Rafael Benitez today insisted Liverpool are ready to leave Arsenal facing up to a third successive season without silverware.
The Spaniard is fully aware that the Gunners' faltering League campaign has meant tomorrow's Champions League quarter-final second leg taking on greater significance to Arsene Wenger's side.
Ahead of Liverpool's third meeting with Arsenal in a week, Benitez said: "If they want to win a trophy they need to win this game because it will be difficult for them in the League."
Benitez continued: "Before the game on Saturday they knew they had to win to stay in the title race.
"He (Wenger) changed five players, but had to bring back his big players trying to win the game.
"Maybe afterwards he felt that the race for the title is over. But then United drew at Middlesbrough, so he will maybe think that their chance has returned. But I do not expect Arsenal to be thinking about the title now, just the Champions League.
"The Champions League is massive for them, that is what they will be thinking about.
"But I still believe this game at Anfield will be the most important match they have if they want to win a trophy."
Liverpool hold a marginal advantage following the 1-1 first-leg draw at Emirates Stadium, but Benitez refuses to believe his side are favourites.
He said: "Do I think we're favourites? Not really. We know the top-class players that Arsenal have. For us it is important to score a goal if we want to win the game.
"Arsenal can score goals away from home so we have to think about winning the game.
"We are confident. We have been playing well in recent games and have been getting the results. The performances have been good. That is what we have been looking for at this stage of the season."
Robin van Persie returns to the Arsenal squad for tomorrow's match after missing the first leg with a thigh problem.
The Spaniard is fully aware that the Gunners' faltering League campaign has meant tomorrow's Champions League quarter-final second leg taking on greater significance to Arsene Wenger's side.
Ahead of Liverpool's third meeting with Arsenal in a week, Benitez said: "If they want to win a trophy they need to win this game because it will be difficult for them in the League."
Benitez continued: "Before the game on Saturday they knew they had to win to stay in the title race.
"He (Wenger) changed five players, but had to bring back his big players trying to win the game.
"Maybe afterwards he felt that the race for the title is over. But then United drew at Middlesbrough, so he will maybe think that their chance has returned. But I do not expect Arsenal to be thinking about the title now, just the Champions League.
"The Champions League is massive for them, that is what they will be thinking about.
"But I still believe this game at Anfield will be the most important match they have if they want to win a trophy."
Liverpool hold a marginal advantage following the 1-1 first-leg draw at Emirates Stadium, but Benitez refuses to believe his side are favourites.
He said: "Do I think we're favourites? Not really. We know the top-class players that Arsenal have. For us it is important to score a goal if we want to win the game.
"Arsenal can score goals away from home so we have to think about winning the game.
"We are confident. We have been playing well in recent games and have been getting the results. The performances have been good. That is what we have been looking for at this stage of the season."
Robin van Persie returns to the Arsenal squad for tomorrow's match after missing the first leg with a thigh problem.
Chelsea hero Roberto Di Matteo has revealed he is in talks over returning to the club as a coach and claimed that Blues boss Avram Grant has “put himself under pressure” with his defensive brand of football.
Di Matteo, who won two FA Cups, a European Cup Winners' Cup and a League Cup in 175 appearances for Chelsea, is currently taking his coaching qualifications with both UEFA and the Football Association.
“I have been doing my UEFA badges and am looking forward to getting back into the game,” said Di Matteo, who since retiring as a player in 2002 through injury has done intermittent work with Chelsea's Soccer Academy.
“I would rather start coaching in England than Italy — I am doing all the licences here in England as well with the FA. I can't say too much more but I am talking with Chelsea at the moment.”
It is unclear if the Italian would work with the first-team under Grant, but the 37-year-old suggests winning both the Premier League and the Champions League this season may not be enough to save the Israeli's job.
“Every manager has his own style,” he said. “If Grant said they were going to deliver more attractive football and they aren't, then he has put himself under pressure.
“The fans have been critical but that has happened before. When Claudio Ranieri arrived, they were singing Gianluca's Vialli's name but he turned it around.
Di Matteo, who won two FA Cups, a European Cup Winners' Cup and a League Cup in 175 appearances for Chelsea, is currently taking his coaching qualifications with both UEFA and the Football Association.
“I have been doing my UEFA badges and am looking forward to getting back into the game,” said Di Matteo, who since retiring as a player in 2002 through injury has done intermittent work with Chelsea's Soccer Academy.
“I would rather start coaching in England than Italy — I am doing all the licences here in England as well with the FA. I can't say too much more but I am talking with Chelsea at the moment.”
It is unclear if the Italian would work with the first-team under Grant, but the 37-year-old suggests winning both the Premier League and the Champions League this season may not be enough to save the Israeli's job.
