Arsenal's 1-0 victory at Liverpool on Sunday came with a fitness concern that Mikel Arteta only disclosed afterwards, the manager confirming that Eberechi Eze had been carrying an issue in the build-up to the game.

Kai Havertz scored the only goal at Anfield in the 16th minute, converting Declan Rice's low cross at the far post, according to Sky Sports. But much of the post-match discussion centred on the make-up of Arteta's forward line, with Christos Tzolis handed a surprise start on his return from weeks out and Eze left among the substitutes for the entire match.

Arteta described the result as a first league win at Anfield in 14 years. Football.London dated the previous one to September 2012, while the Evening Standard put it at 2014.

Eze had been expected to start

According to the Evening Standard, Eze was expected to be in the starting XI at Anfield, following a strong substitute display in the 2-2 Champions League tie against Bayern Munich and a solid performance in the victory over Everton. Instead, he was listed as a substitute and remained unused, with much of the game spent warming up on the touchline.

Arteta explained the call by revealing Eze had been dealing with a problem. "We had an issue with Ebs as well," he said. "It was incredible that he was in the squad today." The manager credited the medical and performance staff for keeping players at that level with fixtures every three days, adding that availability is often the difference in tight matches.

Daily Cannon noted that Eze's place in the squad and his work during the warm-up suggest he should be back to full fitness shortly. The Evening Standard identifies Wednesday's Champions League away match against Slavia Prague as a potential comeback date, and Arteta is anticipated to provide another update following Tuesday's open training session.

Tzolis comes through his first start

Tzolis's inclusion raised eyebrows given it was his first appearance in a squad after weeks out, but he played most of the 90 minutes before being withdrawn with six minutes remaining. Arteta said the winger had convinced him in training and had not wanted to come off. "We took some risks and at that point we decided, now is enough," he said.

Daily Cannon reported that Tzolis came through the match without any issues.

Arteta also had Rice, Noni Madueke and Riccardo Calafiori available after knocks. The Evening Standard reports that all three started and played the full 90 minutes at Anfield and will be available for the trip to Prague.

Saka wait continues

According to the Evening Standard, Bukayo Saka has been absent from Arsenal's past three matches across all competitions because of a quad injury he suffered 10 minutes into the Bayern Munich game.

Fears that he could be sidelined for up to eight weeks have been reported, and Arteta said before the Liverpool game that another scan was required. "He needed another scan to see how the amount of fluid that was there was resolving, whether the tendon is touched and how badly it is touched," he said.

With Saka out and Max Dowman suspended domestically, Daily Cannon notes that Arsenal are leaning heavily on Madueke on the right. Dowman's three-match ban applies only in domestic competition, so he is available for the Slavia Prague fixture.

Saliba still working back

William Saliba has yet to play this season because of a long-term back problem that he aggravated while on international duty with France at the World Cup, the Evening Standard reports. He avoided surgery and has recently resumed individual work on the grass.

Ceadach O'Neill travelled with the squad to Liverpool as the extra man, per Daily Cannon, and may get opportunities of his own.

Arsenal are three points clear at the top with one more Premier League fixture before the fortnight's pause, with Hull visiting the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. First comes Wednesday's Champions League tie at Slavia Prague.

Photo: Bryan Berlin via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, resized.