Liverpool v Arsenal Team News

Liverpool entertain Arsenal on Tuesday evening with no injury concerns other than Steven Gerrard who it was already known would miss the match after aggravating his groin injury in the build up to last week's Champions League clash with Chelsea.

Arsenal on the other hand have a litany of concerns and are already without strike pairing Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor. Leading scorer van Persie has a groin problem Adebayor picked up a hamstring injury during the FA Cup semi-final over the weekend. Brazilian born Croatian forward Eudardo is likely to feature.

Manuel Almunia has failed to recover from a knock to his ankle which kept him on the sidelines at Wembley. Lukasz Fabianski is set to stand in once more.

Defensive trio Gael Clichy, Johan Djourou and William Gallas are also missing- he latter two with knee injuries. The Gunners can welcome back Bacary Sagna after a virus.

Teams:

Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Skrtel, Dossena, Aurelio, Insua, Benayoun, Riera, Mascherano, Alonso, Lucas, Kuyt, Torres, Ngog, El Zhar, Cavalieri.

Arsenal (from): Fabianski, Sagna, Toure, Silvestre, Gibbs, Arshavin, Song, Fabregas, Walcott, Bendtner, Eduardo, Mannone, Eboue, Nasri, Diaby, Vela, Denilson, Ramsey.

Arsene Wenger: We are ready

Arsene Wenger insisted Arsenal are ready for Manchester United - and then promised another Champions League thriller.

Gunners boss Wenger was in confident mood after his brilliant young side destroyed Villarreal with a stunning victory at the Emirates.

Wenger also believes Arsenal can serve up a repeat of Chelsea's European classic with Liverpool in their two- legged semi- final with old rivals United.

"It could be another game like that," said Wenger.

"I believe both teams, Manchester United and Arsenal, always produce very exciting games. Both teams like to go forward and it will be a promising semi- final.

"We are up for the challenge and it will be very interesting. It's a cup competition of 180 minutes and what's more important is the form on the day. Both teams have the same programme - a game in hand to play, an FA Cup semi- final, so how much we are physically okay might have an impact.

“I watched the Liverpool and Chelsea and you can’t say that those who love football can’t want to watch that game.

Top 10 conclusions Champions League quarter finals 15 April

1. The only person changing colour and taking on the persona of a monster was Sir Alex Ferguson, not Hulk.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo has clearly rediscovered his Champions League shooting boots. That was a peach!

3. Nerve-settling early goals were the order of the day.

4. Nemanja Vidic is not a striker. His terrible miss from five yards out ought to have made the evening a lot less nail-biting.

5. Dimitar Berbatov has been giving Cristiano Ronaldo lessons in sulky celebrations.

6. It is time to get excited about Theo Walcott, part three. He seems to be picking up where he left off before his injury now that his match fitness is returning.

READ MORE: OFF THE POST

Arshavin's wife: English food is dodgy but I couldn't stop him from joining Arsenal

Yulia and the couple’s son and daughter moved permanently to London on Sunday after they found a home in London. ‘To prevent Andrey’s dream from coming true? It couldn’t even occur to me.’

Little Arshavins?!?! Absolute madness. I hope they grow up to be just like their crazy ass father.

Yuila had previously told the Russian media she did not like English food and found the British too reticent.

‘I don’t particularly like England,’ she said before the transfer. ‘In my opinion, people are too reserved and it’s dull there.’

Arsenal boss Wenger: Liverpool Could Do the Impossible Comeback

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is convinced Liverpool are still in their Champions League tie with Chelsea.

Wenger said no-one should write off Liverpool, even though they were defeated 3-1 at Anfield by Chelsea.

Wenger said: "Arsenal v Villarreal and Manchester United v Porto are still to be decided. Barcelona looks to be through completely and Chelsea are in a strong position.

"But it is still to be decided because Liverpool can respond and be strong away from home.

"Everywhere you play at the moment you have to be completely 100%. If you are just a little bit off your best you get punished."

Arshavin is a Special Little Guy!

In an interview with The Telegraph, Arshavin spurted more wonderful quotes that prove just how special he is:

“I had a problem at my first school. I was sat at the front of the class, right in front of the teacher. We were checking a mathematical problem. My answer was right but I had some marks [doodles] on my paper. The result was good but because of the marks she did not give me the top mark.

“I said, OK, if you don’t give me the top mark, I will tear the journal that she used to put the marks in. She did not believe so I said, no problem. I tore it in half. And I was thrown out of school.”

And this happened just last week. But despite Andrei’s difficulties in school, he has already created several literary masterworks.

“I have already got three books! They are not like books, they are like journals. I did not especially want to say anything, it was not my idea.”

Ah yes, that’s a quote for the back cover.

“The man who looks after my website wanted to do it and I said I’d help – and he produced three books in four months!”

So what did you do, give a thumbs up when he showed you the finished product?

A couple more gems:

“I think the quality of life, especially for people with money, is better in Russia than here [in England]. Here there are lots of rules and laws. In Russia, if you have money, you can break the law.”

