is a familiar one for Anfield regulars, who lived through the injury crisis against Brighton earlier this month, when Szoboszlai and Frimpong were among six players missing.
Arsenal have problems of their own
Liverpool are not the only side counting the cost. Bukayo Saka has been out since Arsenal's Champions League fixture at Bayern Munich earlier this month, although Mikel Arteta believes a return before the international break is possible. William Saliba has not featured at all yet this season, Noni Madueke faces a check after missing the midweek Fleetwood tie, and Max Dowman is suspended — a ban that sits behind Arteta's Dowman frustration heading into this trip.
So what it means
The table gives this game its edge. Liverpool sit fourth on 15 points, six behind second-placed Arsenal, who arrive level on points with leaders Manchester City. A home win cuts the gap to three and drags Iraola's side properly into the title conversation; a defeat leaves them nine adrift of the Gunners and looking over their shoulders instead.
Much may hinge on Saturday's training session. If Szoboszlai comes through it, Iraola gains his midfield engine for the one game where Liverpool cannot afford to be second to every ball. If he does not, the risk of rushing a hamstring back for a second time — after the Brentford comeback lasted barely half an hour — has to outweigh the reward.
Beyond the Final Whistle: a half-fit Szoboszlai on the bench is worth more than a fully fit one in the treatment room in December. Iraola should resist the temptation to start him, unleash him for the final half-hour if the game needs him, and protect the player who could define Liverpool's season. Do you agree — should Szoboszlai start against Arsenal if he passes his fitness test?
