Why Arne Slot & Liverpool have just been handed a massive boost ahead of Arsenal clash

Liverpool have been boosted by the news that Arsenal will not appeal the red card suspension suffered by William Saliba in the defeat to Bournemouth.

The Frenchman was dismissed for a last-man challenge in the Premier League clash at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday and he will now miss one game through suspension, leaving Mikel Arteta without one of his key players for the visit of Arne Slot’s side.

Interestingly, there was a discourse between that incident and the one involving Diogo Jota and Tosin Adarabioyo. It resulted in the defender receiving a yellow card and it’s something that Slot highlighted in his post-match interview.

“There’s the decision of the red card which I saw yesterday [William Saliba sent off for Arsenal against Bournemouth], was a red card in a similar situation,” Slot said, after also highlighting a penalty call not given to Liverpool in the first half. “They’re big decisions, because penalties and red cards influence a game a lot, but it’s also nice that these moments are inside the game because it creates a lot of energy. The fans really stood up today, they helped us a lot and that probably comes from these decisions as well because they’re just as biased as I am!”

In terms of options, he could partner Gabriel with Ben White as long as Jurrien Timber is available to return at right-back. The same goes for Riccardo Calafiori who could also step in, with Timber capable of filling in on the opposite side. There’s also Polish defender Jakub Kiwior who could replace Saliba as a like-for-like but he is yet to start a game this season.

Saliba has been an ever-present across the past two seasons, starting every game he has been available except when a back injury kept him out of the final 10 games of the 2022/23 campaign. They won five of those, three draws and lost twice during that run but, given the period of time that has elapsed, they are a far different outfit.