Speaking ahead of Monday night’s clash with Arsenal, Brendan Rodgers talked top-four hopes, team selection, and summer outgoings.
Video: Anfield Live
Liverpool will look to land a crucial blow to Arsenal‘s top-four chances with a win at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night, and Brendan Rodgers believes a win can have a “psychological effect” on the race for Champions League qualification.
Speaking ahead of the Reds’ trip to north London the manager said “we’ll arrive into the game with confidence.”
“No matter when these games come in the season they’re always good for the psychological effect,” he told reporters.
“Of course, we’ve got tough games [coming up] away from home but we’ll arrive into the game with confidence.
“We know they’re an outstanding group of players with some quality individual players but there’s a real focus in this group for this season, a real toughness mentally.
“And we know we’ve got that ability to scrap and to fight to get a result, as well as play good football. So if we can go there and perform like we think we can and have that game-plan, we’re confident that we can get a result.”
Rodgers was asked as to the possibility of captain Jordan Henderson missing out on the important clash.
The 25-year-old was withdrawn just after half-time in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over AFC Bournemouth, and is now a doubt for the Emirates.
“We’re just assessing Jordan day by day,” he explained.
“He’s obviously had the problem with his foot, but we’ll see how he goes over the next 48 hours and take it from there.”
Along with long-term absentees Daniel Sturridge, Joe Allen and Jon Flanagan, Henderson is the only player out of contention for Monday night’s clash, with the manager expecting a side similar to that which defeated the Cherries.
He concluded: “There are just one or two players that we’ll assess, but hopefully we’ll be otherwise unchanged.”
Lucas Leiva could be in line to replace Henderson in Liverpool’s midfield, with Emre Can another possibility if the captain is deemed unfit.
Weekend Preview:
- PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW: Gameweek 3 fixtures, key battles and impact on Liverpool
- LAST 5: Arsenal vs Liverpool: The Reds’ last 5 Emirates showdowns
- RODGERS TALKS: Brendan Rodgers highlights importance of big squad ahead of Arsenal clash
- RODGERS TALKS: Brendan Rodgers: Liverpool will look to “dominate the space” against Arsenal
- LUCAS TO START? Arsenal vs. Liverpool: Lucas Leiva back in contention for midfield role
- TACTICAL ANALYSIS Where do Liverpool stand vs. Arsenal, Man United and Spurs?
- OPINION: Liverpool must ditch 4-2-3-1 to end Emirates curse vs. Arsenal
- MIDFIELD OPTIONS: How Liverpool’s midfield could look without Jordan Henderson
- COMBINED XI: Arsenal vs. Liverpool: Positional Head-to-Heads & Combined XI
- OPPOSITION VIEW: Arsenal vs. Liverpool: Opposition view of the Reds’ top-four clash
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