PREM: Liverpool v Arsenal preview

Liverpool v Arsenal preview

James Milner will remain sidelined for Liverpool when they host Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday as the Reds look to consolidate top spot.

The midfielder missed out on the Boxing Day win against Newcastle and will not be fit in time to face the Gunners, although he could be ready for Thursday's showdown against Manchester City.

Liverpool are currently six points clear at the top of the table and Arsenal head coach Unai Emery believes they can match Arsene Wenger's 'Invincibles' and go through the season unbeaten.

"At the moment they are doing it and they can do it," Emery said. "They can do that because they are doing it at the moment. We played against Liverpool three years ago with Sevilla in the final of the Europa League and I look at this progress and they are a very good example.

"This progress is also one example for us, now, in our moment. But we need to be very, very demanding of ourselves to do this step quickly in our way. But we need also time and sometimes the patience is very important for us."

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp does not believe this is a form of mind games from his counterpart.

"That is not how I know Unai Emery [to play mind games]. I don't think they will have the white flag and say 'no chance'," he said. "It will be really tough game, really tough because they are good.

"That is all I am interested in and all the rest is a nice little game where people respond to your questions and you make stories of the answers. We are focused on ourselves and that is all."

Alberto Moreno is available for selection for Liverpool after missing the Boxing Day win against Newcastle, although Dominic Solanke (muscle), Joe Gomez and Joel Matip will not feature.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) looks set to return to training at the end of February, according to Klopp.

Arsenal are unlikely to be able to welcome back any of their injured players when they travel to Anfield. Rob Holding (knee), Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin), Hector Bellerin (calf), Henrikh Mkhitaryan (ankle) and Danny Welbeck (ankle) are all out.

Shkodran Mustafi is the only man with a slight chance of being involved but his return from a hamstring problem is not expected to come this weekend, while Laurent Koscielny should be fine following a foot issue in the draw at Brighton.