Premiership: Vieira absent at Anfield

Patrick Vieira is suspended but fellow midfielder Frederik Ljungberg and goalkeeper Richard Wright are back in the Arsenal squad for Sunday’s clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

Although the Sweden international is set to figure in the starting line-up after a back injury, Wright can only expect to be on the bench.

Manager Arsene Wenger will stick with third-choice keeper Stuart Taylor for at least one more match as Wright has played just once, in a private practice match yesterday, since damaging a knee in a Champions League game last month.

Tony Adams also played 45 minutes of yesterday’s game but has been out since mid-September following a foot operation and is unlikely to be back to first-team action until the home game with Middlesbrough in two weeks.

Wenger, however, is still pondering whether to include £8m striker Francis Jeffers in the party that travels to Anfield tomorrow.

The former Everton forward, who has made just two starts for Arsenal since his arrival in the summer due to ankle trouble, has played in the last two reserve games.

Team (from): Taylor, Lauren, Keown, Campbell, Cole, Ljungberg, Parlour, Grimandi, Pires, Bergkamp, Henry, Wiltord, Kanu, van Bronckhorst, Jeffers, Edu, Upson, Wright.