Arsenal v Liverpool Preview: Beware the wounded animal, says Steven Gerrard

Feb 10 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

STEVEN GERRARD believes Liverpool have answered the critics who had written them off earlier in the season. And he has warned his team-mates not to make the same mistake with Arsenal this evening.

Rafael Benitez’s side step out at the Emirates with roles very much reversed from when the sides met at Anfield in December.

Back then, a 2-1 home defeat deepened the gloom around a faltering Liverpool side while giving Arsenal the springboard to launch a realistic title challenge.

Tonight, however, Liverpool are the team in form with the Londoners’ title ambitions hanging by a slender thread following comprehensive defeats to main rivals Chelsea and Manchester United.

Gerrard, though, expects a response from Arsene Wenger’s side tonight as they look to continue their unbeaten record against Liverpool at their current home.

“I’m sure Arsenal will be a bit of a wounded animal on Wednesday,” says the Anfield skipper. “It’s a massive game for us and the target is to try to get a result where we can push on and try to get third place.

“Our target is a top-four finish but if Arsenal give us any sniff of catching them then we want to grab it, and hopefully that will be on Wednesday night.”

Saturday’s derby win over Everton extended Liverpool’s unbeaten Premier League run to seven games and means victory tonight would move them to within two points of the Gunners.

With the likes of Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and Glen Johnson still sidelined through injury, Benitez’s side have shown great character and determination in moving themselves back into contention for Champions League qualification.

And Gerrard admits it hasn’t always been the case this season. “There have been games where we have been beaten and not shown enough fight, enough good attitude and commitment,” he says. “That’s why we’ve not got the results we’ve wanted, but I don’t think anyone can criticise us over the last seven games for the level of commitment. Every single player in the squad has rolled his sleeves up and everyone is fighting for the same thing.”

Gerrard adds: “Having the Champions League experience and also finishing in the top four for the past few years will hold us in good stead when the big games come up. But we’re treating every game like a cup final at the moment because we’re desperate for this top four.

“We certainly understand the pressure coming from Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa, and also teams behind them. Because the top four is so important financially to everyone, and every player in the league wants to experience Champions League football, there’s a lot of teams fighting for it.