'Not sure' - Liverpool handed double injury concern as Arne Slot makes pressure claim about Arsenal

Liverpool have the chance to put some pressure on Arsenal this weekend as they travel to face Brentford in West London just a couple of hours before the Gunners take on Aston Villa the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta's side reduced the Reds' lead at the top of the Premier League to four points in midweek as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the North London derby, just 24 hours after Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.

The Bees have proven a tough nut to crack at home this term, with Arsenal's 3-1 win on New Year's Day the only away victory at the ground this season. The Gunners will be hoping for a favour from their London rivals as they face a Villa side who beat them 2-0 in North London towards the end of last campaign.

Arne Slot on title pressure

Liverpool manager Arne Slot refuted the suggestion that his side playing first on Saturday gave them a chance to put pressure on Arsenal, whose clash with Villa gets underway at 5.30pm later in the day.

He said: “No, I don't look at it that way. I didn't even know that they were playing later than us. I only look at the opponent that we have to face and that's a tough one. [Brentford] was my first Premier League game [at Anfield] and then I already thought, 'If this is going to be the resistance we get every week then this is a more difficult league than the Eredivisie.' Which I knew before I came but it was proven that day as well.

“They've had a very good season until now, had a 2-2 against [Manchester] City – great game, both teams creating a lot of chances – and their manager has done a fantastic job for so many years now. You can see that it is a team that has worked together with their manager for a long time. That's my only focus and not on when do Arsenal play or when do Chelsea play or when do all the others play. We only focus on ourselves and the team we have to face.

Liverpool facing double injury concern

Diogo Jota scored Liverpool’s equaliser against Forest on Tuesday night but Reds boss Arne Slot admits he is unsure if the forward will be fit on Saturday. Providing an update, he said: "There is no doubt about the fact Jota is an important player for us, but he wasn't on the training ground yesterday so that means we have to see today where he is. So, it is not sure he will be available for tomorrow. We have to wait and see today.

"He felt a little bit when he came in [at Forest], a little niggle during the half-hour he came in. He could finish the game, but afterwards he complained a bit about it and that's why he didn't train yesterday. We have to wait and see if he is available today and then, of course, tomorrow."

Luis Diaz also missed training on Thursday but is not expected to be ruled out this weekend. Slot added: "I assume he is [fine]. Yesterday he was not allowed [to train] because he had a bit of a sore throat, but I assume he be training with us today. I still have to hear this, but we are expecting him to train with us today."