Arsenal suffered a late injury setback in the final stages of the pre-match routine before hosting Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

At 2:46 p.m. GMT, 14 minutes before kick-off, Arsenal confirmed a late change to the starting lineup after left back Riccardo Calafiori picked up what was described only as an “issue” during the pre-game warm-up.

Myles Lewis-Skelly was drafted in and handed his first Premier League start of 2025–26. Lewis-Skelly had made that role his own last season and played his way into the England squad as a result.

The timing was unwelcome for Arsenal, arriving as Gabriel featured in a matchday squad for the first time since suffering an injury on international duty in mid-November. Gabriel Jesus has also recently returned, with Kai Havertz potentially only “days” away from his comeback.

Calafiori’s withdrawal led to 16-year-old Marli Salmon being added to the matchday squad among the substitutes. The versatile teenager, able to operate at right back or centre back, has appeared a handful of times in recent weeks and his inclusion underlines Mikel Arteta’s readiness to hand opportunities to young talents.

Salmon was on the bench for the Premier League defeat at the hands of Aston Villa earlier this month. He was then given a senior debut for the final seven minutes of the Champions League win over Club Brugge a few days later, before re-emerging among the substitutes against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup four days ago.

The defender grew up in north east London and was part of the first-team squad during preseason 2025 while still 15. He will not turn 17 until August 29 next year.

Discussing Salmon’s involvement against Club Brugge, Arteta remarked: “We had to really consider it because we were playing a really good side that had some really good results in the Champions League at home, but we knew that at some point we had to use him.”

Carlos Baleba has acknowledged that persistent links to Manchester United amplified expectations and contributed to a difficult run of form this season. After emerging last term as one of Europe’s most impressive defensive midfielders, the Brighton midfielder has struggled to replicate that level and his performances have tested manager Fabian Hürzeler’s trust.

The German boss has used Baleba sparingly this term, with the player completing the full 90 minutes in just one of Brighton’s 16 top-flight fixtures. That reduced role has coincided with a more uneven campaign for the 17 shirt and greater scrutiny around his consistency.

Asked about whether the transfer speculation affected him, Baleba was initially dismissive. “I don’t think it affected me,” he told Sky Sports News after enduring more highs and lows in Saturday’s 2–0 defeat to Liverpool . He was, however, candid about the weight of expectation. “I had a lot of pressure on me,” he conceded.

Baleba described his own standards and the work required to return to last season’s form. “When I started the season, I wanted to [have] the same performances as last season. Every day I try to work hard and to get [back] to my level.” On whether he had demanded too much of himself he added: “Did I put too much pressure on myself? Yes, I think so, but I think that’s good. It’s good for me because now I need to pass this time of pressure and I need to get up and continue to work.”

Manchester United shifted last summer’s recruitment focus away from midfield, spending around £200 million on Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško, but their need for central midfield reinforcements remains. Brighton’s No. 17 is one option among several, with other names also emerging as potential targets.

Meanwhile, Elliot Anderson has risen this season, and any incoming midfielder would be expected to ease the burden on Casemiro, who is out of contract next summer. Adam Wharton also offers experience of operating in a 3-4-2-1 shape for Crystal Palace, giving clubs alternative profiles to consider.

Mohamed Salah has been recalled to Liverpool’s squad for Saturday’s trip to Brighton & Hove Albion after what have been described by several outlets as “positive” discussions with manager Arne Slot.

The situation had produced intense speculation following Salah’s claim that he no longer had a working relationship with Slot. Slot told his Friday news conference that he would discuss the evolving situation with Salah in person, with the two thrashing out whether he’d be included in Liverpool’s squad for the visit of Brighton.

Reports say the pair held constructive talks and the decision was taken to include the forward in the group for the fixture. If he does play on Saturday, it could be his final appearance in a Liverpool shirt for up to six weeks. The 33-year-old will join up with Egypt on Monday, Dec. 15, potentially missing seven games if the Pharaohs make the AFCON final.

Inclusion in the matchday squad, however, does not guarantee a start. Slot made a tactical change in midweek, opting against a traditional winger against Inter and experimenting with different attacking combinations. The reigning PFA Player of the Year was overlooked by his manager against West Ham United, Sunderland and Leeds, a sequence that contributed to last weekend’s public outburst.

Against Inter the former Feyenoord boss started Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitiké up top for just the second time this season. The pairing produced limited chemistry but did yield a positive result, and Slot may again weigh form when selecting his XI. Given Isak’s poor form, Slot could keep the Swede on the bench at the weekend and allow Ekitiké to lead the line, opening the door for Salah to return on the right.

Rewarding the Liverpool legend with a start after his recent antics might not be an outcome Slot desires. All eyes will be on the 47-year-old when he drops his XI on Saturday afternoon.