Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool expect to win every match they play at home as they attempt to beat Arsenal in the league for the first time since March 2007.
Liverpool have lost just once in the last 18 home matches and have already scored the same number of league goals at Anfield as they did in the whole of last season at home - 33.
Liverpool are currently fourth in the league and Rodgers acknowledged the expectation at the club amongst both the players and the supporters is different now to when he first joined in 2012.
"Our home form has been brilliant and that is vitally important for any team, especially a team who wants to be challenging at the top of the table," he said.
"We are going to go into each game looking to win the game. There is a greater confidence now.
"I certainly sensed (last season) there was maybe that little bit of fear of playing at Anfield because of the result.
"What we've tried to do over the course of the time I've been here is focus on the performance.
"You worry so much about the result but there is a process to getting the result - and if you worry too much about the result only it can hinder your performance.
"We want to win but what we can look to control is how we win and our performance level.
"That's something that over time has given us a confidence and a greater belief in winning games. We'll aim to replicate that at the weekend.
"We will always respect every opponent we play and none more so than the leaders but we will come into the game looking to perform and hopefully win.
"We expect to win now. I think when I first came in the pressure to win was difficult for us.
"We expect it because of the size of the club but we were never that confident to consistently do it, but now we go into every game expecting to win and none more so than at Anfield."
Arsenal won 2-0 the last time the two sides met in November, but Rodgers believes this weekend's clash is of greater importance as Liverpool try and secure qualification for the Champions League with a top-four finish.
"Our confidence wasn't so good (at the Emirates) and you have to give credit to Arsenal, who played well in that game.
"We understand the magnitude of this game and it could give us an extra push for the remaining games."
Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool expect to win every match they play at home as they attempt to beat Arsenal in the league for the first time since March 2007.
Liverpool have lost just once in the last 18 home matches and have already scored the same number of league goals at Anfield as they did in the whole of last season at home - 33.
Liverpool are currently fourth in the league and Rodgers acknowledged the expectation at the club amongst both the players and the supporters is different now to when he first joined in 2012.
"Our home form has been brilliant and that is vitally important for any team, especially a team who wants to be challenging at the top of the table," he said.
"We are going to go into each game looking to win the game. There is a greater confidence now.
"I certainly sensed (last season) there was maybe that little bit of fear of playing at Anfield because of the result.
"What we've tried to do over the course of the time I've been here is focus on the performance.
"You worry so much about the result but there is a process to getting the result - and if you worry too much about the result only it can hinder your performance.
"We want to win but what we can look to control is how we win and our performance level.
"That's something that over time has given us a confidence and a greater belief in winning games. We'll aim to replicate that at the weekend.
"We will always respect every opponent we play and none more so than the leaders but we will come into the game looking to perform and hopefully win.
"We expect to win now. I think when I first came in the pressure to win was difficult for us.
"We expect it because of the size of the club but we were never that confident to consistently do it, but now we go into every game expecting to win and none more so than at Anfield."
Arsenal won 2-0 the last time the two sides met in November, but Rodgers believes this weekend's clash is of greater importance as Liverpool try and secure qualification for the Champions League with a top-four finish.
"Our confidence wasn't so good (at the Emirates) and you have to give credit to Arsenal, who played well in that game.
"We understand the magnitude of this game and it could give us an extra push for the remaining games."
Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield in this Saturday’s early kick-off (12:45pm) as the Reds look to narrow the gap between themselves and the top-of-the-table Gunners to a five points. Adam Griffies (@whatahitsonlfc) previews the match.
Liverpool have come out on top in just one of the last six meetings with the Londoners: a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium in August 2011.
This will be the first of the sides’ two meetings in the space of eight days, with Liverpool facing an away trip to Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup on 16 February.
Both teams, unbeaten up to now in 2014, share an array of attacking talent and two managers who advocate aesthetically pleasing football and like their teams to dominate possession. Subsequently, the battle for control could prove pivotal.
The clubs’ offensive powers are demonstrated clearly by statistics, having scored a total of 105 goals between them in 48 matches combined this season in the league; that is an average of 2.2 goals per game.
I’d expect the majority of chances created in the match to stem from penetrative, central play, as both sides boast creators who like to drop into pockets of space and look for defence-splitting passes.
This is underlined by the fact that six of the seven players who have executed the most successful through balls per game in the 2013/14 Premier League are either Liverpool or Arsenal players. To satisfy your curiosity, the anomaly is Manchester City’s midfield master David Silva, who is leading the way with an average of 0.7 through balls each match.
