I've got a bad feeling about this one......so hopefully it should be a draw if we cancel each other out
CCC - "It's a fair point, Doc, but of course we can't counter if we don't have the ball ... " We'll have it some of the time What im saying is when we do I think Sterlings pace and link up play + movement is going to be more vital to a win for us, providing Couts closes down in mid!
Because we never play with a out-and-out DM. We have one that is more defensive minded but they don't sit behind the other midfielders. As much as I hate the term, it is more of a quarter back role in that they only sit deeper when have possession to allow the CBs to go wider meaning the FBs can get forward. I think his positioning and commitment is poor but he can be a decent defender when he wants, shame we've not seen much of it for Liverpool.
TEAM NEWS Liverpool remain without injured defenders Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger, although both are expected to return to full training next week. Mamadou Sakho, Jose Enrique and Lucas Leiva are also ruled out. Arsenal will assess midfielder Jack Wilshere, who is nearing a comeback from an ankle injury. Mathieu Flamini serves the second game of a four-match ban, but Mikel Arteta is fit despite limping towards the end of the win against Crystal Palace. MATCH PREVIEW Having last month maintained that Liverpool would "never give up the fight" for the Premier League title, Brendan Rodgers has now conceded that his team's aim this season is to make the "big jump into the top four". With Everton and Tottenham snapping at their heels and Manchester United not far behind that's still a tough assignment, but one that Liverpool have suggested all season that they can manage. It does appear to be the Reds' level right now too - they have beaten all of their immediate rivals for fourth, yet failed to earn a point against the three teams above them. That includes Arsenal of course - the only team to have prevented both Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge from scoring in the last 12 league games they've played together. Indeed, Liverpool's 2-0 defeat at the Emirates on 2 November was the last game the team failed to score in at all. In 16 matches played since they've racked up 45 goals - 24 of those from 'the SAS'. Arsenal aren't quite so prolific, but they are proving relentlessly consistent (as two goals in each of their last five league games testifies), and the title challenge many maintain will 'blow-up' is still looking strong. The squad is dovetailing nicely too - as one player drops out another comes in to replace them almost seamlessly. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's return to coincide with Theo Walcott's injury is a case in point, although we still haven't found out the answer to the oft-cried question 'what happens when Olivier Giroud gets injured?' Now comes a huge spell of matches in the Gunners' season, with this followed by a four-game home run of Manchester United, Liverpool again (in the FA Cup), Bayern Munich and Sunderland. We should know in a fortnight's time whether Arsenal are 'blowing-up' or not! Liverpool might not end up title winners themselves this season, but they could prove the difference in deciding who will be. Chelsea and Manchester City will be visiting Anfield in April. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head Liverpool have won just one of the last 13 league meetings between the two sides, although seven of those ended in draws (W1, D7, L5). Arsenal are chasing a third successive league win at Anfield. The last time they managed that feat was between 10 February 1973 and 9 November 1974. Meetings between these sides have produced more hat-tricks (five) than any other Premier League fixture. Liverpool The Reds are unbeaten in their last 10 league and cup games at Anfield (W9, D1), scoring 33 goals and conceding seven in that run. Daniel Sturridge's goal against West Brom was his 50th in the Premier League. He is the 10th English player to reach that landmark before turning 25. Sturridge has scored in 13 of his 16 league appearances this season, scoring 14 in total. According to Opta statistics, Liverpool have made 29 errors leading to a goal or attempt at goal this season - the most in the top flight. Arsenal The Gunners are unbeaten in eight league games (W6, D2) despite failing to score a first-half goal in seven of those matches. Against Crystal Palace, 10 Arsenal players ended with pass completion rates of over 90%. Arsenal's tally of 26 points won away from home is the joint best in the top flight, along with Tottenham. Arsenal's Wojciech Szczesny has kept 11 Premier League clean sheets - more than any other top-flight goalkeeper. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25994878
Crunch game for us this one. A real test of where we are at relative to those above us. Will it be our fantastic attackers or dross defence we are talking about tomorrow evening? Let's hope it's the former
Maybe the midfield scrap will dictate the game,looking forward to it.Tough opponents,but were at home.Can't wait
In work so wont see it.... If I was at home, this would be me for 90 minutes! please log in to view this image
think most will be like that today lol. well at least it wont be a game where you see some ****ers in the crowd sleeping, seriously why pay all that money to go to a match and ****ing sleep? never got that one.
