A minefield wait for Gunners at Anfield

Benitez believes his Liverpool side can knock out the weary Gunners today in the second leg of their quarterfinal match – and the final installment of a week-long Liverpool-Arsenal trilogy.

“This game will be the most important option they will have,” Benitez said. “If they want to win a trophy, they will have to win this game because it will be really difficult in the Premier League.”

Five-time European champion Liverpool snatched a crucial away goal in last week’s first leg draw and held Arsenal 1-1 again on Saturday in the Premier League to leave the Gunners six points adrift of leader Manchester United.

With only five rounds left, United has 77 points, Chelsea has 74 and Arsenal is a distant third with 71, giving even greater importance to the second leg at Anfield. “I still believe we will finish champions in the Premier League,” Wenger said on Monday. “We did have a dip recently, it’s true. We can’t deny that. But football is strange sometimes. It is possible we can win the last five games.”

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie is a doubt with a thigh complaint, while former Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant will be missing for Liverpool with a hamstring injury. Wednesday’s hard-fought 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium saw Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt quickly cancel out Emmanuel Adebayor’s opener. “We have to fight tomorrow, because we know that it is going to be a big battle,” Adebayor said on Monday. “The most important thing is for us to keep our concentration high and play our own football.”

Benitez is frustrated that both Arsenal goals in the last week came from set pieces. “If we analyse the number of goals we’re conceding it’s too many,” he said. “We need to defend with more intensity and be more aggressive … we have conceded two goals which is a big problem and we are working on these things.” Wenger will draw inspiration from Arsenal’s comeback in the last round – winning 2-0 at AC Milan after being held 0-0 at home.

The Frenchman insisted his youngsters have exceeded expectations this season. “We have belief we can win everywhere in the world,” Wenger said. “There is a little comfort when the game starts when you are at home, but in Europe that doesn’t matter very much.” Benitez’s squad rotations have been blamed for Liverpool’s failure to end 18 years without an English title, but winning a second European Cup in four seasons – after the 2005 title and last year’s final – would be some vindication for his much-disparaged strategy. Eight changes were made to the Liverpool side for the Arsenal game. The Gunners made five changes.

Liverpool’s Peter Crouch, who scored Saturday in a rare start, said he was disappointed by his lack of action. Crouch is still in the manager’s plans. “He wants to play more games, it’s clear, but he also knows Torres is on fire,” Benitez said.