How Will We Approach Tonight's Trip To Arsenal?

 After Sunday’s poor performance we have two difficult away games where we are unlikely to see the amount of possession we have become accustomed to in our Premier League games. In order to get anything out of these fixtures we need to get back to basics, and basics means defending well, none of the stupid errors that cost us our place in the FA Cup 5^th round.

 I have a feeling Brendan Rodgers will attempt to improve the defence by playing Skrtel, Agger and Carra at the back with Johnson on the right and either Enrique or Downing on the left. This would still allow us to play a three man central midfield of Lucas, Gerrard and either Allen or Henderson, with Sturridge and Suarez up front. I could be totally wrong but I just have a hunch this is how our manager will approach both away games in the next week.

 Arsenal away is a hard game to plan for as, much like with Liverpool, you’re never quite sure which team will turn up. They’re capable of tearing you apart when they’re bang in form and can turn it on with very little notice, and it’s not unusual for them to score a few goals in a few minutes, once they have their foot on the gas they keep it there. And they also have it in their locker to fall apart, especially at home where their fans seem to regularly lose faith in Wenger for a few weeks at a time. The downside of such a huge stadium is that when there is a negative attitude coming from the stands it can be overwhelming for the home players and if we can start the game well there could be something in it for us.

 There are plenty of similarities between Liverpool and Arsenal this season, we’ve both had some high scoring victories against lesser sides as well as some dodgy defeats, and we’ve both struggled against the top sides, and both managers are trying to win over the fans, albeit for different reasons.

 Normally I’d be happy with a draw at Arsenal but I think after Sunday our players owe us a bit more, three points would go a long way to repairing the damage caused at Oldham. If we go all out attack and leave gaps then the intelligent movement of Walcott and Podolski, combined with the clever passing of Cazorla will hurt us, but if we’re careful, patient and persistent I think we have a decent chance of getting a positive result.

 I’ve not been particularly impressed with the Arsenal defence and there is real cause for us to feel confident going forwards at the Emirates, we just have to make sure we don’t lose concentration on the defensive side of our game for a second. Suarez’ close control is so good it regularly requires two defenders to take the ball off him, meaning there is space to be found for a second forward and if Sturridge uses his intelligence the partnership could bring us our second successive win at Arsenal.