Arsenal vs Liverpool team news: Raheem Sterling starts for Reds with Daniel Sturridge on bench as Mesut Ozil returns for Gunners

Both sides make three changes to their starting line-ups

Raheem Sterling described reports linking him with a summer move to Arsenal as ‘quite flattering’ (Getty Images)

Raheem Sterling leads Liverpool’s attack against Arsenal at the end of a week that saw the midfielder admit he was "flattered" by being linked with the north London club.

Daniel Sturridge is only fit enough for a place on the bench, so Sterling leads a line-up that shows three changes from the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United. With Martin Skrtel beginning his three match ban for stamping on goalkeeper David De Gea, Kolo Toure comes into the defence, with the Ivorian preferred to £20m signing Dejan Lovren who can only make the bench.

With Sturridge out, Sterling shifts forward with Lazar Markovic coming into the side, and Adam Lallana has not recovered from the groin injury he picked up a fortnight ago so Lucas starts in midfield.

LIVE: Follow Arsenal v Liverpool

Arsenal’s starting XI also shows three changes, with two of those coming in defence. Hector Bellerin returns to the right-back role with Calum Chambers missing out on the matchday squad, and skipper Per Mertesacker returns to partner Laurent Koscielny at centre-back with Gabriel Paulista dropping to the bench.

In attack, Mesut Özil returns from illness in place of Danny Welbeck, as the England striker had been suffering from a knee injury picked up in the recent 4-0 win over Lithuania. The 23-year-old does make the bench though.

Ozil missed the 2-1 win over Newcastle (Getty Images)

Mario Balotelli is a notable absentee from the Liverpool bench, while Wojciech Szczesny misses out with a rib injury.

Line-ups:

Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud

Subs: Macey, Gibbs, Gabriel, Flamini, Rosicky, Walcott, Welbeck

Liverpool: Mignolet, Can, Toure, Sakho, Allen, Lucas, Moreno, Henderson, Coutinho, Markovic, Sterling.

Subs: Jones, Johnson, Lovren, Sturridge, Manquillo, Borini, Brannagan