Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has provided an update on four injured troops ahead of Sunday's mouthwatering Premier League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates.
The Reds travel to North London aiming to open up a seven-point lead over the Gunners in the Premier League table, which they currently top with 21 points from their first eight matches.
Liverpool will drop to second by the time Sunday rolls around if Manchester City overcome Southampton on Saturday, but the Merseyside giants are continuing to excel under Slot, who has won each of his first six away games in charge of the club.
The latest of those successes came on Wednesday evening, a 1-0 victory over RB Leipzig in the Champions League, where the Reds missed all of Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and Conor Bradley due to injury.
Jota was taken off in the first half of last weekend's 2-1 win over Chelsea after suffering an injury to his side, and Slot has confirmed that the Portuguese has no chance of being fit for Arsenal, but Chiesa and Bradley have not been ruled out.
Jota ruled out of Arsenal clash as Chiesa pushes to return
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"I think they feel good but not when it comes to playing for us during the weekend," Slot said at Friday's press conference. "Federico might train with us today or tomorrow – but Diogo definitely not. And Conor Bradley, let's see if he can be with us tomorrow."
Jota will be one of three definite absentees alongside Elliott (foot) and first-choice goalkeeper Alisson, who is facing weeks on the sidelines with the thigh issue he suffered against Crystal Palace before the international break.
Asked how his number one was progressing, Slot revealed that he was making positive steps in his rehabilitation but insisted that he would not be back for either meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion in the EFL Cup or Premier League over the next week.
"He's progressing well, like we expect. But it's not a short-term recovery. It's always difficult to judge him," the Liverpool boss added.
"I think the best way to judge an injury is in the end of an injury, the end phase of his rehab, and he's not there yet. I can't tell you how much longer he will be out, but don't expect him to be in against Brighton in the cup or next week."
Why Alisson's absence should not matter against Arsenal
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As exceptional as Alisson has been for Liverpool over the past six years, the Reds are literally in very safe hands with Caoimhin Kelleher, who has made a habit of stepping up to the plate when his senior is out of contention.
Wednesday's clash with Leipzig was no different; the Republic of Ireland international was called upon several times to repel the German giants and made six crucial saves to bail his players out of trouble.
Kelleher will now be coming up against an Arsenal side without the creative genius of Martin Odegaard, and there is still a question mark over the head of Bukayo Saka due to his hamstring injury.
Liverpool ought to back themselves to keep Mikel Arteta's men at bay regardless of the hosts' XI, having only let in three Premier League goals all season while also giving up a division-low 6.2 Expected Goals (xG) in their eight games so far.
At the other end of the field, Darwin Nunez also made the most of his opportunity with the only goal against Leipzig in midweek, and Slot can also call upon a refreshed Luis Diaz, who is set to battle Cody Gakpo for left-wing duties.
Ben Knapton