“Every manager has his own style,” he said. “If Grant said they were going to deliver more attractive football and they aren't, then he has put himself under pressure.
“The fans have been critical but that has happened before. When Claudio Ranieri arrived, they were singing Gianluca's Vialli's name but he turned it around.
If at the end of the season Grant wins the Premier League or the Champions League or both, that's what is going to make the fans change their attitude towards him.
“I don't know what the club would do if he doesn't deliver — or even if he does. Only God knows the answer to that. But he's been given a long contract.”
Grant, who takes his team to Manchester City as the title race continues tomorrow, has also come under fire from former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman.
The Serb helped Fenerbahce secure a shock 2-1 win over Grant's side in the Champions League. Kezman said: “Under Mourinho, Chelsea were a machine and they worked for 90 or 95 minutes without mistakes or faults.
“If Mourinho had been in charge of this match, it would have been different.”
Di Matteo's return to Stamford Bridge would be welcomed by players and fans alike, where he remains a hugely popular figure although the club may take a dim view of employing anyone who criticises their current manager.
“I still go to the games with my boy,” added Di Matteo, speaking at the launch of the first Sony High Definition Pub on the Kings Road in west London. “I feel very connected to the fans, who have treated me very well.”
Javier Mascherano will miss Saturday's league game against Arsenal after being hit by an extra two-game ban following his reaction to a red card against Manchester United.
After admitting a charge of improper conduct at a personal hearing, Mascherano, 23, has seen his initial ban of one match extended to three.
A Football Association disciplinary commission also fined the Liverpool midfielder £15,000 for the incident at Old Trafford, when he had to be dragged off the pitch by club officials after receiving a second yellow card.
Mascherano, who was set to be replaced by Brazilian Lucas anyway, will also miss the League game with Blackburn, a week on Sunday.
Sportsmail understands that Liverpool will consider an appeal against the FA's punishment, not to reduce the Argentinian's ban, but to express their disagreement with the decision.
A club spokesman told www.liverpoolfc.tv: "Although we received a fair hearing we must now decide whether to appeal on the basis of inconsistency of sentencing for Javier based on past precedents."
It will come as a blow to Benitez - who had also disciplined Mascherano internally and fined him two weeks' wages - as he looks to secure the fourth Champions League place.
"Javier is a fantastic professional and he knows he made a big mistake - he apologised to his team-mates and the supporters and he has now apologised to the referee," Benitez said last week.
"He accepts he lost control after the sending-off and has said sorry to the referee. I have also talked with him now and told him he would be fined by the club, and he has accepted that and wants the money donated to charity.
"This was the first red card of our season and we do not have problems of this kind."
After admitting a charge of improper conduct at a personal hearing, Mascherano, 23, has seen his initial ban of one match extended to three.
A Football Association disciplinary commission also fined the Liverpool midfielder £15,000 for the incident at Old Trafford, when he had to be dragged off the pitch by club officials after receiving a second yellow card.
Mascherano, who was set to be replaced by Brazilian Lucas anyway, will also miss the League game with Blackburn, a week on Sunday.
Sportsmail understands that Liverpool will consider an appeal against the FA's punishment, not to reduce the Argentinian's ban, but to express their disagreement with the decision.
A club spokesman told www.liverpoolfc.tv: "Although we received a fair hearing we must now decide whether to appeal on the basis of inconsistency of sentencing for Javier based on past precedents."
It will come as a blow to Benitez - who had also disciplined Mascherano internally and fined him two weeks' wages - as he looks to secure the fourth Champions League place.
"Javier is a fantastic professional and he knows he made a big mistake - he apologised to his team-mates and the supporters and he has now apologised to the referee," Benitez said last week.
"He accepts he lost control after the sending-off and has said sorry to the referee. I have also talked with him now and told him he would be fined by the club, and he has accepted that and wants the money donated to charity.
"This was the first red card of our season and we do not have problems of this kind."
Arsenal drew first blood but Liverpool stunned the Gunners with an instant equaliser in the Champions League quarter-final.
Emmanuel Adebayor headed his 24th goal of the season to give the home side the lead after a cagey start.
But Dirk Kuyt hit back for Liverpool with his sixth European goal of the campaign.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger restored Adebayor to the starting line-up at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal also opted for Phillippe Senderos in the centre of defence, with Kolo Toure on the right of defence.
Javier Mascherano returned to the visitors' midfield after suspension, while Fabio Aurelio replaced John Arne Riise at left-back.
Jamie Carragher continued in his unfamiliar right-back slot, allowing veteran Finn Sami Hyypia to continue in central defence.
After a slow, cagey opening, the game almost had a shock opening goal after seven minutes when Jose Reina came rushing out of his goal as Adebayor surged clear.