Joe Allen could return for Liverpool (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool were boosted last week by the return to full training of central midfielder Joe Allen, and although he was a substitute against West Brom, he could have a crucial part to play for the visit of Arsenal.
Brendan Rodgers has deployed a fluid 4-2-3-1 system in recent games, partly due to his hand being forced by injuries to Lucas and the aforementioned Allen, with Philippe Coutinho operating as a floating number 10 behind the frontman.
While the Brazilian is probably at his most effective in this position, playing him there does slightly compromise midfield solidity, an area of the field which is unequivocally vital against Arsenal.
Bringing in Allen would allow Rodgers to switch to a more compact 4-3-3; the formation which was so successful in our 5-0 demolition of Tottenham in December – Allen alongside Jordan Henderson, in front of a sitting Steven Gerrard. The tenacity of the central pairing would shield Gerrard and allow him to dictate play from deep as a regista.
Rodgers still has injury woes in defence; Mamadou Sakho, Daniel Agger, Jose Enrique and Glen Johnson all continue to be ruled out through injury and will miss Saturday’s clash. The manager did have some positive news on the latter in his pre-match press conference, stating that the attacking full-back is “making a great recovery” and “should be back next week.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is unbeaten in his last six Premier League trips to Anfield, winning three and drawing three of those games. However, if he wants to sustain that run, he’ll have to cope with a number of midfield absentees.
Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott are side-lined with long-term injuries, while holding midfielder Mathieu Flamini is set to miss out through suspension. Ironically, the Frenchman also missed Liverpool’s visit to the Emirates earlier in the season, though the Reds will be hoping to capitalise on his absence more than they did that day.
Jack Wilshere is also a slight doubt for Saturday’s game, having sat out Arsenal’s win over Crystal Palace last weekend with a knock, although I’d expect him to be involved.
It’s a hard one to call, this. Should Rodgers set up in the 4-3-3 shape, I’m confident we’d be able to get a firm grip on what will be a crucial battle in midfield, and consequently win the game. One thing is for sure: we’ll need Anfield behind us throughout the 90 minutes.
Despite being aware of the irony created by declaring this with almost weekly regularity, it’s safe to say Saturday’s game is Liverpool’s biggest of the campaign so far. A win would not only cement our place in fourth, but it could also ignite Arsenal’s annual mid-season capitulation, thus bringing them back to within our grasp.
This is huge.
Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield in this Saturday’s early kick-off (12:45pm) as the Reds look to narrow the gap between themselves and the top-of-the-table Gunners to a five points. Adam Griffies (@whatahitsonlfc) previews the match.
Liverpool have come out on top in just one of the last six meetings with the Londoners: a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium in August 2011.
This will be the first of the sides’ two meetings in the space of eight days, with Liverpool facing an away trip to Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup on 16 February.
Both teams, unbeaten up to now in 2014, share an array of attacking talent and two managers who advocate aesthetically pleasing football and like their teams to dominate possession. Subsequently, the battle for control could prove pivotal.
The clubs’ offensive powers are demonstrated clearly by statistics, having scored a total of 105 goals between them in 48 matches combined this season in the league; that is an average of 2.2 goals per game.
I’d expect the majority of chances created in the match to stem from penetrative, central play, as both sides boast creators who like to drop into pockets of space and look for defence-splitting passes.
This is underlined by the fact that six of the seven players who have executed the most successful through balls per game in the 2013/14 Premier League are either Liverpool or Arsenal players. To satisfy your curiosity, the anomaly is Manchester City’s midfield master David Silva, who is leading the way with an average of 0.7 through balls each match.
Joe Allen could return for Liverpool (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool were boosted last week by the return to full training of central midfielder Joe Allen, and although he was a substitute against West Brom, he could have a crucial part to play for the visit of Arsenal.
Brendan Rodgers has deployed a fluid 4-2-3-1 system in recent games, partly due to his hand being forced by injuries to Lucas and the aforementioned Allen, with Philippe Coutinho operating as a floating number 10 behind the frontman.
While the Brazilian is probably at his most effective in this position, playing him there does slightly compromise midfield solidity, an area of the field which is unequivocally vital against Arsenal.
