Liverpool without Jota for Premier League clash against Arsenal

LIVERPOOL, England : Liverpool manager Arne Slot will be without Diogo Jota on Sunday when his team look to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League standings away at Arsenal in what should be the Dutchman's toughest test yet in England.

Portuguese forward Jota had started all but one of Liverpool's league games this season, scoring four goals across all competitions, but was forced off the pitch with an abdominal issue early in their 2-1 win over Chelsea last weekend.

"Jota definitely no (for Sunday)," Slot told reporters on Friday.

Liverpool have a one-point lead over champions Manchester City with 21 points after eight matches. Arsenal are third with 17, dropping points in a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth last weekend.

A victory against the Gunners on Sunday would give Slot's team seven points of breathing room over Mikel Arteta's side.

"We all know that taking points from your competitor - and nobody knows in this early stage who is going to be your biggest competitor - but I think we all know that Arsenal will be one of them, and then dropping points against them or winning points against them, that is always important," Slot said.

The last three clashes between the two teams have produced two draws and an Arsenal victory.

"If you make it simple, if you use mathematics, if Liverpool could have won all of them, I think the league table would have been a bit different," Slot said. "But it's difficult to win an away leg against Arsenal, City or all the other ones, but it's something we are trying on Sunday, definitely."

Slot improved his record start as Liverpool boss to 11 wins in his first 12 games with their 1-0 victory against RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday. He has also guided them to wins in all six