LONDON — Arsenal is facing a growing list of challenges as they prepare for a crucial Premier League clash with Liverpool this weekend.

With essential attackers like Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, along with defender Jurrien Timber already sidelined due to injuries, the squad took another hit when left back Riccardo Calafiori was forced off in the second half of their recent 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. Calafiori twisted his right knee, raising further concerns for the team.

“He felt something and couldn’t continue playing,” Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta noted regarding the Italian defender. “It’s a bit of a worry.”

Adding to the team’s woes, center back William Saliba is expected to be unavailable for the upcoming match against Liverpool following his red card during the defeat to Bournemouth last Saturday. While the captain Odegaard is likely to miss out as he continues recuperating from an ankle injury he picked up last month, uncertainty looms around Saka. He appeared to sustain a hamstring injury while on international duty with England last week.

Saka has not participated in the games against Bournemouth or Shakhtar. Arteta’s outlook on Saka’s availability for the Liverpool encounter was not overly optimistic. “He hasn’t been able to train yet, so that’s unlikely,” Arteta commented, implying that the winger’s participation is doubtful.