Liverpool v. Arsenal | Pre match build up!

[cobain]

So, we're playing Arsenal again, 4th time this season. We've lost 3 games already and if Arsenal win on Saturday, this will be probably one of the worst records in LFC history.

Here are some match facts:

Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield in a match that many people feel could go a long way to ensuring who finishes third this season in the Premiership.

Arsenal have beaten Liverpool three times this season including the FA Cup and Carling Cup, and Rafael Benitez's side will want to restore some pride.

Last season in the Premiership Liverpool beat Arsenal 1-0 at Anfield thanks to a late winner at the Kop end from Luis Garcia. The season before a stoppage time goal from Neil Mellor earned the Reds a 2-1 win. (source: liverpoolfc.tv)

LIVERPOOL and Arsenal do battle for the fourth time this season. It's a top four Premiership contest that opens the weekend's fixtures this Saturday lunchtime. A win would see the Merseysiders swapping places with the Gunners, being one place and one point inferior. The Reds are 15 points outside the top two and seven points clear of fifth. So from that position, they should secure a Champions League qualifying round place next season.

Manchester United brought an end to Liverpool's 17-month unbeaten home League record with a 0-1 victory in the most recent Premiership fixture at Anfield. Since then Rafa's Reds have qualified for a Champions League quarter-final tie with PSV. But they've not scored in three games in all competitions, since the 4-0 eclipse of Sheffield United at home - their only victory in five Premiership outings.

The Merseysiders have already lost in the Premiership to Arsenal this season, and been knocked out of the FA Cup and Carling Cup by them within three days of each other. The Reds last beat the Gunners 2-1 in last season's corresponding fixture. The Merseysiders are bidding for a third successive home League victory over Arsene Wenger's side.

ARSENAL have had plenty of time to dwell on the late late 1-0 defeat by Everton in their last League encounter. Now they make a return visit to Merseyside, aiming to complete a hat trick of Premiership victories over Liverpool and consolidate third place in the table by moving four points clear of their opponents, with a game in hand. Victory would make the Gunners the second club to 'double' Liverpool this season, after Manchester United.

It's 15 matches since Arsene Wenger's side last suffered consecutive Premiership defeats. The loss to the Toffees ended a seven-match unbeaten League sequence. They travel with victories in four of their last seven top tier fixtures on the road.

The Gunners have scored 12 goals and conceded four in their three meetings with Liverpool this season. They're looking to notch a fifth successive victory against them in all competitions, to complete the 'double' over the Merseysiders for only the second time in the Premiership. The previous occasion was during the title winning season of 2003-04.

LIVERPOOL
4th 54 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 4th

1. Looking for a 17th League victory of the season.

2. Not scored in two Premiership matches, or 197 minutes (three hours 17 minutes) of League soccer since Steven Gerrard scored their fourth in the victory over Sheffield United on 24 February.

3. Kept clean sheets in 14 of the last 18 top tier engagements.

4. Managed 17 Premiership shut-outs. Only Chelsea have registered more (18).

5. On the longest current run in the Premiership without a score draw of 22 games, since ending 1-1, home to Blackburn on 14 October.

6. Their 30 League games have generated just 64 goals (44 for, 20 against). Only top flight matches involving Manchester City have yielded fewer goals - 56 (22 for, 34 against).

7. Conceded four goals in the last 15 minutes of Premiership matches this season - the strongest defence of any club in the last quarter-hour.

8. Only 34 cards have been shown to Liverpool players in top tier matches (all yellow) - fewer than any other club.

9. Won 11 home Premiership games. Only Manchester United surpass that with 13. Conceded fewer home goals than any other club in the Premiership (four) and kept an unparalleled 11 top League clean sheets on home soil.

10. The Champions League clash, away to PSV, follows this next Tuesday. Then there's just one Easter fixture - away to Reading next Saturday, before the home clash with PSV.


arsenal
3rd 55 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 4th

1. Looking for a 17th League victory of the season.Lost four of the last seven League and cup games.

2. Won two of the last four in League and Cup, and lost four of the last seven.

3. Last suffered back-to-back Premiership defeats against Bolton (a) and Fulham (a) and 25 and 29 November last year respectively.

4. One stalemate short of 100 Premier League draws under Arsene Wenger.

5. Completed 47 League games since a goalless draw - the longest current such sequence of any club in the Premiership. The last goalless stalemate was home to Manchester United on 3 January 2006, and was the second in a row, after the no score draw at Aston Villa three days earlier.

6. Don't lose when scoring first in Premiership matches. Won 12 and drawn one of the 13 games in which they've opened the scoring this season.

7. Won all 10 League games in which clean sheets were kept. Only Manchester United also hold a 100% record from Premiership shut-outs this season.

8. The most resilient team in the highest echelon, having gained an unequalled 18 points from losing positions in Premiership games this term. Won, home to Blackburn, Manchester United and Wigan, and away to Charlton, and drawn home to Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Everton, Newcastle and Portsmouth, and away to Middlesbrough, having trailed in all 10 fixtures.

