Just because we beat City 3-0 means nothing coming into this. It was a great result but we are Liverpool Football Club we don't rest on our laurels! If we want to do the same to Arsenal then we need to have the same hunger, the same drive, the same passion that we showed against City. If we play like that we can beat anyone! It's been a while since we've beaten these at The Emirates but F**k it, records are made to be broken!
I'd go with the same XI that started against City. Everyone played 90 mins and seemed to come out without any knocks. (Carroll was only subbed so he could get his ovation from the crowd, a fine touch from Kenny) You don't mess with a winning formula and every one of those players know they deserve to start against Arsenal!
I can't see Arsenal's defence handling Suarez and Carroll? The quick feet, precision passing, ability to shoot from anywhere and the pace of Suarez will wear them out. Add that to the power, physical presence, ability with both feet, aerial strength and work rate of Carroll and they're going to struggle! And no matter if it's Almunia, Szczezny or Lehmann, their keepers are nowhere near as good as Joe Hart and he struggled against us!
Spearing and Lucas showed they can mix it up with the big boys and come out on top! Stopping Arsenals engine room is no mean feat but after last night I know the lads have it in them.
Kuyt and Meireles will have it easier than they did against City on the wings. And if Meireles can get in more of those crosses like his assist for Carroll and Kuyt can get another goal like he did last night we'll be in a great position to bring back the 3 points.
Our defence will be a deciding factor in this one. If the same defensive display we seen against West Brom is reproduced we could easily leak goals against their attack! Yet if we get the same display as last night then I know we can get another clean sheet for Pepe!
Ultimately this match depends on what Liverpool team turns up? The one that has put United, City and Chelsea in their back pockets and shown how we really play. Or the team that lost to West Brom and Blackpool with no fight or determination or pride in the badge.
Thats up to 11 lads on the day. And if they have any understanding of what it means to be a Liverpool player then they'll know that 3 days after the Hillsborough Memorial you give everything you have and more, because there's 96 souls who would do anything to have that chance, and its that memory and that spirit that will see us home with 3 points on Sunday!
Logged