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Find out how Arsenal are shaping up ahead of their huge Premier League clash at Anfield on Sunday

Arsenal travel to Liverpool on Sunday looking to take another major step towards their first Premier League title since 2004.

Victory at Anfield, a ground they haven’t won at in the league since 2012, would see them end the weekend at least eight points clear of Manchester City with just eight matches remaining, although Pep Guardiola’s will have a game in hand.

So it’s another massive weekend for Mikel Arteta’s league leaders, who have won their last seven league games in a row.

But how are things shaping up for Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash? Below, GOAL takes a look. 

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There is a major doubt over William Saliba, who has missed Arsenal’s last two games with a back problem. Mikel Arteta hinted that one of his injured players had a chance of returning at Anfield, but it’s unclear if he was talking about the France international. He could have been referring to Eddie Nketiah, who is closing in on a return after an ankle injury. Bukayo Saka is fully fit after illness, but Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny will not play again this season due to knee injuries.

AdvertisementGettyTalking point

Who Mikel Arteta starts up front is the big talking point ahead of Sunday’s game. With Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard all available, the Arsenal manager has a big decision to make. Jesus scored twice on his first league start since November last weekend and it would be a huge surprise if he does not get the nod again at Anfield. So Arteta must decide between Martinelli and Saka, Arsenal’s two top scorers this season, and the in-form Trossard, who has just been voted the club’s player of the month for March.

GettyKey man – Thomas Partey

Whoever wins the midfield battle on Sunday will go a long way to coming out on top at Anfield. Liverpool have struggled in midfield this season, so if Partey can dominate that area then Arsenal will have a great chance of finally ending their 11-year wait for a league win at Anfield. Liverpool do leaves spaces at the back, we've seen that all season, so if Partey can get on the ball and move it quickly to Arteta's front three they could cause the hosts a lot of problems.

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(C)Getty ImagesWhat has Arteta said?

Speaking about Arsenal's 11-year run without a league win at Anfield, Arteta said: "We've been to a few grounds this season where we haven't won in 17, 18 and 22 years and we have managed to do that. So we are capable of [winning at Anfield], that's for sure. We really need to embrace the moment and go for it. The team is full of enthusiasm and positivity and we know that we have a big challenge, but I see a big opportunity to go to Anfield and do something that we haven't done for many years. That's what is driving the team in the last few days."

The Dutch made it to the quarter-finals in Qatar but with plenty of talent coming through, they could do even better in four years' time.

After failing to qualify in 2018, the Netherlands made a strong return to the World Cup stage under Louis van Gaal, reaching the quarter-finals before losing on penalties to Argentina in one of the tournament's most dramatic matches.

Van Gaal brought together a squad that paired some experienced heads with some vibrant young talents, and leaves the team in a good place as he steps aside to let Ronald Koeman take over ahead of the European Championship in 2024.

Koeman, of course, knows a lot of the current squad from his previous stint in charge and given he enjoyed decent success with the Oranje before leaving to join Barcelona, there is confidence that Dutch football is on its way back up after a disappointing second half of the 2010s.

But while the Euros are next on the agenda, it's hard not to look ahead to the next World Cup, which takes place in 2026 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

How many of the current Netherlands players will still be in and around the team, and who might have played for the last time on the game's grandest stage?

GOAL has tried to answer those questions and more by selecting the team we think the Netherlands will put out in 2026…

Getty ImagesGK: Justin Bijlow

Louis van Gaal sprung a surprise by picking the previously uncapped Andries Noppert to start between the sticks in Qatar, and he certainly did nothing to suggest that was the wrong call.

However, Noppert will be 32 when the next World Cup kicks-off, and although age shouldn't represent a barrier to the continuation of his international career, we are instead opting for Bijlow, who was also in the 2022 squad and is four years Noppert's junior.

