Arsenal v Liverpool preview

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Related links

Teams

• Arsenal
• Liverpool

Also see

• Rafa - Gunners the blueprint
• Home truths
• Kuyt - We have no fear
• Toure targets Torres' suppliers
• Carra set for 'massive' meeting
• Luck of the draw

Arsenal and Liverpool prepare for part one of their mouth-watering trilogy of fixtures as they cross swords in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

The first leg clash in North London is the opening of a dramatic triple-header of meetings as Liverpool are also due in the capital on Premier League duty on Saturday lunchtime ahead of next week's European return at Anfield.

It is unlikely that anything will be decided in what promises to be a tight opening encounter, but in a style accustomed to a glitzy Hollywood trilogy there promises to be plenty of eye-catching action to leave breath baited for further instalments.

The weekend's domestic match will have Arsenal as firm favourites, but Liverpool's unquestionable European record makes tonight's contest all the more difficult to predict.

Liverpool have reached two Champions League finals in the past three years to crown manager Rafa Benitez as a European knock-out specialist.

Plaudits

But Wenger cannot be merely cast aside as a novice on the continent as, not to be outdone by Benitez, he took full advantage of Liverpool's final absence in 2006 to steer the Gunners to the Stade de France where they suffered a narrow defeat to Barcelona.

Both Arsenal and Liverpool also won the plaudits in this season's last 16 as they swept aside Italian giants Milan and Internazionale, respectively, to once again make this all-English showdown increasingly difficult to call.

Wenger will be forced to do without Bacary Sagna as he attempts to halt Benitez's march towards another final appearance in Moscow on 21st May.

The French defender damaged his ankle in the recent Premier League defeat to Chelsea and is expected to spend three weeks on the sidelines.

Midfielder Tomas Rosicky, who has not featured since the league match with Newcastle on 26th January, will also be absent as he continues to struggle with his ongoing knee problem.

Mascherano return

Striker Eduardo da Silva is out for the season with his broken leg, but Wenger is expecting 19-year-old forward Theo Walcott to play a crucial role against the Reds.

Meanwhile, Benitez has no new injury fears as only long-term absentee Daniel Agger - who has been ruled out for the campaign after it was decided he would require a corrective operation on his troublesome metatarsal - will miss out.

Winger Harry Kewell - who is out of contract in the summer - appears to have blown his chance to impress sufficiently to earn a new deal and it is again expected the Australian will be left out, but Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard should continue their potent attacking partnership.

Argentine Javier Mascherano will reclaim a place in the heart of the Reds' midfield as he returns from suspension following his infamous red card against Manchester United at Old Trafford.