Arsenal v Liverpool - Episode II, Attack of the Kuyt's

It's back to the Emirates stadium for round two. Will Rafa keep the same team or rest players for next Tuesday? Will Wenger do likewise or keep the same side as he's still chasing Taggart for the league...

Sadly I think Liverpool will probably lose this game It's so typically us

1-0 to the arse

I hope we win, but I have a feeling we're gonna get pounced on.

Time to give guys like Crouch, and Pennant some playing time. This is a game that we can actually afford to lose now after the derby win.

I agree i believe Arsenal will win this one. We all know Rafa will probably change his squad about alot, the Arsenal players i think believe they can still win the premiership. So its a case of who wants which one.

I think Arsenal will win this premiership clash and Liverpool will win the second leg of their Champions League quater final.

Rafa knows his side have failed to compete in the premiership this season and you can tell its not his main priority. People will say what about 4th place, which is a fair point Liverpool need that if they want to hold onto a few key players and attract a few quality players. Since Liverpool beat Everton in the merseyside derby i think Rafa believes he can afford not to put everything into this game, because if he does and he wins this one but looses to Arsenal in the Champions League the fans wont be happy.

Im sure if you asked Liverpool fans now what theyd prefer to win this match or to get into the semi final draw nearly all of them would choose the win in the Champions League. I believe the Champions League is the only way of Rafa getting any credit this season. No-one will congratulate him on finishing 4th in the premiership, thats a requirement in the eyes of the Liverpool fans. On the other hand if he won the Champions League thats something the Liverpool fans would love him for again and its not something they see as a requirement but soemthing they can win.

I'm going to go for a 3-1 Arsenal win.

Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool

Denilson -- Crouch
Bendtner
Walcott

Everton have got Derby at home the day after this game. I think they are guaranteed the 3 points. Rafa really must field his strongest side if he wants any chance of maintaining the 5 point gap over Everton. Arsenal feel they are still in with a sniff of finishing in first place so they will be going for the 3 points with their strongest side. Every game is a cup final at this stage of the season with so much at stake and with very few games left in the season. Personally, I would play Crouch in preference to Kuyt any day of the week, however, I have to admit Kuyt was man of the match for me at the Emirates.

My prediction - Arsenal 1 Liverpool 1,

if Middlesborough, Wigan, Villa and Birmingham can get a draw with Arsenal then I'm quite sure a top four side can also do it

Also looking for Man City to do us a favour and hold Chelski to a draw.

Come on the POOL

Come on CITY

I think I might be seeing things

Another draw here would be quite nice, but I don't think Arsenal will make the same mistakes second time around at home.

1-0 to the arse for me as well.

2-0 Arsenal

We will win this one for sure. I cannot see Rafa putting the same team from Wednesdays clash and also he would want to rest his star players ahead of the Anfield clash.

As for us well I can really see Bendtner starting as Van Persie is injured. I would give the likes of Walcott, maybe Denilson or Diaby ago in the Centre.

Liverpool could well Start Yossi, Crouch, Voronin, s a reserve team or 2nd team i should say.

Im very confident. COME ON Gunners.

doh totally thought this was for the cl game
Arsenal 3-1

You are cheering on your two most hated teams

Yes, football is so ironic at times like this

I reckon both teams are going to play slightly 'weaker' teams. IMO, the CL is more important to both clubs at this stage with the league getting gradually further away from Arsenals reach. I'd expect Crouch, Pennant & Benayoun to all get starts for Liverpool with the likes of Bendtnar, Diaby & Gilberto Silva starting for Arsenal. Another 1-1 draw me reckons

come on you reds and blues

if city could beat us.. then they could beat Chelsea.. technically..

as for Gunners.. likely tough one.. i'd probably predict another draw coming this weekend.. it's quite puzzling if you see these two teams playing three times within a fortnight..

Oh no, not another draw...

I just read reports that Rafa is more than likely going to sit Torres and Gerrard for the match.

In that case, I expect Everton to pull back the gap to 2 points between themselves and Liverpool. Liverpool are in danger of giving a psychological edge to Arsenal for the 2nd leg, and putting the possibility of Champions League football next season under threat. They risk losing to Arsenal in the next two games and allowing Everton to overhaul their position by not playing their strongest team in all the remaining games. I think Rafa is about to run out of luck

How will Arsenal get the psychological advantage by winning if Rafa fields the 2nd team? They still know that they haven't beaten the 1st team, worse, they go to Anfield next. And how would Everton take our position in 4th? After this game, the worst schedule imaginable for us will be behind us. And if Arsenal do advance in the Champions League, then Rafa would be fielding the best team in the league regardless, since we have nothing else to play for.

there's a saying like.. don't change the drawing team.. rafa..

maybe just for mascherano in this case.. snce he's been suspended for a couple of matches..

at least Liverpool will still earn a point if they draw..

Good work Rafa, rest the big boys to make sure they are fresh to knock Arsenal out of the CL.

I fancy a draw again here to be honest, 1-1 again for me.

But you have to realize that the Champion's League match at this point is more important. We have 2 more points to fall back on if we lose on Sunday, and if we don't give our 100% in Europe, then we'll crash out for sure. This game was probably penciled out for us early in the season anyway.