“I am happy with my professional life but I am unhappy in everyday life, it is very difficult for me. I don’t understand why people do things, or say things, it is a little bit strange.”

Poor Andrei. But perhaps this isn’t a problem with being new in a different country. I mean, its normal to not understand what a foreign people say, but why they say things or why they do things? Those motives are pretty standard to all human beings everywhere.

I think this might confirm it. Arshavin isn’t retarded. He’s an alien.

'I learnt nothing from Wenger'

Real Madrid's French midfielder Lassana Diarra has claimed to have learnt 'nothing' from Arsene Wenger during his short-lived time at Arsenal.

In an interview with El Pais newspaper, Diarra said: 'I have the impression that I never played at Arsenal. If you hadn't reminded me of it, I would have forgotten about it. It is something erased from my head.'

Asked about any influence Wenger had on him, Diarra said: 'Me? Nothing. With Wenger I learnt nothing. Well, he only taught me how to doubt everything.

'I played 15 matches. The relationship I had with him was not good. Wenger never spoke to me until I told him I was leaving. He spoke with the others but not me.'

Diarra signed for Arsenal from Chelsea in September 2007 but transferred to Portsmouth in January 2008 before joining Real Madrid a year later.

AFP

Barcelona to make £32m bid for Arsenal midfielder

In 2003, Professor Wenger stole 16-year-old diamond-in-the-rough Cesc Fabregas away from Barcelona, but according to reports in Spain, the midfielder could soon return to the Catalan giants.

A figure of around £32m has been suggested, and Barca president Joan Laporta has made his love for the 21-year-old Spaniard quite clear. He told Punto Radio:

“Although he is with another club, I have always praised Fabregas. He was born in Catalonia and has become better since leaving the club.

“But I feel he has this club at his heart. The technical staff will decide on any movement for him, but there is no doubt he would be a big player for us.”

The many funny faces of Andrei Arshavin

Liverpool's stars of their Manchester United slaying dominate Champ Man's weekly awards

Sportsmail online and Championship Manager have teamed up to laud the outstanding performance of each weekend - and it will be no surprise that Liverpool's Old Trafford conquerors sweep the awards this time around.

After leading a 4-1 rout of Manchester United, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is the player of the week and his Anfield boss Rafa Benitez claims the manager's gong.

The boffins at the ultimate football management game, Championship Manager, put Gerrard ahead of his Spanish team-mate Fernando Torres and Arsenal forward Andrey Arshavin, who opened his account in English football with a stunning goal against Blackburn.

1 STEVEN GERRARD (Liverpool)

The midfielder cum makeshift striker once again produced a world-class display, making a Manchester United defence that seemed impenetrable only a few weeks ago look very ordinary.

His link up play with Fernando Torres caused havoc throughout the match and the United defenders could not cope with his pace and movement, which directly created two of the Liverpool goals.

After getting the better of Patrice Evra to win a penalty, which he converted to put Liverpool 2-1 ahead, he also won the free-kick that Fabio Aurelio converted to put Liverpool 3-1 ahead after he was hauled down by Nemanja Vidic on the edge of the box when he seemed certain to score. The performance capped a fine week for Gerrard following his brace against Real Madrid during the week. The Liverpool captain has declared this his best week in football and in the process may have reignited Liverpool’s title challenge.

2 FERNANDO TORRES (Liverpool)

Fernando Torres produced a performance at the weekend which confirmed his status as the best centre forward in world football. He hounded the usually unflappable Vidic into a mistake to score Liverpool’s equalising goal.

He created Liverpool’s second goal by feeding Gerrard for his run into the box that won Liverpool’s penalty. Torres never let Vidic settle all day, harrying and harassing the Man Utd defence and nutmegging the Serb into the bargain. He also had a decent penalty shout turned down himself when he was fouled by Vidic.

3 ANDREY ARSHAVIN (Arsenal)

The Russian’s performance had Arsene Wenger purring with praise, stating that 'Arshavin has lots of talent, his intelligence, vision and finishing are top quality'. Arshavin was involved in the first goal after only two minutes, when he latched on to Walcott’s cross for it to be deflected into the Blackburn net for an own goal.

His goal in the second half was pure class. He skinned Simpson on the left hand side of the box before cutting in and from the acutest of angles powered a lifting shot over Robinson to make the game 2-0. His overall contribution was immense and with performances like this he will be big asset to the Gunners in the final stages of the season.

MANAGER - RAFA BENITEZ (Liverpool)

Managed Liverpool to their biggest win at Old Trafford since 1936. The Spaniard has silenced his critics by closing the gap at the top of the Premier League to four points.

After winning 4-1, he has set his Liverpool side a target of winning all nine of their remaining games. If Liverpool play as well as they did at Old Trafford they may be on course to win their first league title since 1990.

It was Liverpool's biggest win at their fierce rivals since 1936 and they closed the gap at the top of the league to four points, although United also have a game in hand.