Monday 24 August 2015 20:08, UK
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he has no sympathy for Liverpool losing Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling in successive summers.
Both Suarez and Sterling were linked with Arsenal before big-money moves to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively, forcing Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers to rebuild his forward line two years in row.
But speaking ahead of Arsenal's clash with Liverpool at the Emirates on Monday night, live on Sky Sports 1, Wenger said he is not concerned about the problems facing his managerial counterpart.
"Liverpool can make their own decisions. They refused to sell us Suarez, so I cannot feel too much sympathy for them," said Wenger, who saw his club's £40m plus £1 bid for the Uruguay striker rejected in August 2013.
But Wenger does acknowledge the scale of Rodgers' challenge, saying: "Let's remember two years ago with Suarez, (Daniel) Sturridge and Sterling, Liverpool scored over 100 goals. You need special quality to do that, and Sterling was part of that."
Wenger has been urged to invest in new strikers himself in recent weeks, but he insists that choosing between those he already has presents enough of a challenge. "It is an impossible job," he said.
"I always get asked two questions: Why don't you buy more players, and how do you keep them all happy now?
"I believe that competition is part of our job, but on the other hand you have to get the number right. If you have too many players in the squad, it goes against competition."
Liverpool have attempted to address their goal-scoring problems with the £32.5m signing of Christian Benteke from Aston Villa.
But Wenger is confident his side are well-prepared to cope with the threat of the Belgian on Monday night.
"We played a (FA) Cup final against Benteke (for Aston Villa) and we managed to deal with it. Then again, every game is a new challenge and we have to show that we can do it," said Wenger.
"Benteke has the stature, he is good in the air, he protects the ball well in that way."
"He is similar to (Arsenal striker Olivier) Giroud. They are players who live from crosses. When there are crosses in the box, both of them are dangerous," he added.
Watch Arsenal v Liverpool on Monday from 7pm on Sky Sports 1.
