After UEFA fixed the draw for the Quarter-Finals and enforced our fate be a trilogy of Arsenal v Liverpool games in the space of 6 days, the awaited finale should be an intriguing one.

So far the two sides have met 3 times this season, with nothing to tell between the pair - 1-1 being the repeated score-line from each visit. This time, however, after successive draws, one of Arsenal or Liverpool has to rise up as victors in their fourth encounter of the campaign. Be it in normal time or otherwise.

Despite earning a crucial away goal from the Emirates, and seemingly boasting an advantage, i still believe either team has an equal chance of progressing. I'm not overly certain on the statistics, but i know when Arsenal were defeated by Middlesbrough, 2-1, they said that the Gunners hadn't failed to score in a league game so far that season, and i cannot remember a case where that has since been broken. If the trend continues, our away goal is as good as annulled. We did come close to keeping a clean-sheet back in October, as the two sides met at Anfield, but the late departure of Alonso in that match (where Arbeloa had to replace his injured compatriot in an unfamiliar position) saw them repeatedly break us in quick succession. It shows we're capable of sustaining an onslaught from them, but shows the line between doing so and conceding is a thin one.

Such is their potency in creating gilt-edge chances my concern for us trying to hold out for a 0-0 deepens. I believe if we are to progress then we were going to have to either win the tie outright or hold off for penalties via a 1-1 draw come 90 minutes. Not to mention our recent shambles when attempting to defend set-pieces - if that continues we'll struggle, however if we solve it we'll be formidable in defence. It's the only way they've broken us in the two meetings of late.

To be fair, whilst their greater attacking presence makes their threat greater than such European encounters with say Chelsea, as in past season's, their defence is also worse than the Blues and should make for a more open game. If we have to win, we may perhaps need to score twice, but i think that's possible against them.

Team:

------------------------------ Reina

----- Carragher --- Skrtel ------ Hyypia ------- Arbeloa

---------------------- Alonso --- Mascherano

-------- Kuyt ------------- Gerrard --------------- Torres

----------------------------- Crouch

Subs: Itandje, Finnan, Riise, Plessis, Lucas, Benayoun, Babel.


Hyypia will no doubt return after being rested on Saturday, with Carragher pushing out to the right. This is what will happen and there's little point trying to deviate from it, even if Carragher is clearly better in the centre. With us having something to defend i have to select Arbeloa for left-back, as he pwns both Aurelio and Riise defensively - he did well at the weekend and will make it very difficult for Arsenal to break us down.

Now, this is where people may think "what the hell?". For me, and probably anyone who watches our games against Arsenal, we have to play Peter Crouch. He's more of a threat than Torres, Kuyt, Voronin, Babel and Alonso put together, so to exclude him when he's clearly our best attacking outlet would be an act of stubbornness. Torres is on the left, in place of Babel, for reasons that extend two fold: Babel had a poor game on the Wednesday, where he was of little effect; and the fact that Benitez, understandably, cannot leave his 28-goal striker out of the side. We cannot go 4-4-2, as we'll be left too open, so for me Torres has to play on one of the wings. In principle i think it works well anyway, because on Saturday our problem was that when Crouch get the ball and flicked it on he had a lack of ability behind him to conjure something of substance - if we have Torres and Gerrard playing off him then they can do some serious damage. Torres has done little leading the line against them and i believe they are more wary of Crouch then the Spaniard. I don't expect us to play in that manner, but that is what i'd consider doing... I'm doing a balancing act really, but if it gets us through it gets us through.

On the bench the only surprise is Damien Plessis. I'm not getting carried away by the young lad, but he's our only player - whose performed at a senior level - who can do the same job as Mascherano. If we were leading 1-0 or 2-1, then throwing him on for Alonso would make us doubly hard to break down. He provides a defensive option that could be very useful, and such was his composure at the weekend i think he could handle this occasion. Also, if Mascherano was injured during the game it'd probably trash our chances of going through, so he provides a cushion for that eventuality.

