Over the course of seven days, Arsenal and Liverpool will face-off three times:
Wednesday at the Emirates for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, Saturday again at the Emirates for an important Premier League match, and finally Tuesday at Anfield for the quarter-finals second leg.
This series will reveal some interesting aspects of both clubs.
Arsene and Rafa, the strategists
It is hard to catch a smile on the faces of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger or Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez. Both carry their poker faces well, even when they're ahead in a match.
Wenger has an obvious advantage in playing two of the three matches at the Emirates. If Liverpool scores an away goal in the first-leg CL match at the Emirates, then Benitez has an advantage in playing the last CL match, and probably the deciding one, at Anfield.
This three match series offers a unique chance for us to see Wenger and Benitez strategize likes generals, as they can fix their eyes on three consecutive battles with one enemy. Look to see whom they start each match, how they substitute players, and if they capitalize on their opponent's weaknesses in successive matches.
Is Liverpool made for Europe?
"Come on," you say. "Give me a break. I'm tired of hearing about how many times Liverpool have won the European Cup. When are they gonna win the EPL?"
You raise a good point. But I'm talking about what drives the heart and soul of this club, not if winning European Cups is better than winning the EPL.
Today's Must Reads
After Steven Gerrard drilled a 20-yard shot in the final moments to solidify a two-nil win over Inter Milan, defender Jamie Carragher commented that his captain "is made for the Champions League."
Some have said similar things about Liverpool itself. The Reds can transform into a different team when they are pressed against the European elimination wall.
We saw the turnaround in the last match of the 2004-05 group stage, when they plowed their way to the Finals against AC Milan. In that match, they were three goals down in the first half to Milan, until Steven Gerrard orchestrated an amazing comeback that ended with Liverpool as Champions of Europe.
The turnaround has happened again this season, when after three straight CL matches without a win (1 draw and 2 losses in a row) and facing possible elimination in the group stage, Liverpool became a different team. Starting with their second game verse Besiktas, they won their next five CL matches, outscoring their opponents 19-1.
While one may argue that they should have been playing that gloriously the whole time, that's not the point. The point is that the heart of this team beats for Europe. Even Arsenal acknowledges it.
Last year, Arsenal eliminated Liverpool from both the FA Cup and League Cup. Liverpool will be ready for a non-EPL rematch with Arsenal this year, especially since it involves Europe.
This series will reveal again how much Liverpool's European passion really matters.
Arsenal's priorities are…
"Mr. Wenger, you can pick one of these matches to win, one of them to draw, and one to lose."
That would add an intriguing twist to these matches, but we're allowed no such pleasure. While we know the stigmas about Liverpool's priorities regarding Europe, reading between the lines may help us see where Wenger and Arsenal's are.
At this point, Arsenal have only an outside shot at the EPL title. But after the recent comeback against Bolton, we see they still have some fight and they are not giving up on the outside shot in the EPL.
The Gunners sit six points behind Man United, but aren't too worried about dropping below fourth. Arsenal have five EPL matches left after facing Liverpool on Saturday. One of those matches is at Old Trafford not even a week after the Liverpool series ends.
Will Arsenal throw out all the stops in Saturday's Liverpool match, hoping they can win Saturday, AND at Old Trafford AND that Man U will stutter before the season's end?
Or will they focus their attention on the Wednesday and following Tuesday Champions League matches?
Here's Part 2:
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4 months ago
Arsenal look ripe for the picking at the moment. Liverpool should be the favorites in the CL match.
4 months ago
None of them are looking particularly good. I honestly think Arsenal will snatch the odd goal !!
Good writing buddy !
4 months ago
Good writing.. Keep it coming pls..
4 months ago
As Arsenal knocked Liverpool out of 2 cups last season scoring 11 goals (i think?) winning this trilogy is very much a possibility. If we beat Liverpool at The Grove in the first leg, then it gives us a huge mental advantage for the next two games
4 months ago
these 3 games will b perfect for the tactical nous that both managers have in there closets.does wenger(who i personally think has been the cleverest manager in the league for a long time) go out and attack liverpool in the 1st leg,but in saying that liverpool r good on the counter.or will he be cagy and play a system were he can keep it tightlike he did against milan,and keep it stalemate and play counter attack at liverpool and then go for the away goal at anfield? benitez knows how to cope in massive 2 leg affairs in europe.so far the prem league is still not quite got to grips with but that will come in time,but he will allow arsnal to have all the play at the emirates,he wont b bothered if he comes away with a 0 0 draw,that will suit his style of play for when the 2 giants come back to anfield. in truth this contest is a 50 50 affair,there r no favourites or underdogs. there is a small matter of a irritating prem league game in the middle.i personally think arsenal will b the conquers in that game.liverpool have a small rest bite now that they won the derby game y'day and that gives them there 5 pt gap over there neighbors.arsenal do have to win to keep up with utd and chelsea at the top of the league. im looking forward to the triple encounter,bring on the giants!!