I am so confident in our attack, but so concerned about our defense. I don't know how I should feel! Just win guys!!!
not even that for me, ball goes any where near our defence i fear the worst every time. we can never get both ends right, when we had a back 4 to be proud of we had a poor return up top goals wise but we KNEW! how to keep clean sheets, when we have the best attack in scoring goals our ruddy defence is ****e.
Gunners fan Andrew James provides the view from the Arsenal, talking title credentials, Liverpool memories and how the Reds can unhinge the visitors; by pressing and attacking with speed. Firstly, Andy, can Arsenal win the league this year? My heart says, 'yes' but my head says, 'it's unlikely'. We've been remarkably consistent against the majority of the league this season, but still have challenging away games to come against Liverpool, then Everton, Tottenham and Chelsea, as well as Manchester City at home. We'll certainly need a decent return from these fixtures to have a chance. Man City and Chelsea are only two points behind Arsenal, despite seeming to drop points in many games that they would be expected to win in the first half of the season. I find it difficult to see them making similar mistakes in the run-in. Can you pull together all the various contributing factors and paint us a picture as to what's made Arsenal so good this season? The atmosphere around the club seemed to change instantly with the signing of Mezut Ozil. Players now seem to feel like they can achieve their ambitions at Arsenal, rather than needing to go elsewhere. Ironically, Ozil himself hasn't necessarily been our stand-out performer this season, although he has frequently provided the telling final pass that our build-up play has so often lacked in recent years. The solid foundation of Per Mertesacker and Laurnet Koscielny at the back has meant that we have rarely needed to score more than two goals to win a game. We have also been able to defend single-goal leads far more effectively this season, owing significantly to the protection and fighting spirit provided by Mathieu Flamini. Our approach has been far more measured, with the aim of winning seemingly more important than purely entertaining. Are there weaknesses in this Arsenal team? As well as having limited options up front, I still feel that we struggle to cope when teams press us high up the pitch and attack us with pace. Man City and Southampton have shown that when you attack Arsenal, you get far more joy than simply trying to contain them. Stopping Olivier Giroud from receivilng the ball to feet will also be important for Liverpool, as so many Arsenal attacks involve the Frenchman holding the ball up with his back to goal, bringing midfielders into play. How do you assess Liverpool this season? I admire the way that Liverpool have played this season, and how they have coped without each of their main strikers for prolonged spells. The team is exciting going forward and can pose a threat to any side. The emergence of young players such as Jordan Henderson, Jon Flanagan and Raheem Sterling only bodes well for the future. If you could take two Liverpool players to Arsenal, who would you chose? I'd have to go for Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho. Suarez has shown again this season why he's one of the best strikers in the world, both in terms of work-rate and ability. I have admired Coutinho since his loan spell at Espanyol, and although Arsenal don't lack technically gifted midfielders, I reckon his first-touch, acceleration and ability to find a telling pass would make him an asset to any side. Tell us the exact moment in time – Liverpool v Arsenal-wise – you would revisit now if you had a time machine… It has to be the 4-4 draw at Anfield in April 2009. Liverpool were challenging for the title and Arsenal were struggling to stay in touch. The excitement of new signing Andrei Arshavin scoring all four Arsenal goals and the fearless attacking approach adopted by both sides resulted in a thoroughly enjoyable game of football, despite Arsenal failing to hold out for the win. And what's the one moment you'd rather erase from memory? Without doubt the 2001 FA Cup final in Cardiff. Liverpool came back to win 2-1, with Michael Owen scoring both Liverpool goals in the last 10 minutes. It still hurts to this day. Prediction for the match? It's a very tough one to call. Both sides are capable of creating chances, so I think that the team that best restricts the other is likely to prevail. The game may not be as open as people expect, with both teams respecting the threat that their opponent poses. Liverpool will need to make sure that they are not outnumbered in midfield, but Flamini will be a huge loss for Arsenal through suspension. I'll go for a 1-1 draw, a result that I wouldn't be disappointed with.
