Arsenal and Liverpool both head into this weekend's showpiece Premier League showdown limited in their ability to rotate by injury, but still have selection dilemmas to ponder ahead of a Saturday lunchtime showdown at Anfield.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is first of all sweating on the fitness of Jack Wilshere, who has missed Arsenal's last two Premier League matches with an ankle complaint.
Wilshere faces a late fitness test and will be thrust into the starting XI if available, with Matheiu Flamini still absent through suspension and Aaron Ramsey on the long-term casualty list.
Mikel Arteta and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both picked up late knocks in last weekend's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, but are both expected to get the all clear to be part of the Arsenal squad that travels to Merseyside.
Oxlade-Chamberlain could switch to the right flank if Wilshere is fit, which means Lukas Podolski is likely to miss out in an attacking reshuffle.
Wenger also has a decision to make at left-back, with Kieran Gibbs nursing a calf problem but still hopeful of replacing Nacho Monreal at Anfield.
Liverpool meanwhile still have Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger among a fairly lengthy list of defensive absentees, which also includes Mamadou Sakho, Jose Enrique and Lucas Leiva.
Those injuries mean Reds boss Brendan Rodgers could stick with the same side which drew 1-1 at West Bromwich Albion last Sunday, meaning Raheem Sterling features in an advanced wide role alongside deadly strike duo Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.
Liverpool predicted starting XI: Mignolet, Cissokho, Skrtel, Toure, Flanagan, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho, Sturridge, Suarez
Arsenal predicted starting XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscienly, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud
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