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Liverpool will play a counter-attacking game against Arsenal - Rafael Benitez
Refa reckons defence will be key to securing a victory over the Gunners...
10 Feb 2010 07:15:00
By Adithya Ananth
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists that his side will soak up the pressure and hit Arsenal on the counter-attack during the blockbuster encounter at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
The Gunners have hit a rough patch with respect to results, as a draw away at Aston Villa was a prelude for succumbing to defeats against Manchester United and Chelsea.
Now, with a third consecutive fixture against one of the so-called 'big four', manager Arsene Wenger's title ambition is on the brink of being extinguished.
Meanwhile, the Reds have been swiftly climbing up the table and are undefeated in the Premier League this year, and the tactically astute Spaniard hopes to drag the Londoners into the dirt by taking the best out of the tactics employed by Chelsea and Manchester United in beating Wenger's charges.
"If you play them at the Emirates they have more confidence and they try to go forward all the time, it is the way they play," said Benitez, according to The Press Association.
"You cannot control the game unless you are strong in defence.
"You can score if you play good counter-attack - like United did the other day.
"When you are playing well and winning everything is fine. If you don't win you have to change things and you have to play as you can - sometimes ugly, sometimes nicely.
"If you are strong and work hard against them you will always have a chance."
The last time these two sides met was in December, when Arsenal carved out a 2-1 victory at Anfield that served as a huge confidence booster following losses to Chelsea, Manchester City and Olympiakos.
Now, the former Valencia manager is hoping to give the Gunners a taste of their own medicine.
"They were in a very bad situation; they had their critics and then they won and they started going forward and winning games," he added.
"Hopefully we can keep winning and we will see if we can talk in a different way to the start of the season."
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The Gunners have hit a rough patch with respect to results, as a draw away at Aston Villa was a prelude for succumbing to defeats against Manchester United and Chelsea.
Now, with a third consecutive fixture against one of the so-called 'big four', manager Arsene Wenger's title ambition is on the brink of being extinguished.
Meanwhile, the Reds have been swiftly climbing up the table and are undefeated in the Premier League this year, and the tactically astute Spaniard hopes to drag the Londoners into the dirt by taking the best out of the tactics employed by Chelsea and Manchester United in beating Wenger's charges.
"If you play them at the Emirates they have more confidence and they try to go forward all the time, it is the way they play," said Benitez, according to The Press Association.
"You cannot control the game unless you are strong in defence.
"You can score if you play good counter-attack - like United did the other day.
"When you are playing well and winning everything is fine. If you don't win you have to change things and you have to play as you can - sometimes ugly, sometimes nicely.
"If you are strong and work hard against them you will always have a chance."
The last time these two sides met was in December, when Arsenal carved out a 2-1 victory at Anfield that served as a huge confidence booster following losses to Chelsea, Manchester City and Olympiakos.
Now, the former Valencia manager is hoping to give the Gunners a taste of their own medicine.
"They were in a very bad situation; they had their critics and then they won and they started going forward and winning games," he added.
"Hopefully we can keep winning and we will see if we can talk in a different way to the start of the season."
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
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