Saka out, Dowman banned: Arsenal head to Anfield level on top

📰 Arsenal travel to Anfield level on points with Manchester City but without Bukayo Saka. 📌 Key points 🏟️ Liverpool v Arsenal kicks off at 4.30pm (UK) on 1 November at Anfield. 🤕 Saka is expected to miss at least six weeks with a quad injury. 🟥 Max Dowman, 16, is likely to be suspended after his red card at Fleetwood. ❓ Declan Rice is a doubt after coming off late against Everton. 📋 Liverpool are also likely to be without Szoboszlai and Frimpong. 📝 What happened 🤕 Saka was forced off after about 10 minutes of the 2-2 Champions League draw with Bayern Munich on 21 October. Mikel Arteta said: "He had a lot of fluid in the area, so it was difficult to understand the severity of the injury." BBC Sport reported that Arsenal fear an absence of at least six weeks, and potentially two months. 🟥 Dowman was sent off in the 85th minute of the Carabao Cup defeat at Fleetwood on 27 October for kicking out at Harrison Neal. Sports Mole, citing Sky Sports News, says Arsenal are challenging the decision and hope for a verdict before Sunday. The reported ban is three matches, which would rule him out against Liverpool, Hull and Newcastle. ❓ Rice came off late against Everton and missed the Fleetwood tie, with no diagnosis yet made public. Noni Madueke (ankle) and Riccardo Calafiori are also being monitored. 🔴 Liverpool picked up no new injuries in their shoot-out win over Chelsea on 28 October. But Andoni Iraola said he was "not so sure" about Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz, and Frimpong is not expected back before the November international break. 📊 By the numbers • Arsenal and Man City: 21 points each (GD +8 v +11) • Liverpool: fourth on 15 points • Saka's expected absence: six weeks to two months (BBC) • Dowman's reported ban: three matches 👀 What to watch 🎯 Life without Saka — whether Madueke is fit to fill the right flank is key to Arsenal's attack. 🧱 Rice's fitness — his availability could decide the midfield battle at Anfield. 🔴 Liverpool's momentum — four straight wins before edging Chelsea on penalties, and Florian Wirtz has recovered from an ankle knock. 🏆 The title race — City host Brighton the day before, so the top spot could change hands. 🔭 Why it matters Arsenal are the defending champions and joint leaders. With reports that Saka could miss games up to the trip to Man City on 29 November, Anfield is their first big test without him. Arsenal then travel to Slavia Prague on 4 November.