Feyenoord goalkeeper Bijlow already has six caps to his name and we expect him to add plenty more to that tally over the next three-and-a-half years.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesCB: Jurrien Timber

Surprisingly left out of the Netherlands' opener in Qatar, Timber quickly re-established himself in the starting line-up and promises to be a fixture of the team for years to come.

The Ajax centre-back is only 21, and even if the Oranje switch to a back four under incoming coach Ronald Koeman, Timber should be confident of keeping his place.

Getty ImagesCB: Matthijs de Ligt

Let's get the elephant in the room out of the way first: Virgil van Dijk will be 34 by the time the 2026 World Cup begins, meaning he could easily continue in his role as the leader of the Dutch defence if his body holds up.

However, we're going to lean towards the younger man and plump for De Ligt, who will still only be 26.

The Bayern Munich star has not fared well at major tournaments so far in his career after earning himself a red card as the Dutch crashed out of Euro 2020 in the last 16, before being dropped after a poor performance against Senegal in Qatar.

De Ligt is too talented, though, to fade into the background, and there is a realistic chance he replaces Van Dijk as national team captain at some stage in the near future.

Others who could push for selection before the next World Cup include Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven and Ajax's 16-year-old revelation Jorell Hato, who has already captained the Dutch giants' Under-19s side.

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Getty ImagesCB: Sven Botman

Botman is a little unlucky that he is emerging at a time when the Netherlands is rich in talented centre-backs, but it should not be long before he finally makes his international breakthrough.

A strong performer for Newcastle this season, the ex-Lille man is currently behind Nathan Ake and Stefan de Vrij in the pecking order but, at just 22, he definitely has time on his side.

Ake, meanwhile, will be 31 by the time the 2026 World Cup kicks-off, while De Vrij will be 34 and, more than likely, out of the picture.

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed Marquinhos' injury, which will rule the defender out of next week's Champions League clash with Newcastle.

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Marquinhos injured with BrazilHas a "small" hamstring issueWill be out for close to 10 daysWHAT HAPPENED?

The centre-back had to be replaced by Nino at half-time after he complained of muscle discomfort during Brazil's recent 1-0 defeat to Argentina in an ill-tempered 2026 World Cup qualifier. Marquinhos had admitted after the match that he felt a "strain on his hamstring" which forced him to come off. The defender returned to Paris on Thursday and after undergoing further tests the extent of the injury was ascertained.

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PSG put out a statement that read: "Victim of a small injury to his right hamstring, Marquinhos will remain in treatment for 10 days."

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PSG find themselves in a spot of bother as they face Monaco at Parc des Princes on Friday night before hosting Newcastle on Tuesday evening. They will also miss Warren Zaire-Emery with an ankle injury and the midfielder is not expected to be back until 2024. However, Presnel Kimpembe has been training with the group and is nearing recovery which should relieve manager Luis Enrique.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR PSG?

PSG can hardly afford to drop their guard against Monaco as Adi Hutter's men are just three points behind the league leaders and have the potential to cause an upset in Paris. Whereas, the Magpies will be out to get a win to revive their European fortunes after two consecutive defeats. Eddie Howe knows that another loss could virtually put them out of contention for a spot in the knockouts and will be eager to repeat their heroics on foreign soil after they beat the Parisians 4-1 at St. James Park earlier in the season.

India allrounder Irfan Pathan has hit back at criticism suggesting he has prioritised Twenty20 cricket over the first-class format, and said he was targeting playing a full Ranji Trophy season to boost his case for a comeback

