Liverpool take on Arsenal at Anfield on Tuesday kick-off at 20:00 hours (BST). The Merseysiders go into the meeting with the Gunners one point behind leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand. The Reds, who hold a superior goal difference over their north-west rivals, could move back top of the Premier League with a draw from Tuesday’s match.

Fernando Torres goes into the game versus the Londoners as Liverpool’s second top scorer in the league. The Spaniard, who has hit 11 goals in 19 appearances, is just two goals behind club top scorer Steve Gerrard, and four behind the Barclays Premier League Top Scorer, Nicolas Anelka, who has hit 15 goals in 31 appearances.

Rafa Benitez will be without his skipper for the top four clash. The club confirmed that Gerrard, who missed the Red’s Champions League 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge, will also miss the game with Arsenal after failing to recover from a groin injury.

The Gunner’s coach has several injury worries ahead of the game at Anfield. Arsene Wenger will be his first-choice goalkeeper Almunia, plus Gallas and Clichy at the back.

Liverpool will be hoping to bounce back from their Champions League exit at the hands of Chelsea. The Reds went out 7-5 on aggregate after a pulsating 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge last week.

All Rafa’s side have to play for now is the Premier League title, and the Merseysiders will be fully focused on ending the club’s 19 year wait for the league trophy.

Arsenal arrive for the Premier League encounter on the back of a disappointing 2-1 loss to Chelsea in the semi-final of the FA Cup on Saturday. The Gunners had taken an early lead through Theo Walcott, but goals from Florent Malouda and a Didier Drogba six minutes from time put Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

The Londoners are unbeaten in 18 games and since drawing with Fulham 0-0 at end of February, Arsenal have pulled away from Aston Villa in the fight for fourth place, and a place in next season’s Champions League. Arsene Wenger’s team have taken maximum points from their last six games beating: West Bromwich Albion, Blackburn Rovers, Hull City, Newcastle, Manchester City and Wigan Athletic.

This season’s meeting between the two at the Emirates Stadium in December ended all-square. Liverpool were without the injured Fernando Torres for the clash, as goals from Robin van Persie and Robbie Keane made sure that the spoils were shared (1-1).

Last season in the Premier League Arsenal visited Anfield and got a draw. The teams also drew twice at the Emirates, once in the league and once in the first-leg of the Champions League quarter-final. In the return-leg, Torres grabbed his club’s second in the 69th minute as the home side defeated Arsenal 4-2.

The match comes almost twenty years after Liverpool were denied an FA Cup and League double by Arsenal. The Londoners faced Liverpool on the last day of the season needing a 2-0 victory to pip the Reds to the English First Division title. The game had been moved back to May 26 (1989) because of fixture congestion and the Hillsborough tragedy. Alan Smith headed the Gunner’s first of the evening early in the second half, before Michael Thomas clipped the ball over Bruce Grobbelaar in stoppage time.

Elsewhere, leaders Manchester United face Portsmouth at home, and third-placed Chelsea take on Everton at Stamford Bridge. Both games take place on Wednesday and kick-off at 20:00 hours (BST).


Photo: J.A. Sirvent