Arsenal discover true extent of major injury blow amid Liverpool title race
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Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballArsenal FCArsenal have been handed a injury update on Gabriel Magalhaes as Liverpool watch on with the Premier League title race still in its early daysArsenal have been handed a major blow in their hopes of beating Liverpool to the Premier League title this season. The Reds are defending their crown after winning the league title last term, but have endured several defeats over the last couple of months.Arne Slot's side have been beaten in five of their last six Premier League matches, including a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City before the international break.That form has seen Liverpool fall to eighth place in the Premier League table and they are eight points adrift of Arsenal in the overall standings with 11 matches played.The international break has seen Liverpool face a nervous wait for their players to return to Merseyside without any injuries or fitness concerns.But for Arsenal, some of their worst fears may have been realised after the latest update.READ MORE: I have real Alexander Isak worry at Liverpool – it's not a new problem for Arne Slot to sortREAD MORE: Liverpool hero Robbie Fowler rips apart Man Utd signing who 'looks like an academy player'Gabriel Magalhaes suffered an adductor injury during Brazil's friendly win over Senegal on Saturday evening.
The Arsenal defender was substituted in the second half of the game, with further tests needed to discover the full extent of the injury.BBC Sport have reported that Arsenal fear Gabriel may be on the sidelines for between one and two months.Should that be the case, the Brazilian could be unavailable until the middle of January, which would see him miss the busy festive period and plenty of crucial Premier League matches as well as further fixtures in the Champions League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup.Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be expected to provide an update on Gabriel's fitness when he addresses the media later this week.Liverpool will face Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon at Anfield, which will give the Reds the opportunity to close the gap on Arsenal to five points before the Gunners take on Tottenham Hotspur 24 hours later in the north London derby.For the latest news and breaking news, visit liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/liverpool-fc. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.Follow us on Twitter @LivEchoLFC - the official Liverpool ECHO LFC Twitter account - for all the latest LFC news as it happens in real time.We're also on Facebook/LiverpoolEchoLFC - your must-see LFC news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.Listen to our podcasts by searching for 'Blood Red' wherever you get your podcasts.Sign up for one of the Liverpool Echo's free daily and weekly newsletters on Liverpool FC by clicking here.