WHEN Liverpool were last paired with Arsenal in the Carling Cup, it prompted a raging debate over the strength in depth of Rafael Benitez’s squad.
Some things don’t change. The Anfield manager has been forced to fend off similar questions as his team stumbled unconvincingly through the opening months of the campaign.
But from the nadir of four successive defeats – a worst losing run in 22 years – came on Sunday the relief and potential rebirth of victory over Manchester United, achieved without a number of first-team regulars led by talismanic skipper Steven Gerrard.
The quality and quantity of Benitez’s resources will again be tested this evening when Liverpool visit the Emirates for a Carling Cup fourth round tie.
They’ll hope for better fortune than the last meeting with the Gunners in the competition in January 2007, when a dishevelled, makeshift Anfield outfit were thrashed 6-3 at home by a youthful Arsenal side that history has tended to forget contained six full internationals.
Nevertheless, it is telling that only Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Fabio Aurelio remain from a watershed moment in Benitez’s reign.
While still a worryingly irregular occurrence under the Spaniard, one player to have made the progression from fringe player to first-team regular is Lucas.
The Brazilian has perhaps been Liverpool’s most consistent player this season and, in the absence of the suspended Javier Mascherano this evening, will be expected to patrol midfield with the same intent as shown at the weekend.
And Lucas reckons the defeat of United can help Liverpool turn a corner and silence the sniping over squad strength.
“Beating United was the perfect day for us and it shows we have quality in our squad,” he says. “We played really good football in beating a really good team. They are the champions.
“We still have to improve a lot but this victory can give us confidence to go on to Arsenal and Wednesday and win through in the Carling Cup.
“Maybe it was important to win a game without Stevie. Of course, we would like to have him in the team as he is our captain, but we showed we do have quality in our squad. We hope Stevie is back soon as he is such a key player.”
The Carling Cup may be a distant fourth on the priorities of many supporters but, having gone more than three years without a trophy, the pressure is increasing on Benitez to deliver silverware.
Most of the current Liverpool squad have yet to lift a trophy during their time at the club, something Lucas believes the players are keen to address.