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Sep-2014India allrounder Irfan Pathan has hit back at criticism suggesting he has prioritised Twenty20 cricket over the first-class format, and said he was targeting playing a full domestic season to boost his case for a comeback to the India side. The allrounder last played for India in the 2012 World T20 and has since struggled with injuries. In the last two domestic seasons, Irfan has played just five first-class games, including four in the Ranji Trophy, but has played more matches in the limited-overs tournaments.Irfan last bowled in the first-class format during the 2012-13 season, in which he sent down 44 overs during a Ranji Trophy match and an India A game against an England XI. During the 2013-14 season, he played three matches for Baroda only as a batsman. In T20s across the same period, Irfan bowled more than 100 overs and played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the IPL, for Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013 and 2014 respectively.”When anyone questions my credentials in the team, it really hurts but I don’t think too much about it. When people talk about not playing the last two domestic seasons, they don’t talk about me playing as a batsman for half of the Ranji season even when the physio had told me to wait,” Irfan told ESPNcricinfo after the launch of Cricket Academy of Pathans, a forum created with brother Yusuf, that aims at conducting short-term training modules for budding cricketers.”The physio had told me I couldn’t do any harm if I played as a batsman. I could have easily taken that away and sat out. But I thought it was my duty to serve Baroda cricket, and [for] half of the season I played as a batsman when I could have easily said ‘Let me get fully fit and I would wait and play only as a bowling allrounder’. Besides, I played one-day cricket and the Mushtaq Ali Trophy as well. People in Baroda cricket and those who know me know well that just before the Mushtaq Ali Trophy I had typhoid. And I hadn’t recovered fully.”I want to make sure that those kind of questions don’t arise. People don’t talk about it which is very unfortunate. You know what you are doing, you believe in God and you know you are honest. So eventually, I keep working hard towards playing for country again which I will do very soon. Let people talk what they want to talk.”Irfan was confident about an India comeback and said that the larger goal for him was to get fitter and better by playing more games.”Yes, the World Cup is in mind. But at the same time I need to be realistic, making sure to play as many Ranji Trophy matches and a full domestic season,” Irfan said.”Once I do that, as a bowler you know that the more matches he plays the better he gets, the fitter he gets. His bowling gets to the level which he wants. I also want to do the same by playing as many matches as many possible. And then there is an aim of playing for India. That may happen either before the World Cup or after it. But that’s gonna happen for sure.”Irfan had been picked in India’s squad for the Champions Trophy in England last year but did not get a game. He was a part of the squad for the tri-series in West Indies but was ruled out due to a hamstring injury. He then suffered a rib injury that sidelined him for the early part of last season’s Ranji Trophy.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath has been ruled out of Sri Lanka’s first Test against New Zealand by the hamstring tear he suffered last week

Andrew Fidel Fernando19-Dec-2014Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath has been ruled out of Sri Lanka’s first Test against New Zealand by the hamstring tear he suffered last week, team manager Michael de Zoysa has confirmed. Herath had damaged his upper, inner left thigh while training ahead of the fifth ODI against England, and though team management had initially been hopeful for a quick recovery, he will now likely be out for at least three weeks.”I think Rangana’s struggling to make the second Test as well,” de Zoysa said. Even before the injury, Herath had been doubtful for the Boxing Day Test due to personal reasons, and he stayed in Sri Lanka while the team traveled to New Zealand on December 18.Herath’s absence puts Sri Lanka at a significant disadvantage, as the team has been heavily reliant on him for both penetration and control in Tests, over the past three years. He is 2014’s top wicket-taker, with 60 scalps at 27.45, and will almost certainly remain atop that list by the year’s end. He has also had the heaviest workload of any Test bowler by far this year, with 610.2 overs under his belt – 246 more than anyone else.Sri Lanka have spin-bowling cover in the squad, in the form of Dilruwan Perera, and uncapped 21-year-old Tharindu Kaushal. Though both are offspinners, they afford the team significant variety: Perera has bowled with plenty of control as Sri Lanka’s second spinner this year, taking 36 wickets for himself, while Kaushal has been a more aggressive bowler in domestic cricket.Sri Lanka play a two-day warm-up match against a New Zealand XI in Queenstown, beginning on December 21. The first Test will played at the newly-accredited Hagley Oval in Christchurch, and the New Year Test will be played in Wellington. Seven ODIs are to follow.

