Team news from the Emirates where Arsenal face Liverpool

Liverpool contract rebel Raheem Sterling starts in attack against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers kept faith with the 20-year-old, who is stalling on a new deal amid speculation about his future, as Liverpool aimed to close back up on the top four.

Forward Daniel Sturridge, who missed England duty over the international break, was on the bench, but Adam Lallana missed out.

Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel started three-match suspensions, so former Gunner Kolo Toure came into the Liverpool defence.

Arsenal could move up into second place in the table with a seventh straight Barclays Premier League win.

Mesut Ozil returned from illness to start, but England forward Theo Walcott was again a substitute along with Danny Welbeck, who had been carrying a knee injury.

19-year-old goalkeeper Matt Macey replaced Wojciech Szczesny, who had a rib injury, on the bench.

Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Ozil, Cazorla, Sanchez, Giroud. Subs: Gibbs, Gabriel, Rosicky, Walcott, Flamini, Welbeck, Macey.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Can, Toure, Sakho, Henderson, Allen, Lucas, Moreno, Markovic, Sterling, Coutinho. Subs: Jones, Johnson, Lovren, Sturridge, Manquillo, Borini, Brannagan.

Referee: Anthony Taylor (England)