Reina missed the ball but the Togo striker himself too far into the corner and when he tried an angled shot Reina - still out of his box - blocked it with an outstretched leg.
That sparked Arsenal into life and their passing and movement became crisper which forced Liverpool to defend deeper.
The atmosphere was electric, befitting two giants going for European glory in front of a packed, glittering stadium rocking with noise.
Liverpool responded with a Steven Gerrard free-kick that Manuel Almunia made a mess of, before a Xabi Alonso long ball almost set Hyypia clear in the box, Cesc Fabregas getting in a crucial challenge.
Arsenal's quality and flow started to stretch Liverpool, with Robin van Persie twice going close. First, he ran onto a Flamini long pass and clipped the ball on the rise over Reina and the bar.
A minute later Reina was down at full stretch to his left to turn another low drive wide from the Dutchman. And from that corner, Arsenal were ahead.
Van Persie played a short-corner to Fabregas before lifting it into the box. Adebayor stepped backwards and away from his marker to power home a fine header after 22 minutes.
But Liverpool hit back with a cracker of their own four minutes later. Gerrard picked up possession on the left and drove into the box, going past two defenders before leaving Toure flat-footed with a surge of power.
He then drilled over a low cross that Dirk Kuyt forced over the line under pressure from Gael Clichy, his sixth European goal of the season from 10 in total.
Ryan Babel tested Almunia from 20 yards and Torres' chip caused chaos on the far post with both Hyypia and Gerrard threatening to unhinge the Gunners again.
Arsenal: Almunia, Toure, Gallas, Senderos, Clichy, Eboue, Flamini, Fabregas, Hleb, Van Persie, Adebayor. Subs: Lehmann, Diaby, Song Billong, Silva, Bendtner, Justin Hoyte, Walcott.
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Hyypia, Aurelio, Mascherano, Alonso, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel, Torres. Subs: Itandje, Riise, Voronin, Benayoun, Crouch, Arbeloa, Lucas.
Referee: Pieter Vink (Holland)
Emmanuel Adebayor headed his 24th goal of the season to give the home side the lead after a cagey start.
But Dirk Kuyt hit back for Liverpool with his sixth European goal of the campaign.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger restored Adebayor to the starting line-up at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal also opted for Phillippe Senderos in the centre of defence, with Kolo Toure on the right of defence.
Javier Mascherano returned to the visitors' midfield after suspension, while Fabio Aurelio replaced John Arne Riise at left-back.
Jamie Carragher continued in his unfamiliar right-back slot, allowing veteran Finn Sami Hyypia to continue in central defence.
After a slow, cagey opening, the game almost had a shock opening goal after seven minutes when Jose Reina came rushing out of his goal as Adebayor surged clear.
Reina missed the ball but the Togo striker himself too far into the corner and when he tried an angled shot Reina - still out of his box - blocked it with an outstretched leg.
That sparked Arsenal into life and their passing and movement became crisper which forced Liverpool to defend deeper.
The atmosphere was electric, befitting two giants going for European glory in front of a packed, glittering stadium rocking with noise.
Liverpool responded with a Steven Gerrard free-kick that Manuel Almunia made a mess of, before a Xabi Alonso long ball almost set Hyypia clear in the box, Cesc Fabregas getting in a crucial challenge.
Arsenal's quality and flow started to stretch Liverpool, with Robin van Persie twice going close. First, he ran onto a Flamini long pass and clipped the ball on the rise over Reina and the bar.
A minute later Reina was down at full stretch to his left to turn another low drive wide from the Dutchman. And from that corner, Arsenal were ahead.
Van Persie played a short-corner to Fabregas before lifting it into the box. Adebayor stepped backwards and away from his marker to power home a fine header after 22 minutes.
But Liverpool hit back with a cracker of their own four minutes later. Gerrard picked up possession on the left and drove into the box, going past two defenders before leaving Toure flat-footed with a surge of power.
He then drilled over a low cross that Dirk Kuyt forced over the line under pressure from Gael Clichy, his sixth European goal of the season from 10 in total.
Ryan Babel tested Almunia from 20 yards and Torres' chip caused chaos on the far post with both Hyypia and Gerrard threatening to unhinge the Gunners again.
Arsenal: Almunia, Toure, Gallas, Senderos, Clichy, Eboue, Flamini, Fabregas, Hleb, Van Persie, Adebayor. Subs: Lehmann, Diaby, Song Billong, Silva, Bendtner, Justin Hoyte, Walcott.
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Hyypia, Aurelio, Mascherano, Alonso, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel, Torres. Subs: Itandje, Riise, Voronin, Benayoun, Crouch, Arbeloa, Lucas.
Referee: Pieter Vink (Holland)
