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.
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."
England coach Fabio Capello has hinted Manchester City keeper Joe Hart could be his future No 1.
The Italian recalled Portsmouth keeper David James for his first game in charge against Switzerland earlier in the month, but at 37 he cannot be considered a long-term option.
And with former number one Paul Robinson not playing for Tottenham, Scott Carson being kept out the firing line following his performance in the defeat to Croatia and Manchester United's Ben Foster injured, the cupboard is looking bare for Capello.
He said: "Only 38 percent of the players in the Premier League are English. The pool is reduced. I have had to reinstate a 37-year-old goalkeeper but I have spotted one in the Under-21's who is very interesting."
Despite the restricted choice of players and an overbearing media, Capello insisted he has enjoyed his first few weeks in charge of the national team.
"Their culture is extraordinarily beautiful. The stadiums are always full, they give their utmost but it is always in the correct way. The referees let the game run in contrast to Italy where the play is constantly broken up," he said.
"But certainly the media pressure is heavy, particularly on the national coach," he joked.
The Italian recalled Portsmouth keeper David James for his first game in charge against Switzerland earlier in the month, but at 37 he cannot be considered a long-term option.
And with former number one Paul Robinson not playing for Tottenham, Scott Carson being kept out the firing line following his performance in the defeat to Croatia and Manchester United's Ben Foster injured, the cupboard is looking bare for Capello.
He said: "Only 38 percent of the players in the Premier League are English. The pool is reduced. I have had to reinstate a 37-year-old goalkeeper but I have spotted one in the Under-21's who is very interesting."
Despite the restricted choice of players and an overbearing media, Capello insisted he has enjoyed his first few weeks in charge of the national team.
"Their culture is extraordinarily beautiful. The stadiums are always full, they give their utmost but it is always in the correct way. The referees let the game run in contrast to Italy where the play is constantly broken up," he said.
"But certainly the media pressure is heavy, particularly on the national coach," he joked.