Lasith Malinga’s knee injury has forced his return home from the World T20, a release from Sri Lanka Cricket said

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2016Lasith Malinga has been ruled out of the World Twenty20 with injury, dealing a substantial blow to Sri Lanka’s campaign. Having flown to India earlier this week hopeful of playing some part in the tournament, Malinga has aggravated the bone bruise in his left knee that has plagued him since November. He has returned to Sri Lanka, and the selectors are expected to name a replacement over the next 72 hours, following practice games in Colombo on Friday.Malinga had been preparing to play Sri Lanka’s opening World T20 match against Afghanistan on Thursday, having increased his bowling load incrementally through the week. He was seen warming up ahead of the game, but pulled up as he ran in to bowl one of his practice deliveries, and stopped bowling thereafter. It was later confirmed he had aggravated his injury, and would play no part in the tournament.There have been serious doubts over Malinga’s fitness right through the approach to the tournament. Malinga was only able to play one match out of four in the Asia Cup, and had also stepped down from the captaincy when it became apparent he could not guarantee his availability for the full World T20.He had said he was hopeful of playing in the World T20 in early March, but more recently, had questioned why the selectors chose him in the Sri Lanka squad when he felt he was clearly unfit. He had joined the side on Monday nevertheless, but will now have spent less than four days with them before he was withdrawn from the tournament.This bone bruise is similar to the injury Malinga had sustained in his right knee in 2008. On that occasion, he was out of international cricket for almost two years. As he is now 32 years of age, there is a chance the current injury is serious enough to end Malinga’s international career. He has also had trouble with his left ankle in recent years. Malinga underwent surgery on that ankle in 2014, but has been a diminished bowler since his return.Sri Lanka have some seam-bowling cover in their present squad, which features Suranga Lakmal in addition to Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Kulasekara, who played against Afghanistan. Malinga had been the spearhead of the T20 attack however, and was instrumental to Sri Lanka’s march to three World T20 finals over the last four tournaments. He remains the World T20’s highest wicket-taker, with 38 scalps from 31 matches.

Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai drank a shot of Palinka with Hungary fans to celebrate their Euro 2024 qualification – after a two-goal showing.

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Szoboszlai seen drinking a shot of Palinka with Hungary fansHungary beat Montenegro 3-1 having already qualified for Euro 2024Liverpool star scored twiceWHAT HAPPENED?

Liverpool midfielder and Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai was seen enjoying a shot of Palinka, one of the most popular spirits in his country, while celebrating the team's qualification for Euro 2024 next summer. Hungary had already booked their spot at the tournament in Germany after a 2-2 draw with Bulgaria on Thursday, but that didn't stop them putting on a superb display in their dead-rubber against Montenegro.

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Hungary defeated Montenegro 3-1 in their final Euro 2024 qualification game, with the Reds midfielder bagging himself a brace in the second-half. Hungary finished at the top of Group G with five wins and three draws in their ten games to take their points tally to 18 points.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR SZOBOSZLAI?

The 23-year-old will return to action for Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp's men look to stay in a tight title race with the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham. The summer signing has been a superb addition to Liverpool's engine room this season, and will hope for another start when they face champions City on November 25.

Jude Bellingham has been starring for Real Madrid, but he has also laid out an ambitious “goal” with England for the “next 10-15 years”.

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Midfielder starring for La Liga giantsAlso a key man for his countrySights set on major honoursWHAT HAPPENED?

The 20-year-old midfielder has made a stunning impact at Santiago Bernabeu on the back of his €103 million (£89m/$109m) summer transfer from Borussia Dortmund. With 10 goals recorded for the Blancos through as many appearances, Bellingham is emulating the efforts of Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT THEY SAID

England are hoping that impressive club form can be transferred onto the international stage, with Bellingham telling of his long-term targets with the Three Lions: “My goal for the next 12 months with the England team will be the same for the next 10-15 years: try to win major tournaments. I think we can’t shy away from saying that now. We’ve come close in the last few tournaments, and to now go back and say: ‘Ah yeah, that was enjoyable, but now we have to be more realistic’…I don’t see the point. We should use the experiences we’ve got from previous tournaments to push on and bring some silverware home. That’s the common goal that we are striving towards and we aren’t afraid to say that anymore. In the last few years it’s been a case of hiding that expectation, so that we never fail. We’ve got to be willing to say it, so we can achieve it.”

