Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling hopeful of playing against Arsenal

Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling is optimistic the long-term toe problem that forced him to withdraw from the England squad for the friendly against Italy will not prevent him from facing Arsenal in the Premier League.

Sterling played the full 90 minutes in England's 4-0 win over Lithuania but will not make the trip to Turin after having agreed with Liverpool to pull out of the squad due to a long-running toe injury.

The 20-year-old requires injections on the injury in order to play but such provisions are unlikely to keep him out of the resumption of Liverpool's season against Arsenal.

"It had been pre-agreed with the FA and obviously my club to get an injection after the game," he said. "I will receive some treatment back at the club and go from there. Hopefully [I can be fit for the game], yeah. I will get this injection now and see how it goes in the next few days. Hopefully I will be OK for the Arsenal game."

The news is a significant boost for Liverpool as they look to breathe new life into their challenge of finishing in the Premier League top four, after suffering a harrowing run of injuries during the international break.

Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge, who will miss the next month with a hip problem, both pulled out of the England squad ahead of the European Championship qualifier against Lithuania.

Meanwhile, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and defender Martin Skrtel's respective three-game suspensions picked up during the loss to Manchester United leaves manager Brendan Rodgers potentially without four critical first-team players.

Gerrard was shown a straight red card less than a minute after coming on in the 2-1 defeat at Anfield, while Skrtel was banned for three matches retrospectively by the Football Association after being found guilty of violent conduct for stamping on United 'keeper David de Gea.