Personally, i think 1-1 is on the cards again, becoming 2-1 with Arsenal getting a killer goal in extra-time, meaning we need two. I can't see us going a whole season without losing to them somehow. But i'm a pessimist; some fans already think we're through because it's at Anfield. The truth is, this game is too close to call, and will, for whatever reason, be a riveting watch from start to finish.

from Arsenal.com

"Robin van Persie has been included in Arsenal's 18-man squad for the Champions League Quarter-Final second leg against Liverpool at Anfield.

The Dutch forward was substituted at half-time in last Wednesday's first leg after suffering a recurrence of the thigh injury which has sidelined him for much of this year. Van Persie missed Saturday's Premier League clash with Liverpool but returns to the squad for Tuesday night's decisive European tie.

Abou Diaby is also back in Arsenal's squad. The Frenchman's domestic suspension does not affect his participation in European competition. Philippe Senderos is also back after sitting out the weekend game while Armand Traore drops out.

Bacary Sagna (ankle), Eduardo (broken leg) and Tomas Rosicky (leg) are all injured."

Arsenal squad to face Liverpool:

1 Jens LEHMANN
2 Abou DIABY
4 Cesc FABREGAS
5 Kolo TOURE
6 Philippe SENDEROS
10 William GALLAS
11 Robin VAN PERSIE
13 Alexander HLEB
16 Mathieu FLAMINI
17 Alex SONG
19 GILBERTO
22 Gael CLICHY
24 Manuel ALMUNIA
25 Emmanuel ADEBAYOR
26 Nicklas BENDTNER
27 Emmanuel EBOUE
31 Justin HOYTE
32 Theo WALCOTT

super news that van persie is back in the squad! i dont think im going to watch this game because i get too worked up but i'll sky+ it in the hope i can watch it back and see Arsenal win.
i reckon it'll be 1-1 again at FT, just hope we can score in ET. dont want it to go to pens, really dont.

Swap Torres with Crouch and put Babel on the right and there is your team, FACT. 1-1. Liverpool to win it in extra time

great post.. ben..

i doubt rafa would start all along at the same time..

torres would be in the starting line-up with crouch as his sub in the middle of second half..

as for his position.. maybe for babel?..

I'll go for a win 0-1 for Arsenal this time.

Excellent post and analysis Ben......very professional (only spoiled by your opening line - which forgive me for saying 'is a load of crap - errr I mean nonsense' ).

Definitely agree with your team selection in attack, personally, I prefer Finnan at right back to Carragher. I have never rated him in that position and can only think of him being continually beaten for pace when he was played in that position for England. He retired from International football shortly afterwards. I would prefer Jamie in the centre of defence along with eirther Skrtel or Hypia, and I would go for Hypia. Totally agree about the zonal marking, Rafa should ditch it.

I recall a Liverpool - Arsenal game a few seasons back and Crouch murdered the Arsenal defence, can't remember if he got his hat trick or not but Arsenal were well hammered, mainly because of Crouch's outstanding performance. Never could understand Rafa NOT playing him.

I'm going for Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1 IF Crouch plays, otherwise another 1-1 and decided on penalties.

Yeah good preview Ben Lythie. But I think Rafa will go with the same team as last weeks Champions League fixture, It woudnt hurt to have Arbeloa and Crouch in their but he won't change the system at this stage. As for Plessis I think he played about 20 minutes tonight as the reserves clinched top-spot in the league by beating Blackburn so I don't think he'll feature tomorrow... I don't think he'll even make the bench as Voronin will be fit.

I'm getting the same excited feeling as I did for the Chelsea game when it was last seasons semi, I can't wait for it. This is such a mammoth game and will be one to watch. Lets just hope we can do it.

I was also impressed with that opening post, save for the conspiracy theory and the team he put up.

There is no way Benitez will start with all of those attacking players, I just can't see it. Great analysis though

I have a good feeling for this game. We'll go through with a 2-0 scoreline.

Me too.

Go, Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!