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Bellingham has unshakable faith in his own ability and that of the England team as a whole, with the hottest of prospects adding on a bid to secure international honours: “If you look at the progress we’ve made in the last few tournaments, it’s important that we have that mentality and we do believe we can win the tournament. Of course, there is a sense of humility and having our feet on the ground in whatever game we go into. You’re not going to play seven of the top seven teams every tournament and it’s important that you approach every game like it’s the last game of the tournament. That’s how we approach friendly games and qualifier games – if we don’t get the result we want, you can see how much it hurts us. And when we do, you can see how rewarding it is for the whole squad. There definitely has to be a belief that we can win trophies because that’s what we are here to do and that’s the standard of the team that we’ve now got. In a humble way, of course.”

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Bellingham forms part of the latest England squad that is preparing for a friendly date with Australia on Friday and a Euro 2024 qualifying clash with defending European champions Italy at Wembley on October 17.

On every day of this Test Australia have tightened their grip further and so it was again on day three, a day on which Alastair Cook fought hard for 96 and Ben Stokes lashed 87

The Report by Brydon Coverdale18-Jul-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsBen Stokes troubled the Australians for much of the first session•Getty ImagesOn every day of this Test Australia have tightened their grip further and so it was again on day three, a day on which Alastair Cook fought hard for 96 and Ben Stokes lashed 87. They were innings that, viewed in isolation, would appear impressive enough, but seen against the backdrop of Steven Smith’s 215 and Chris Rogers’ 173 looked unequivocally inadequate. There are big scores, and then there are huge scores.And England will need a huge total to win this match. By the close of play, Rogers and David Warner had cruised to 108 for 0, with Rogers on 44 and Warner on 63, and Australia’s lead was already 362. Michael Clarke had declined to enforce the follow-on, not surprisingly given his history, and all that remained was to decide how long to give his bowlers and how many to set England.The one positive in the back of Cook’s mind, though, will be the knowledge that this pitch remains very good for batting and offers little sideways movement to bowlers either fast or slow. They should not view batting out a draw as an impossible task. It is worth noting that Cook himself survived for 351 minutes in the first innings. A little more support is what he will need.Cook frustrated Australia for much of the third day, first during a 145-run stand with Stokes and then as part of a 56-run association with Moeen Ali. He was patient and waited for the bad balls to score, and looked set for a 28th Test century. But with his 233rd delivery he drove at a Mitchell Marsh ball outside off stump and played on.Marsh has been responsible for more drag-ons than George R. R. Martin; he played on himself during Australia’s innings and then had both Cook and Stokes by that method on day three. Stokes had moved the score along briskly before lunch but on 87 he drove at a delivery that stayed a touch low and chopped on to give Marsh the first of his two wickets.Stokes had gone for his shots and struck 13 fours and one six during his 128-ball stay. He scored runs all around the wicket and brought up his half-century from just 67 deliveries with a four crunched through cover off Mitchell Johnson. Cook, meanwhile, was careful at the other end, anchoring the innings in the knowledge that eating up time was invaluable for England.His fifty came from his 142nd delivery with a flick through midwicket for three off Nathan Lyon and he struck 13 boundaries, including a classy drive through mid-off when he used his feet against Lyon and an on-drive off Mitchell Starc. Often he waited and played the ball late, finding the gaps square of the wicket on both sides.Cook was put down on 63 when he pulled Johnson to Steven Smith at square leg, and there were a few other nervy moments, but overall it was an excellent innings from England’s captain. He had support from Jos Buttler after Stokes departed, but Buttler managed only 13 before he edged behind when Lyon came around the wicket and drifted an arm ball on.Buttler walked without waiting for the umpire’s call; earlier he had stood his ground after edging Johnson behind. Peter Nevill took the ball low to his right and it seemed on first glance like a brilliant, athletic take, although an umpire review showed the ball had grazed the turf in the process and Buttler was reprieved to the chagrin of the Australians.Ali played his shots, as expected, and launched Lyon back over his head for six to go with five fours. But on 39 he was lbw to a lovely piece of bowling from Josh Hazlewood, who curled the new ball in and struck Ali dead in front. The batsman asked half-heartedly for a review but if it was any plumber it could have unclogged his drains.From there it was a quick finish. Mark Wood was bowled by Hazlewood for 4 and Stuart Broad was snapped up at slip off Johnson for 21 to end the innings on 312. England’s deficit was 254 but there was as much chance of Clarke enforcing the follow-on as there was of Kumar Dharmasena opening the bowling in the second innings. Clarke is a target-setting kind of guy.Australia’s second innings was fairly uneventful, although Adam Lyth was left to rue a missed chance at gully off James Anderson before Warner had scored. It was very catchable, and by the close of play Warner had brought up a 71-ball half-century and, perhaps most worryingly for England as the Investec Ashes wears on, found some decent form.Already the difference was such that England would need a record successful fourth-innings run chase at Lord’s – West Indies’ 344 for 1 in 1984 is the benchmark – and Australia seemed set to push their lead well into to the 400s. It will take some sort of effort from England to prevent Australia tightening their grip further on day four.

