Rafael Benitez insists Liverpool have no intention of playing for a goalless stalemate when they complete their trilogy against Arsenal tomorrow night.
The teams, sporting much-changed line-ups, met in the Premier League on Saturday and played out a second 1-1 draw at the Emirates in four days.
They clash again at Anfield tomorrow for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
With Dirk Kuyt’s away goal in the bag, Liverpool know a clean sheet would be enough to progress to the semi-final.
But manager Benitez said: “We have confidence, but know they have quality, can play well away and are dangerous.
“It is very difficult to play for a 0-0 draw. I don’t know how to do it.”
Liverpool’s draw at the weekend keeps them three points ahead of Everton in the race for fourth with just five games remaining.
Peter Crouch gave the visitors the lead on 41 minutes, with Nicklas Bendtner equalising nine minutes after the interval.
Benitez made eight changes from the team that faced the Gunners in the Champions League last Wednesday, handing a debut to 20-year-old French midfielder Damien Plessis.
And he praised his makeshift line-up, and said: “It was an open game at the end and we knew we had to work hard to control the game.
“We did that for long spells and scored a great goal, were well organised and in a good position.
“Crouch played really well, Benayoun, Riise too and the debut of Plessis. The work-rate was good from a lot of players who normally do not play. They all did well.
“We could have won because we had the chances, but then again we could also have lost as they had chances as well.
“At the end we are a little disappointed because we had one or two attacks towards the end to win the game – so it could have been better, but then again, it could have been worse.”
Of the wholesale team changes, Benitez added: “Arsene Wenger was trying to keep some players for the second leg, and we were trying to do the same. You could see that some of the players were tired.
“But they will play the next game with a lot of passion and I don’t think they will be tired.”
The result delivered a major blow to Arsenal’s faint hopes of winning the title.
But Benitez believes that could work against Liverpool, and said: “For both teams, Saturday was important – for us to be closer to the top four and for Arsenal to be in the race for the title.
“I think it will be difficult for them. I was asking Arsene before in the race for the title, you cannot lose points now.
“Maybe the only option now for them is the Champions League, which means they will be more dangerous for us.”
The teams, sporting much-changed line-ups, met in the Premier League on Saturday and played out a second 1-1 draw at the Emirates in four days.
They clash again at Anfield tomorrow for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
With Dirk Kuyt’s away goal in the bag, Liverpool know a clean sheet would be enough to progress to the semi-final.
But manager Benitez said: “We have confidence, but know they have quality, can play well away and are dangerous.
“It is very difficult to play for a 0-0 draw. I don’t know how to do it.”
Liverpool’s draw at the weekend keeps them three points ahead of Everton in the race for fourth with just five games remaining.
Peter Crouch gave the visitors the lead on 41 minutes, with Nicklas Bendtner equalising nine minutes after the interval.
Benitez made eight changes from the team that faced the Gunners in the Champions League last Wednesday, handing a debut to 20-year-old French midfielder Damien Plessis.
And he praised his makeshift line-up, and said: “It was an open game at the end and we knew we had to work hard to control the game.
“We did that for long spells and scored a great goal, were well organised and in a good position.
“Crouch played really well, Benayoun, Riise too and the debut of Plessis. The work-rate was good from a lot of players who normally do not play. They all did well.
“We could have won because we had the chances, but then again we could also have lost as they had chances as well.
“At the end we are a little disappointed because we had one or two attacks towards the end to win the game – so it could have been better, but then again, it could have been worse.”
Of the wholesale team changes, Benitez added: “Arsene Wenger was trying to keep some players for the second leg, and we were trying to do the same. You could see that some of the players were tired.
“But they will play the next game with a lot of passion and I don’t think they will be tired.”
The result delivered a major blow to Arsenal’s faint hopes of winning the title.
But Benitez believes that could work against Liverpool, and said: “For both teams, Saturday was important – for us to be closer to the top four and for Arsenal to be in the race for the title.
“I think it will be difficult for them. I was asking Arsene before in the race for the title, you cannot lose points now.
“Maybe the only option now for them is the Champions League, which means they will be more dangerous for us.”
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