Calafiori and Rice in training as Arsenal eye fitness boost for Anfield

Riccardo Calafiori and Declan Rice took part in Friday's training session as Arsenal weigh up their options for Sunday's Premier League trip to Liverpool, manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed.

Calafiori was a notable absentee from Arsenal's starting line-up against Everton last weekend, when the Gunners won 2-0 at home. He was introduced from the bench late in that game but picked up what has been described as a minor injury, ruling him out of the midweek Carabao Cup tie against Fleetwood Town.

Rice and Madueke also missed that Carabao Cup fixture through minor injuries sustained against Everton. Arteta explained afterwards that Rice's problem had flared up during the win over Everton, forcing his early withdrawal. "Calafiori was out, Noni was out with an ankle, and Declan was feeling a problem the other day (against Everton), which is why I had to substitute him," Arteta said, as reported by Yahoo Sports.

Arsenal lost that Carabao Cup tie to League Two side Fleetwood Town on penalties, an outcome Arteta did not attempt to dress up despite the absences. He praised the lower-league opposition rather than criticise his own players. "First of all, congratulations to Fleetwood," he said. "In the manner they did it, the atmosphere they created. I have nothing to fault the players for their attitude and intensity throughout the game, with 11 and with 10, but when you are playing in that superior way, you have to give nothing to the opponent."

The defeat means Arsenal's wait to end a 34-year drought in the League Cup will run into at least another season, according to Yahoo Sports.

Ahead of the trip to Anfield, Arteta struck a more encouraging tone on the fitness front. "They all trained today," he said of Calafiori and Rice in his pre-match press conference reported by Metro. "They will train tomorrow and if all is okay, they will be available."

Madueke's situation is less settled, with Arteta withholding a firm answer until after Saturday's session. "We don't know yet, we have a training session tomorrow, let's see if he can complete it," he said of the England winger.

There was further encouragement over Christos Tzolis, who has been out for six consecutive matches with a hamstring injury but trained on Friday and could be in contention to feature at Anfield.

William Saliba and Bukayo Saka remain unavailable with longer-term injuries, leaving Arsenal's options still stretched at the back and in attack regardless of how the fitness checks on Calafiori, Rice and Madueke resolve themselves.

Max Dowman will also be absent, suspended after his sending-off in the Fleetwood defeat. Arsenal's appeal against the red card was rejected, a decision that left Arteta visibly frustrated. "Very disappointed to be fair especially with the reckless tackle that he received. His reaction is minimal in compared to the action," he said.

He added that the club had pressed the case strongly without success. "It is what it is, we have put every argument on the table to make a case for it, not only [was] Max's action is clear, obviously we have a very different opinion, you have to read into the context, the age, the player," Arteta said. "It could have been really bad and we're really lucky today that he doesn't have a broken foot."

Arsenal now turn their attention to a demanding fixture at Anfield as they look to move past the Fleetwood setback and return to winning form in the Premier League.