Im really really nervous. Anything can happen but i want us to win at Anfield. lol. Please win. This could be our year for the CL. A good start off hopefully will guide us to a win.

this will be the night Arsenal prove they have what it takes to win the Champions League ....i hope . I dont believe home advantage will mean Liverpool are home and dry , we all know in these matches anything can happen and i think the key to Arsenal progressing is if the real Fabregas will turn up .. The Fabregas that inspired Arsenal for the first 5 or 6 months of the season .

I`ll go for a 2-1 win for us with Theo Walcott getting the winner with just 2 minutes to go ..

i hope they put it on again at work. last time after lots of people wher standing in the front watching football they switched it off.
hope Liverpool win...GO BABEL!!!!
-X-

i got a feeling that who score first at Anfield will go through.....

nervous as hell......

Arsene Wenger:

"We have belief we can win everywhere in the world," he said at Monday's press conference. "There's a little comfort when the game starts and you're at home, but in Europe that doesn't matter very much.

"These two teams play [football] and the pitch is good. They have the support, but it's down to us to keep the crowd quiet. It's difficult here at Anfield because they're a little bit louder than anywhere else, and they have had a bit more stamina than anywhere else. But we'll try and, in the end, it will be down to how we perform on the pitch.”

This is the fourth time Arsenal and Liverpool have met this season. The previous three have all finished 1-1 however Wenger could argue that the only half his side have not bossed was the opening 45 minutes in the Premier League clash at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Robin van Persie missed that game with a thigh problem but he did travel with the squad on Monday and, at his press conference that evening, Wenger declared him "fit enough to play". The manager confirmed that Emmanuel Adebayor would definitely start. He also has Abou Diaby at his disposal despite an ongoing domestic ban. Eduardo (broken leg) is out for the season and, according to Wenger, may be joined in that category by Tomas Rosicky (hamstring). Bacary Sagna (ankle) will be missing but there is hope he'll be back for the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday.

But before that massive, season-deciding game, Arsenal must cope with a similar affair on another North-West ground with an intimidating atmosphere. The manager believes his young but experienced side can cope.

“Anfield is special but it will not stop us from playing well," said Wenger. "I believe this situation is similar to Milan [in the Knockout Round]. The only thing is that they can play a 0-0 which Milan could not afford.

“I believe Liverpool will do exactly the same in the second leg [as they did in the first]. They will try to defend well and catch us on the break.

"Liverpool defended very well last Wednesday night. The only regret I have is that we put them in a situation where they slowly came out. After we conceded they then went into their own half and defended well.

"They are very disciplined and they are a good counterattacking side now. Gerrard and Torres can create something.

"But we know they don’t have to come out. We will focus on us and play without being caught on the counterattack. We will play our own game and have a go at them."

To do that Arsenal will need the belief of Milan (a) 2008, Tottenham (a) 2007, Man United (a) 2006 and all the Knockout Round trips on route to Paris two years ago. Arsenal are up against it but pessimism must not be allowed to permeate the side. Pressure victories are a part of this team's recent past and, if they are to fulfil one iota of their potential, must be part of their future aswell.

"Defeat is not unthinkable," concurred Wenger towards the end of his press conference as the slightest smile fluttered across his face. "You have to accept you might lose but what is important is that you believe you can win.

"And," the Arsenal manager concluded, "if I didn't believe we could win the Champions League, I wouldn't be sitting here.”

http://www.Arsenal.com/matchreport.asp?thisNav=fixtures&fxid=323079

Crouch starts! He's changed the system, Very interesting.

Arsenal team

almunia
toure gallas senderos clichy
eboue flamini fabregas diaby hleb
adebayor

I cant see it being anything else than a boring game until Arsenal score, then and only then will l,pool liven it up and hope for a goal so it will go to pens.


I hope Arsenal take this for the treatment the l,pool fans gave Everton players last week alone. A Disgrace!








Come on Arsenal...

Ha:



...and, ha:



Bar Arbeloa i got it right. We'll probably stick Torres out wide rather than go with 2 up-front.

I'm not confident, but this should be bloody interesting... Tense as hell, as per.

DIABY!!!

Fantastic build-up to that goal. Well there is the away goal that Arsenal are looking for.

Now let's hope for a cracker of a game...