Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hails ‘special’ Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of Liverpool clash as Jurgen Klopp defends Mohamed Salah

Mikel Arteta has hailed ‘special talent’ Trent Alexander-Arnold as Arsenal prepare for the visit of Liverpool, while Jurgen Klopp has addressed Mohamed Salah’s subdued start to the season.

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Title-challenging Arsenal will look to reclaim their place at the top of the Premier League on Sunday when mid-table Liverpool travel to the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have enjoyed a brilliant start to the season – winning seven of their first eight league games – and will move back above defending champions Manchester City if they manage to pile more misery on Liverpool.

Klopp’s side have been one of the most formidable teams in Europe over the past few seasons but a poor start to this campaign – they have won just two of their seven league matches – has seen them slip to 10th, closer to the relegation zone than the top-four.

A home win would see Arsenal move 14 points clear of last-season’s runners-up, but an away victory would see Liverpool close the gap on their top-four rivals and send a message to the division.

The spotlight will be on England right-back Alexander-Arnold at the Emirates following a turbulent start to the season. While the 24-year-old has scored domestically and in Europe, pundits have largely criticised his defending.

Asked about the Liverpool star ahead of Sunday’s showdown, Arsenal boss Arteta said: ‘Well, he is a very special talent.

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‘What he adds offensively to the team every year is difficult to find in that position.’

Arteta’s praise comes after former Premier League defender William Gallas identified Alexander-Arnold as a weak link and urged Arsenal to target him.

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