Gary Neville claims Arsenal have PATHETIC excuse ready for Liverpool defeat

The hype going into this weekend’s game against Arsenal is unsurprisingly high for both teams.

For Liverpool it is a chance to go seven points ahead of a team tipped for the title in pre-season predictions, which is significant even at this early stage of the season. For Arsenal, it is a chance to calm down the rough seas they’ve had to navigate so far.

Despite obviously being a good team, Arsenal’s temperament has been wayward this season. They have already received a league-high three red cards in the games where they dropped points.

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It has resulted in both Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard missing time. And because of the third red card, importantly for Liverpool, they will be without William Saliba this weekend.

Saliba has been one of the best centre-backs in the world since he started regularly playing for Arsenal in 2022. He will be joined in his absence by fellow defender Riccardo Calafiori who suffered an injury in the Champions League this week.

Also on Arsenal’s absences midweek was Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard. As a result, there has been chatter around how Arsenal can realistically expect to perform without five of their starting XI.

Gary Neville predicts Arsenal excuse

Former player turned media maverick Gary Neville doesn’t care much for that talk, though. Speaking on Sky Sports after Liverpool’s game against Chelsea, Neville lashed out.

“[Arsenal are] a different set of players and different level of belief than where they were, and this is now next week whereby we can’t be talking about ‘oh, so and so’s not playing’ or ‘he’s not playing’, we’re not interested. We’re not interested.” Neville proclaimed.

“There’s been a lot of money, there’s been a lot of improvement, now is the time to go and show it and they’re still in with a chance, a big chance, it’s very early in the season so next Sunday, big test for Liverpool and a big… question about Arsenal without Saliba because he seems to have been ever-present for an age now.”

And while we don’t want to agree with Neville often, we have to here. Absences are frustrating but every team has to deal with them.

Liverpool will be without Diogo Jota, Alisson, Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott. It is unknown whether Alexis Mac Allister is 100% after a recent injury scare and the status of Conor Bradley is up in the air.

It is also reported that Trent Alexander-Arnold is currently playing through an injury. This goes alongside Curtis Jones having missed significant time already this season.

If the result is positive for Liverpool this weekend then there will undoubtedly be talk on social media of how Arsenal couldn’t field a strong team. But make no mistake, if that is the case, Liverpool will have earned it.

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