It has not been the easiest of seasons for either Liverpool or Arsenal.

The new Liverpool owners had made clear at the start of the campaign that the top four was the expectation, but Kenny Dalglish's men currently lie behind Newcastle in seventh. They may point to the fact they have been without key players like Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Lucas Leiva for extended periods, but it is illustrative of the disappointments of the campaign that Liverpool have drawn eight of their 12 home league games this season, leaving them with their joint worst points total at Anfield since the beginning of the Premier League era.

However, there is a feeling at Liverpool that they could be about to embark on a new era after they ended a six-year wait for silverware with the Carling Cup victory on Sunday. Principal owner John Henry hailed Dalglish as "extraordinary" and said beating Cardiff was the first step towards "putting the club back to where it has historically been", and that sentiment appears to be shared in the dressing room. "Liverpool are expected to get into finals and win trophies because of the tradition of the club," Stewart Downing told the club's official website. "They have not done that the last couple of years so that was a weight off the club's shoulders getting a trophy out of the way. We have proved we can win medals and finals on a big stage like Wembley - it should kick us on."Ending the cycle of failure can be all important, as Arsenal well know. They too had been comfortable favourites to lift the Carling Cup when they took on Birmingham a year ago, but a late defeat that day had a catastrophic effect on their form in the remainder of the season. A significant change of personnel in the summer, as well as the continued absence of Jack Wilshere, has seen Arsenal's own hopes of silverware brought to an end in the current campaign, and Arsene Wenger has been forced to declare that fourth place is their trophy after the recent Champions League and FA Cup defeats.

Their season had threatened to reach a new low when they trailed Tottenham 2-0 at the Emirates on Sunday, yet a remarkable comeback not only restored confidence but kept them in fourth place, ahead of Chelsea on goal difference. "Arsenal is alive more than anybody thought before the game," Wenger said afterwards, and they will now have the chance to prove it.

Injuries could play a significant role at Anfield. Liverpool have lost Daniel Agger to a rib injury for around four weeks, Glen Johnson had to pull out of the England squad with a hamstring injury and Gerrard was substituted in the first half while playing for his country. Craig Bellamy could also be rested after playing 75 minutes for Wales. Arsenal, meanwhile, could be without Tomas Rosicky, who pulled out of the Czech Republic squad with a back injury, and are still awaiting the returns of Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Per Mertesacker, among others.

Liverpool player to watch: Andy Carroll. Thirteen months on from his £35 million move, Carroll continues to struggle. Of his six goals this season, three have come against lower-league opposition in the cups and those in the league have all come against sides in the bottom half. Having been left out of the England squad to face Netherlands even when Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent withdrew, Carroll desperately needs a reaction to prevent his career heading off the rails. He memorably helped Newcastle to a 1-0 victory at the Emirates in November 2010, acting almost as a wrecking ball as the Toon battered away at the Gunners' defence. If he approaches the game with that kind of fervour, and his team-mates play to his strengths, the Arsenal defence will have endless problems.

Arsenal player to watch: Theo Walcott. When Walcott was booed off at half-time during the North London derby, there had been a feeling that Arsene Wenger's ongoing attempts to liberate his potential had ended in failure. However, his two goals in the second half offered a glimpse of Walcott at his very best: pacy, direct and, crucially, with an end product. Such sightings have been all too rare, but a magnanimous Harry Redknapp said after the game that he was "a player of real talent", and those goals may give him the confidence to show what he can do against the club he supported as a boy.

Key Battle: Jamie Carragher v Robin van Persie. The news that Daniel Agger has sustained another injury and may miss four weeks could well be significant for Liverpool. Kenny Dalglish will be left with a choice between Sebastian Coates, a player of potential still in a period of acclimatisation, or Jamie Carragher, a great servant whose best years now look beyond him. The experience of Carragher is likely to be called upon, but he will be sorely tested by the movement of Van Persie.

Trivia: The teams' last three Premier League meetings have brought three red cards.

Stats: Six of the last nine league games between the teams have resulted in draws.


Match

Its gonna be hott:::!! But I rep Arsenal anyday, anytime. Up Gunners!!!

Liverpool will carry the day

ynwa!!!

we'll never walk alone, liverpool all the way.

Liverpool all the way

Liverpool wins this one baby!

No draw on home soil. . . 8 - 2 . . . . Kops win this


YNWA!!!

3 points for ARSENAL

Only one winner here, lfc

In as much as I support arsenal I know Liverpool is going to take the day

Wenger! U better win this match.

I foresee heavy bombardment of the arsenal. Liverpool rocks tomorrow

. . .loading the score line

"Walk ou-t, walk ou-t, with ho-pe in your hear-ts, and You'll Ne-ver Walk A-lo-ne, YOU'LL NE-VER WALK A-LONE!!!"

YNWA!!!

It is going to be a cracker. Any of them can carry the day.

Hopefully, the scousers will still be hung over from their CC triumph.

chelseabenz, u know i know asnal will win this.

Liverpool FC and their Daglish will walk alone this time, in the cold path of defeat to Arsena.l

Henry40:

"Walk ou-t, walk ou-t, with ho-pe in your hear-ts, and You'll Ne-ver Walk A-lo-ne, YOU'LL NE-VER WALK A-LONE!!!"

YNWA!!!

By the time we finish wit una, Una go waka alone!

liverpool will walk alone today. arsenal all d way.

I laugh when I see people saying Arsenal will beat Liverpool today. While anything is possible in football, it will take a better club to beat Liverpool at Anfield, remember Liverpool is the ONLY club that hasn't lost a game at home this season.

If its a 3 1 win to Liverpool my ten pounds bet wins me a 160 pounds  

I predict Liverpool wins the game 2 - 1

Dr Know:

Its going to be 2-1 Arsenal

keep dreaming

faakay:

I predict Liverpool wins the game

chelseabmw link=topic=884263.msg10313667#msg10313667 date=1330687907:


In as much as I support arsenal [quote author=chucky234 link=topic=884263.msg10312238#msg10312238 date=1330675932]

Liverpool will carry the day

[/quote]



Arsenal Will Thump Livepool 2:1