Bringing in Allen would allow Rodgers to switch to a more compact 4-3-3; the formation which was so successful in our 5-0 demolition of Tottenham in December – Allen alongside Jordan Henderson, in front of a sitting Steven Gerrard. The tenacity of the central pairing would shield Gerrard and allow him to dictate play from deep as a regista.
Rodgers still has injury woes in defence; Mamadou Sakho, Daniel Agger, Jose Enrique and Glen Johnson all continue to be ruled out through injury and will miss Saturday’s clash. The manager did have some positive news on the latter in his pre-match press conference, stating that the attacking full-back is “making a great recovery” and “should be back next week.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is unbeaten in his last six Premier League trips to Anfield, winning three and drawing three of those games. However, if he wants to sustain that run, he’ll have to cope with a number of midfield absentees.
Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott are side-lined with long-term injuries, while holding midfielder Mathieu Flamini is set to miss out through suspension. Ironically, the Frenchman also missed Liverpool’s visit to the Emirates earlier in the season, though the Reds will be hoping to capitalise on his absence more than they did that day.
Jack Wilshere is also a slight doubt for Saturday’s game, having sat out Arsenal’s win over Crystal Palace last weekend with a knock, although I’d expect him to be involved.
It’s a hard one to call, this. Should Rodgers set up in the 4-3-3 shape, I’m confident we’d be able to get a firm grip on what will be a crucial battle in midfield, and consequently win the game. One thing is for sure: we’ll need Anfield behind us throughout the 90 minutes.
Despite being aware of the irony created by declaring this with almost weekly regularity, it’s safe to say Saturday’s game is Liverpool’s biggest of the campaign so far. A win would not only cement our place in fourth, but it could also ignite Arsenal’s annual mid-season capitulation, thus bringing them back to within our grasp.
This is huge.
Arsenal have confirmed they have given up hope of one day persuading Luis Suarez to leave Liverpool for the Emirates.
The Gunners were the most public of clubs hoping to sign the Uruguayan international when he became unsettled at Liverpool last summer.
After having several bids rejected by Liverpool, Arsene Wenger turned his attentions elsewhere—signing German international Mesut Özil for £46 million on transfer deadline day in the summer.
With the two sides facing each other this weekend, Wenger says he has no regrets over his chase for Suarez, but has moved on from that interest.
“Sometimes you have regrets when you had a player who played for you and scores or does well somewhere else,” Wenger said, as per Colin Harvey of the Daily Star .
“But he was never our player. It’s just a situation that didn’t come off and that’s it.
When asked whether Arsenal could ever renew their interest in the 27-year-old Premier League top goalscorer, the Frenchman added, “No, no. I don’t, no.”
Relishing his side’s trip to Anfield this Saturday lunchtime, Wenger also spoke about his admiration for the Kop.
He is quoted on The Sport Review as saying, “I have a big respect for the fans there because they really know football and even sometimes when [we’ve] had good results, their behaviour is unbelievably loyal and has always been.
“They are a passionate crowd with a big history and they always behave in a passionate but very fair way.”
Liverpool vs Arsenal gets underway at 12.45pm on Saturday, 8th February 2014 and is live on BT Sport 1.
Arsenal have confirmed they have given up hope of one day persuading Luis Suarez to leave Liverpool for the Emirates.
The Gunners were the most public of clubs hoping to sign the Uruguayan international when he became unsettled at Liverpool last summer.
After having several bids rejected by Liverpool, Arsene Wenger turned his attentions elsewhere—signing German international Mesut Özil for £46 million on transfer deadline day in the summer.
With the two sides facing each other this weekend, Wenger says he has no regrets over his chase for Suarez, but has moved on from that interest.
“Sometimes you have regrets when you had a player who played for you and scores or does well somewhere else,” Wenger said, as per Colin Harvey of the Daily Star .
“But he was never our player. It’s just a situation that didn’t come off and that’s it.
When asked whether Arsenal could ever renew their interest in the 27-year-old Premier League top goalscorer, the Frenchman added, “No, no. I don’t, no.”
Relishing his side’s trip to Anfield this Saturday lunchtime, Wenger also spoke about his admiration for the Kop.
He is quoted on The Sport Review as saying, “I have a big respect for the fans there because they really know football and even sometimes when [we’ve] had good results, their behaviour is unbelievably loyal and has always been.
“They are a passionate crowd with a big history and they always behave in a passionate but very fair way.”
Liverpool vs Arsenal gets underway at 12.45pm on Saturday, 8th February 2014 and is live on BT Sport 1.
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