Arsenal team vs Liverpool confirmed as Bukayo Saka decision made amid 2 changes

Mikel Arteta has confirmed his Arsenal side to take on Liverpool, with the Premier League leaders aiming to go eight points clear as they look to take the Reds' crown

Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka(Image: Getty Images)

Bukayo Saka returns to Arsenal’s starting XI today, with two changes having been made by the Gunners to face Liverpool.

Last season’s top two in the Premier League go head-to-head at the Emirates Stadium, although with very different ambitions for either. Mikel Arteta’s side will be aiming to extend its lead at the top of the table to eight points, while Arne Slot’s men are just looking to strengthen their position in the top four.

It has been a dramatic reversal of fortunes since the two sides last met at Anfield in August, with Arsenal now on course to claim the Reds’ crown, and a victory would take the hosts another step closer to their goal.

Arteta has been closely managing his players’ minutes in recent games, with Saka having been named on the bench against Bournemouth at the weekend before coming on as a substitute during the second half.

The England international starts against Liverpool today though, with Arteta naming what looks to be his strongest available team.

The Gunners stick with the same back five that started against the Cherries, with Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Piero Hincapie continuing in front of goalkeeper David Raya.

Mikel Arteta's side is looking to move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League(Image: Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

It’s the same midfield three as well, with Declan Rice aiming to continue his fine form after scoring twice against Bournemouth, with the former West Ham star named alongside Martin Odegaard and one-time Liverpool target Martin Zubimendi.

It’s in attack where Arteta makes his changes, with Saka coming in to replace Noni Madueke, while Leandro Trossard returns in place of Gabriel Martinelli, while Viktor Gyokeres retains his spot up front.

Arteta confirmed last week that Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera would be missing through injury again, while Kai Havertz misses out again on a first appearance since the opening day against Manchester United.

“We are top of the table, we'll play at home against a really, really good opponent and we want to maintain our position,” Arteta said on Wednesday..

“In order to do that, we’re going to have to be excellent throughout the game to win it, and that’s the point we have to prove.”

He added: “At the end, we want to win every game and the most important one is obviously tomorrow’s. We know what we have to do to beat them and now we have to prove it on the pitch.”

Arsenal confirmed team vs Liverpool: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, White, Jesus, Eze, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Merino, Lewis-Skelly.