Is it just me or is it always something about the games between Liverpool and Arsenal. The term ‘season defining’ springs to mind every time this fixture pops up. Which it tends to do, by the way. Everything is nice and quiet, the team is having a decent run, and then it hits you without any sort of warning. Liverpool FC v Arsenal FC. Crunch time.
I don’t know if it is because of the title decider in ’89, the FA Cup final in ’01 or the rather epic Champions League quarter final in ’08, but the games against Arsenal have an extra edge about them. A nice edge though – not the edgy edge like games against Everton, Manchester United or Chelsea. I have always admired Arséne Wenger for the type of football he stands for, the great teams he has built over the years and how he has managed to keep Arsenal competitive the last few years despite seeing their best and most influential players leave one by one, often without replacing them with players of similar quality.
Yes, he inherited good and solid foundations, but to keep renewing a team on relatively limited funds while staying true to ones principles is a great achievement. And of course, the infamous jacket. I want one of those, just to see if they are as difficult to zip as he makes it look.
Jokes and history aside though, there is another reason why these games against Arsenal mean something: the battle for points. It’s one of those classic so called six pointers; it has been in the past – with the exception of the last few seasons and around the ‘invincible’ years – and it most definitely is this time.
Victory for Wenger’s men will effectively crush LFC’s title dreams while also pretty much cement a top three finish for The Gunners, unless something out of the ordinary happens. However, a Liverpool win will keep everything wide open and potentially set us up for a magnificently gut wrenching business end of the season. The idea of Liverpool staying on the tail of the top teams was almost unheard of before the season started, but as long as they are mathematically well within reach of the top anything can happen.
Manchester City’s aura got a solid crack Monday evening when they lost at home against a Chelsea team who have not looked entirely convincing themselves. Both these teams have vastly superior squads compared to Liverpool Football Club, but thankfully football is not played on paper. As José Mourinho said after the game at the Etihad, it is about preparing the team for growth.
I guess not too many people believed him when he didn’t consider his Chelsea team among the favourites for the title this season, but there is an element of truth to what he said. In order to take the next step as a team – to evolve as a group – one must face diversity. One must create defining moments and games one can look back at and recognise as the day or the moment something changed.
This game is one of those potential days.
Arsenal face big game every week to prove gutter press and sky wrong arsenal better all round team but goals count
Arsenal bloody Arsenal, Anfield bogey team. Can’t see us getting more than a draw, although hoping for more.
if I were BR I’d start Couts and one of wizard (Suarez)/Sturridge on the bench. We may require one or two game changers, which has been our weakness this season.
Aaron u are a coward ,why don’t u believe we can win.Again I thought u supported fsg lack of strengthening the team this january. Shows how much u trust this team.COWARD
Pinocchio. Have you taken on troll hunter’s job of stalking me now? Well welcome aboard the fun train.
Arsenal are a bogey team, they seem to have the rub of the green against us recently. If I were placing a bet, I’d say the form is with Arsenal and back them to get a result or we to draw. Our similar style and their team/squad superiority is the main reason I said a draw. I’d be very impressed if we win.
Even if we strengthened in January I’d still be pleased with a draw. You talk as if drawing against them is beneath us or a rubbish result!
We are coming back from the wilderness, they have never left under Wenger.
Our team is good but currently is only the fourth best, points-wise, any guesses which team we’re playing this weekend has a slightly better team/squad/points total?
Again, this is where you should open your brain, is why I’d be perfectly happy with a draw.. We all want success but we have to be realistic, FSG are doing an ok job regardless of January.
COWARD? OMG…you’re such a pleb it’s untrue.
Hope the Anfield fortress will prove that IT is a fortress by defeating Arsenal.
1.Aaron do u know that with Konoplyanka’s pace we are sure to beat Arsenal.2 Arsenal humiliated us with a 2-0 scoreline so why can we hope for a draw3.With Sterling we can hit them so am going for a 3-2 win 4 us 2day. Don’t blame u Aaron cos I can see u have realised that fsg are a joke and dope.
Pinocchio: that last post made no sense! Not sure what outcome you backed.
FSG hired BR, who is doing a fantastic job is he not?
You call them a joke if you want but Tottenham, Everton and Arsenal despatched with ease (who could have seen that result against AFC) scoring 14 in the process…. And your unhappy why?
I knew we were going to beat Arsenal so that shows my faith with Br but u didn’t trust Rodgers by backing only a draw.Shows how much u thinks.
Pino. I explained why I said I thought.a draw was in the pipeline, do you need me to sensibly explain it again. Glad to be wrong, no shame in that.
I’m pretty certain I have been one of BR and FSG’s biggest fans on this site, your simple minded attempt to show otherwise is futile and silly. When we lose or play poorly, I staunchly defend Rodgers et al. Hugely excited when we win.
It wasn’t that long ago you were trying to belittle me, with your absent friend @realist, for believing in BR… Now you’ve changed your tune… Welcome back aboard.
Pinocchio (Pino): Your post on Would Arsenal Defeat End Top Four Hopes, says, you could ‘only see an away win’
Now you claim you knew we would win?? I knew you were a wind up merchant. Just stay consistent and we can engage in adult discussions.
Did you watch the game today? ‘if’ yes, wasn’t it a awesome display, with the future looking rosey?