from 4 months ago
I agree with the 50/50. Both teams have showed that they can play top class European football. They have both also shown that their squads might not even show up to play against the EPL's middle of the pack. It could come down to who just wants it more, as I see both teams being tactically sound when they want to be. I'll examine some conceptual factors that might influence the outcome of these matches in the next article.
4 months ago
It will certainly be interesting to see what teams are fielded at Anfield and the Emirates respectively. My gut instinct is that the Arsenal team played at the emirates will not be the same team to play at home again, on the saturday, or at Anfield a week later. That is key to their success, and will show good the Arsenal team spirit and depth of squad is.
As for Liverpool, consistency and decent substitutes will be the key to victory. It's no coincidence that when Benitez plays a more consistent lineup, Liverpool play better and more attractive football. Too many chopping and changing has been their EPL downfall, whereas the more consistent Champions League Liverpool has been successful.
from 4 months ago
Simon,
Do you see Arsenal's squad in their first home game being similar to whom they've started recently, and their second home game and the match at Anfield being more of a rotation?
from 4 months ago
Thats precisely how I see it John. I can't see them doing anything else, whereas with Liverpool it really is about being consistently on the ball with the same players playing together. It's strange how we can see the two different approaches to the same matches in such a contrast.
from 4 months ago
Thats precisely how I see it John. I can't see them doing anything else, whereas with Liverpool it really is about being consistently on the ball with the same players playing together. It's strange how we can see the two different approaches to the same matches in such a contrast.
from 4 months ago
Thats precisely how I see it John. I can't see them doing anything else, whereas with Liverpool it really is about being consistently on the ball with the same players playing together. It's strange how we can see the two different approaches to the same matches in such a contrast.
from 4 months ago
Thats precisely how I see it John. I can't see them doing anything else, whereas with Liverpool it really is about being consistently on the ball with the same players playing together. It's strange how we can see the two different approaches to the same matches in such a contrast.
4 months ago
So do you think Arsene will seek to keep the first game a nil nil match? then go for the away goal in the second leg?
4 months ago
Liverpool always look good in europe...so do not count them out just yet. Arsenal have not been playing good football that we have come to know over the years but with the win on saturday, although scrappy, might have some momentum going.
4 months ago
"Liverpool always look good in Europe"...if I had a damn nickel for every time I'd heard that silly platitude.
Arsenal: Young, inexperienced, flighty, but every so often truly inspiring.
Liverpool: Aging (except for Torres, who is an assassin), constipated with ownership issues, and inconsistent and below-par for most of the year. (Beating an Inter side suffering from all of those things, except more so, doesn't count for much.)
Don't count the Gunners out just yet.
from 4 months ago
Not counting them out. It'll be a good series for sure.
4 months ago
Good article John.
I think Liverpool are favourites for the Champions League, with Arsenal certainly favourites to win the Prem clash.
Liverpool are the form team out of the two of them, here is the last 10 matches in all comps:
Liverpool W 8 D 0 L 2 F 20 A 9 Clean Sheets 5
Arsenal W 3 D 5 L 2 F 12 A 12 Clean sheets 4
As you can see, Arsenal have been struggling to score goals in the last couple of months with only 12 in 10 matches (and 3 of those were on Saturday). I can see Liverpool keeping a clean sheet at the Emirates in the Champions League, maybe a nil nil draw, then winning 1-0 at home in the 2nd leg.
In the EPL though, Arsenal will be more confident, and more desparate to win now that Liverpool have a 5 point cushion over Everton, so the gunners will probably take that win.
from 4 months ago
Yeah, momentum over the past month goes advantage to Liverpool.
Coming back to win at Bolton will put some gas in Arsenal's fire, and losing at Man U took some out of Liverpool's. But overall, Liverpool have been rolling. Arsenal have been stalling.
Let me know your predictions for the matches on my follow up article to this one. I put a link in above.
4 months ago
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