Liverpool v Arsenal preview

[Lazie]

Liverpool and Arsenal lock horns for the third and final time of their trilogy at Anfield on Tuesday night with both sides aiming to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.


The tie is delicately balanced after a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Emirates Stadium and at the weekend both sides drew 1-1 again in the Premier League to ensure the third stalemate of the season between the pair.

Something will have to give at Anfield with Arsenal needing to score to keep alive their Champions League dreams, while a goalless draw will be good enough to see Liverpool reach their third semi-final in four seasons in Europe's premier competition.

Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant misses out against his old side after picking up a hamstring problem in Saturday's 1-1 draw in North London.

Long-term absentees Daniel Agger and Harry Kewell remain sidelined for Rafa Benitez's men.

Javier Mascherano is set to return to the starting line-up after being suspended for the Premier League clash at the weekend.

Benitez has hinted Peter Crouch could start after impressing at the weekend at Emirates Stadium, but the Spaniard is likely to continue with Fernando Torres in attack with Steven Gerrard supporting him in an advanced role.

Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel are expected to return to the starting XI after being rested at the weekend.

Jamie Carragher could revert to central defence alongside Martin Skrtel after starting the first leg at full-back with Sami Hyypia making way.


Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has made the trip to Merseyside, but remains a major doubt with a thigh problem he sustained in the first leg.

Abou Diaby is available for Arsene Wenger after missing Saturday's league clash through suspension.

The game has come too soon for Bacary Sagna, while Tomas Rosicky could be ruled out for the rest of the season.

Eduardo da Silva, Johan Djourou and Alexandre Song are all still sidelined for The Gunners.

Emmanuel Adebayor, Alexander Hleb, Gael Clichy and Philippe Senderos are all expected to return to the starting XI after being rested at the weekend.

Liverpool trio Gerrard, Carragher and Fabio Aurelio and Arsenal quintet Clichy, Denilson, Adebayor, Hleb and Eboue are all walking a disciplinary tightrope with one more booking ruling them out of the first leg of the semi-final.

[Lazie]

Come on Arsenal ... duh di ting!

[Karl]

Liverpool and Arsenal lock horns for the third and final time of their trilogy at Anfield on Tuesday night with both sides aiming to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.


The tie is delicately balanced after a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Emirates Stadium and at the weekend both sides drew 1-1 again in the Premier League to ensure the third stalemate of the season between the pair.

Something will have to give at Anfield with Arsenal needing to score to keep alive their Champions League dreams, while a goalless draw will be good enough to see Liverpool reach their third semi-final in four seasons in Europe's premier competition.

Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant misses out against his old side after picking up a hamstring problem in Saturday's 1-1 draw in North London.

Long-term absentees Daniel Agger and Harry Kewell remain sidelined for Rafa Benitez's men.

Javier Mascherano is set to return to the starting line-up after being suspended for the Premier League clash at the weekend.

Benitez has hinted Peter Crouch could start after impressing at the weekend at Emirates Stadium, but the Spaniard is likely to continue with Fernando Torres in attack with Steven Gerrard supporting him in an advanced role.

Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel are expected to return to the starting XI after being rested at the weekend.

Jamie Carragher could revert to central defence alongside Martin Skrtel after starting the first leg at full-back with Sami Hyypia making way.


Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has made the trip to Merseyside, but remains a major doubt with a thigh problem he sustained in the first leg.

Abou Diaby is available for Arsene Wenger after missing Saturday's league clash through suspension.

The game has come too soon for Bacary Sagna, while Tomas Rosicky could be ruled out for the rest of the season.

Eduardo da Silva, Johan Djourou and Alexandre Song are all still sidelined for The Gunners.

Emmanuel Adebayor, Alexander Hleb, Gael Clichy and Philippe Senderos are all expected to return to the starting XI after being rested at the weekend.

Liverpool trio Gerrard, Carragher and Fabio Aurelio and Arsenal quintet Clichy, Denilson, Adebayor, Hleb and Eboue are all walking a disciplinary tightrope with one more booking ruling them out of the first leg of the semi-final.

Well for the GUNNERs it is now or forget about it! If the GUNNERs do nto return to full stride now...even if they come out winners of the tie it would be season over! In the Champion League any team not at its best from here on out will not have a chance of winning!

Suh mi seit - so your BoyU better come wid dem best innah fi dem nex match!

...oooh to go off message - BoyU shall stumble again in the EPL! Suh mi seit fram lang time...suh mi seit still! Will that stumble please my heart?

wah yuh tink?

[Lazie]

Karl, what you see is of no significance. Didn't you see Arsenal leading the league all the way? Did you see them in 3rd position?

[Karl]

Karl, what you see is of no significance. Didn't you see Arsenal leading the league all the way? Did you see them in 3rd position?

Nope!
I saw this year as a building year!
...then as they went along, I had hope of an EPL win!
...now I am hoping my GUNNERs can come back against Liverpool!
Frankly I am proud of the youngsters! Regardless of results in the coming matches I am well satisfied. Getting to the Champion League final would be fantastic! Winning a trophy would put me 'over the world'!

...as I said at the start - we need another out and out striker - (Who are the others? van Persie and Eduardo!) who plays TEAM! Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o would do!

Adebayor has done well...but his reluctance to shoot is a big problem. Based on the number of times he has been in shooting position...excellent shooting position and not taken a shot...if he had taken those opportunities he would/could be 5/6 goals ahead of BoyU's Ronaldo!