Steven Gerrard has called on Liverpool to close the gap on Barclays Premier League leaders Arsenal with a win in what the captain believes is the most important clash of the season to date. Liverpool can go five points behind Arsene Wenger's table-topping side if they can produce another pulsating Anfield display and end a seven-year home league hoodoo against the Gunners. Peter Crouch's perfect hat-trick secured the Reds their last domestic win against today's opponents in front of the Kop back in March 2007. Since that demolition, Liverpool have clashed with an Arsenal side determined to dominate in the middle of the pitch and one that has been unfazed by the opposition crowd. However, Gerrard insists it's time for that to end - and he believes that the Kop can still play a massive part in what could be an important victory for Brendan Rodgers' side. "The Everton game was huge a few weeks ago, but because that is gone and the job is done, I'd almost say this Arsenal game is our biggest game of the season so far," the skipper told Liverpoolfc.com. "Sometimes, with these games, the manager has to do very little work in the dressing room. We're playing Arsenal at home and there's a very good chance we can reel them back closer to us. These games don't come much bigger. "Being at home with our fans behind us and knowing what's at stake means it's going to be a similar atmosphere to Everton - and you saw how we performed against them. That is the standards we want to match, because if we do we'll get the three points. "The fans don't kick the ball or win you games, as such, but they can certainly help you and I've experienced that hundreds of times at Anfield. "This crowd is a one-off and when it does hit the high notes and get behind the team from start to finish, you can't deny that they do help push you over the line. We're hoping that is the case tomorrow because they've got just an important part to play as any player." Gerrard is open and philosophical about where Liverpool went wrong when they last faced Arsenal, at the Emirates Stadium in November last year. Since Wenger stamped his blueprint on the North London club, their aims has always been to swamp teams in the middle of the park and to dominate possession from a central position. The skipper insists this is something they did to perfection in the 2-0 victory, when Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey put the home side out of reach. By extension, Gerrard knows that he and his teammates will face the same conundrum come this afternoon at Anfield. "I think what we learned from that match was if you don't play well in the big games, more often than not, you won't get the points or the result that you're looking for," he said. "Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say that the opposition were better on the day - and Arsenal played really well. "They were at home, it was a very difficult game for us and we're hoping that the roles reverse this time round. We're at Anfield and our form is really good there. We're really confident we can get the result we want. "I think that in the middle of the pitch was where we lost the game down there. I have to admit that our midfielders were not on our games on the day. I think we were outnumbered in the middle. "What you have understand is that when you play Arsenal, they don't really play with wide-men who hug the touchline, they have wide men who come in and try to outnumber you in the middle of the midfield. "So at times they had up to five men in there. They had Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Tomas Rosicky, Mikel Arteta and then they had a forward dropping in as well. So it's important that we try and get the numerical advantage at Anfield in the game tomorrow. "That's how we beat Everton - we had superiority in the middle. We were too aggressive for them and we dominated the middle of the pitch. If you do that in big games, then more often than not, you win them." While Arsenal have been setting the pace at the top of the table, Rodgers' and his Liverpool side have been busy reviving an old tradition - that of Anfield as a fortress. Only Southampton have left L4 with three points against the Reds, while Aston Villa are the only other side to have escaped a beating. Manchester United and Everton have been the more casualties, while the likes of Norwich, West Bromwich Albion and West Ham have all been thrashed in front of the Kop. "I'd say at home we've got that confidence and believe that we can beat anyone, but we've got to and prove it," insisted Gerrard. "We've got to go and play well and keep hitting top standards. If you take the Aston Villa game, for example; we were shocked from that start of that game, maybe assuming that we were going to win. "But if we hit our performance levels that we've shown this year at home, not many sides will beat us. http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/154871-gerrard-this-is-our-biggest-game-so-far