9. Scored more goals in the last 15 minutes of Premiership matches than any other club - 17.

10. The first of their two Easter matches is a London derby, home to West Ham, next Saturday. Then its the long trip to Newcastle for Easter Monday fare.


KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

LIVERPOOL
Peter CROUCH is Liverpool's top scorer with 13 goals.

Dirk KUYT is the club's leading marksman in the Premiership with nine.

Steven GERRARD is the only remaining player to have figured in at least a part of each of Liverpool's Premiership games this season.

If he plays, John Arne RIISE will be making his 200th Premiership appearance - all for Liverpool.

Jermaine PENNANT made 26 appearances (12 in the Premiership) and scored three Premiership goals for Arsenal between January 1999 and his £3m move to Birmingham in January 2005. In between, Pennant had loan spells with Watford and Leeds.

arsenal
Robin VAN PERSIE is Arsenal's top scorer with 13 goals, 11 in the Premiership.

Cesc FABREGAS is the only remaining player to have participated in at least a part of every one of Arsenal's Premiership matches this season.

If selected in the 11, Emmanuel EBOUE will be making his 50th start for the Gunners.

If he plays, Emmanuel ADEBAYOR will be making his 50th appearance in an Arsenal shirt.

If involved, Alexandr HLEB will be making his 50th Premiership appearance - all for the north Londoners.


HEAD-TO-HEAD TOTALS
Home and away
League: Liverpool 67 wins, Arsenal 58, Draws 40
Prem: Liverpool 13 wins, Arsenal 9, Draws 7

at Liverpool only
League: Liverpool 47 wins, Arsenal 21, Draws 14
Prem: Liverpool 8 wins, Arsenal 3, Draws 3


REFEREE
Steve Bennett (Orpington, Kent)

(source: BBC)

[Red_Al_77]

Pennant will start I reckon after his show in the reserves. However I think this will end 0-0. Both sides are way off their best at the moment and neither have been scoring.

[cobain]

So...

I personally don't give a fcuk about this match really. I think we have a bigger fish to fry in PSV. Arsenal's season is over anyways...

But it would be nice to beat them and get them off the 3rd place! Plus I hope none of our players get injured!

[Xabi_is_God]

I dissagree. They beat the **** out of us 3 times this season. we owe them one. its our last big game of the season in the premiership and i hope we give it everything. i hope we finish 3rd

[Draxdor]

So...

I personally don't give a fcuk about this match really. I think we have a bigger fish to fry in PSV. Arsenal's season is over anyways...

There is, by definition, no such thing as an unimportant Liverpool match

jD

[alunevans]

i know this sounds bad, but i'm finding that i don't really care about this game. its a match between two teams who have sod all to play for. i can't really get excited as if it matters.

[Xabi_is_God]

i know this sounds bad, but i'm finding that i don't really care about this game. its a match between two teams who have sod all to play for. i can't really get excited as if it matters.

Dont you want to restore some pride after the drubbings they have given us. There are probably a few youngsters in their team who are not in the slightest intimidated by having to play at Anfield. Their fans probably cant wait to come up to anfield and rub it in.
This is one of the most important games we've had to play against them for a while.
They need a good hammering.
3-0 and il be happy.

[Darth Marty]

id like for us to beat them but have to say its hardly "important" is it? id take a 4-0 LOSS if it meant we beat psv and progressed.....of course ideally id like win all remaining games but its not an ideal world is it? Champions league and finishing at least 4th is all thats important...3rd...not worth a wank

[Xabi_is_God]

i cant accept that. we are more than capable of beating arsenal and psv. Important to regain a winning mentality for the rest of the season.
We're Liverpool not Everton. Every game matters. I want to finish 3rd not 4th.

[michelmas]

id take a 4-0 LOSS if it meant we beat psv and progressed.

Not the ideal build up to Tuesday night, though would it?

[AFII]

Mascherano and Xabi will probably play. Sissoko is banned for the first PSV game so they need a game together before the PSV game.

I wouldn't be surprised if Gerrard is on the bench.

[Dhav]

Mascherano and Xabi will probably play. Sissoko is banned for the first PSV game so they need a game together before the PSV game.

I wouldn't be surprised if Gerrard is on the bench.

I too can see one or two key players being put on the rotation cycle shall we say. Personally I'm watching this without too much trepidation. It's not exactly crucial.

I can see it ending in a draw. 1-1 I reckon.

[USA-LFCgirl]

I really hope we do win, I have some realitives that are gooners and I cannot take anymore from them. It sucks because even if we do win they will still be able to point out they have a 75% winning record against us this season. This game is crucial to us taking third place back from them too.

[cobain]

I too can see one or two key players being put on the rotation cycle shall we say. Personally I'm watching this without too much trepidation. It's not exactly crucial.

I can see it ending in a draw. 1-1 I reckon.

I also think Arbeloa will start ahead of Finnan...

[Morph]

I really hope we do win, I have some realitives that are gooners and I cannot take anymore from them. It sucks because even if we do win they will still be able to point out they have a 75% winning record against us this season. This game is crucial to us taking third place back from them too.

I'm sure they'll be rubbing your nose in it when we're off to Athens, we've had more success than them in the last 2/3 years fact.