Half-centuries for Jimmy Adams and Adam Wheater made sure both Hampshire and Middlesex secured a third draw in three County Championship fixtures

ECB Reporters Network04-May-2016
ScorecardJimmy Adams made 70 to help ease Hampshire towards a draw (file photo)•Getty ImagesHalf-centuries for Jimmy Adams and Adam Wheater made sure both Hampshire and Middlesex secured a third draw in three County Championship fixtures. Adams, on his first appearance of the season, led the charge with 70 before Wheater, alongside Ryan McLaren, took the sting out of the match, with an unbeaten 57.Hampshire resumed with a lead of 26 knowing they needed to bat out the majority of the final day to make sure Middlesex could not force a win.Adams, with skipper James Vince, started solidly enough – the latter again showing some flair – as the pair added 81 for the second wicket. But Vince somewhat gave his wicket away by steering fast bowler Toby Roland-Jones to Sam Robson at gully.Will Smith provided little assistance to the cause when he was adjudged leg-before to Tim Murtagh less than ten overs later – the first of two blips for the hosts. Adams, meanwhile had reached a 140 ball fifty as he proved a valuable anchor, before he loosely swung at a ball outside the off stump to first slip – a rare mistake in a mostly flawless knock.Alarm bells rang two overs later when Liam Dawson, on 19, was comprehensively bowled by a Steven Finn delivery which kept very low, on a pitch which offered variable bounce throughout. But a 104 run stand for the sixth wicket between Wheater and McLaren eased the game back to its natural conclusion of a draw.Wicketkeeper Wheater kept the game moving with a half-century from 74 balls, with just eight of the runs coming from boundaries in a busy innings. McLaren also batted to quickly take the possibility of defeat away, ending the innings on an unbeaten 46 as Vince declared at tea, with Hampshire keen to get the over rate into minus figures.There was still time for nerves for the visitors as Robson fell for a three ball duck – he edged Tino Best behind for the West Indian’s first Hampshire wicket.Best was bowling at impressive pace and was close to getting Nick Compton lbw before Nick Gubbins was leg-before to James Tomlinson – the visitors effectively 19 for 3, with Adam Voges absent, and 20 overs still on the board. But first-innings centurion Dawid Malan and Compton saw Middlesex home – as Vince and stand-in Compton shock hands at exactly 5pm – Middlesex taking 12 points, Hampshire one fewer.