CL Preview: Arsenal v Liverpool

The Reds from Merseyside will travel to North London to take on Arsenal in the Champions League clash tonight, the first of the three games against each other in six days.

Venue:Emirates Stadium

Referee:Pieter Vink (NED)



It is an all English quarter-final in the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal hosting Liverpool tonight in the Champions League clash. It will be the first time they are meeting in Europe, though it will be the 200th time the sides have clashed competetively. It is ironic that both the teams will meet again two more times in six days.

Recent Form

Arsenal are not in the best of forms in the premier league recently though their success in the Champions League is enviable. They have managed to win only two games in the last five matches, including the one against European giants AC Milan. The lost against Chelsea in the home match and drew with Middlesbrough and Wigan Athletic.

Their only Premier League win in the last five matches is against Bolton when they came back from a two goal deficit in the first-half to win the match 2-3.

Arsenal have never won the champions league and it still remains the Holy grail for the Gunners.

Liverpool,on the other hand has managed to win four of their last five English Premier League matches, the only defeat against league leaders Manchester United.

The Reds are the most successful English team in Europe and this season is not too bad for them. They defeated the other team from Milan, Internazionale to book the quarter-final berth.

Past Meetings

It is the first time that these teams are meeting in Europe, though they have met 199 times in all competitions.

Liverpool have won 80 times and Arsenal have won ten less. The cup matches show Gunners having a narrow lead of eleven match wins against Liverpool's ten. Arsene Wenger's side has knocked Liverpool out of both domestic cup tournaments last season and have won 3-0 in the premier league at the Emirates.

It is a fact that Liverpool is an entirely different team in the Champions League and have a good away record against top notch teams. They did knockout Barcelona in the Camp Nou last season and drowned Inter Milan in the San Siro.

Both sides have won at the weekend and are booming with confidence and it is sure that it will be a sparkling encounter.

Team News

The Gunners still does not have Rosicky and Eduardo who are injured and out. Bacary Sagna will also miss tonight's match as he is out for at least three weeks following the injury in the match against Chelsea.

Liverpool has good news welcoming defenders Fabio Aurelio and Alvaro Arebeloa back to the sqaud after injuries, the Argentine holding midfielder Mascherano also makes his return after the suspension.

In-form Players

The creative workhorse Francesc Fabregas will be the spearhead in the Gunner's attack tonight. He had been pivotal in the match against AC Milan scoring the opening goal and creating chances.

The strong wall at the back William Gallas, who leads from the front is also in-form and he can score a goal or two when matters go worse.

The pairing of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard has been vital for Liverpool this season and they have had success in the domestic league and champions league as well. Torres is in sublime form and his goal against Inter Milan proved his hunger for a goal.

Probable Line-ups

Arsenal:: Almunia, Toure, Senderos, Gallas, Clichy, Hleb, Flamini, Fabregas, Eboue ,Adebayor, Van Persie.



LIverpool::Reina, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Aurelio, Lucas, Gerrard , Alonso, Benayoun, Torres , Kuyt.

Final Score Prediction

Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool

Scorers:: Fabregas, Adebayor(Arsenal), Torres(Liverpool)

Man Of the Match:: Francesc Fabregas