News

‘It’s always ferocious at Liverpool'

Arsène Wenger is expecting a “ferocious battle” at Anfield on Wednesday night.

Arsenal travel to Merseyside having lost just once on their last seven trips to Liverpool.

Last season’s corresponding fixture finished 2-2 after Martin Skrtel equalised in the seventh minute of stoppage time - and Wenger expects another committed fixture this week.

"They had a very strong manager before, they have a very strong one now and Klopp has the personality to do well there"

“Every time we go to Anfield, we face a team who is up for it,” he said. “It’s always a ferocious battle, no matter who the manager is.

“They had a very strong manager before, they have a very strong one now and Klopp has the personality to do well there.

“[We need to] play our game at a good pace. We are used to pressing. It is not just Liverpool who do that, everybody in the modern game [does it].

"Pressing has been created in England basically because there is a history of teams who have done that very well so it is part of the modern game to make quick decisions, be very short with your first touch and play your game.”

Arsenal travel to Anfield in good form, with only one defeat in their last 10 matches.

“The momentum creates confidence and confidence is vital at that level,” Wenger said. “In December and now in January we have been consistent and we go into a very important part of the season because we play many games.

“That consistency is a good basis to go into the next game with the right belief.”

14/15: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal - Olivier Giroud