Rafa Benitez has banished thoughts of revenge as he bids to take a step closer to fulfilling one of his ambitions as Liverpool manager.
The Reds face Arsenal in the Carling Cup fourth round and Benitez has no wish to experience a scoreline similar to when the sides last met in this competition.
That was back in January 2007 when Benitez was left stunned as Arsenal won a bizarre match 6-3, three days after knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup.
However, the Anfield boss is not thinking about the events of that night and is simply concerned with building on Sunday’s impressive Premier League victory over Manchester United.
So even though important fixtures with Fulham and Lyon are looming, Benitez is not treating the trip to the Emirates Stadium lightly as he is anxious to lead the Reds out at Wembley.
“We try to approach things always one game at a time,” said Benitez. “It’s the Carling Cup and it’s Arsenal, so it is a little bit different to normal.
“But the mentality and the confidence will always be the same; we know we have got to go down there and win and the players will be ready.
“Every year is different and you cannot think too much about what happened in the past because circumstances change all the time. To beat Arsenal – or any of the top sides – is a challenge and that is always our target. It doesn’t matter what the competition is, always you want to win.”
No club in the country can better Liverpool’s tally of seven League Cup wins and Benitez would love nothing more than to be the man who guides them to an eighth success next February.
He, after all, was at the helm for the Reds’ last appearance in the final – against Chelsea in 2005 – and success in the Carling Cup is high on his list of priorities.
“If you can progress in a competition, that is what you have got to do,” he said. “You have got to select the right players for each game and it depends on the programme you have.
“But we are always thinking about progressing and winning and the Carling Cup gives us that first opportunity. I would love to win a trophy with Liverpool at Wembley.”
Benitez – who expects skipper Steven Gerrard to return at Fulham on Saturday but will be without Albert Riera and Martin Kelly for another fortnight – will undoubtedly make changes to the side that beat United three days ago.
He will mix youth and experience but there is a frustration that the Spanish FA’s insistence on calling up exciting young striker Dani Pacheco for a under-19 tournament next week has cost him the chance of making his debut.
The Reds face Arsenal in the Carling Cup fourth round and Benitez has no wish to experience a scoreline similar to when the sides last met in this competition.
That was back in January 2007 when Benitez was left stunned as Arsenal won a bizarre match 6-3, three days after knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup.
However, the Anfield boss is not thinking about the events of that night and is simply concerned with building on Sunday’s impressive Premier League victory over Manchester United.
So even though important fixtures with Fulham and Lyon are looming, Benitez is not treating the trip to the Emirates Stadium lightly as he is anxious to lead the Reds out at Wembley.
“We try to approach things always one game at a time,” said Benitez. “It’s the Carling Cup and it’s Arsenal, so it is a little bit different to normal.
“But the mentality and the confidence will always be the same; we know we have got to go down there and win and the players will be ready.
“Every year is different and you cannot think too much about what happened in the past because circumstances change all the time. To beat Arsenal – or any of the top sides – is a challenge and that is always our target. It doesn’t matter what the competition is, always you want to win.”
No club in the country can better Liverpool’s tally of seven League Cup wins and Benitez would love nothing more than to be the man who guides them to an eighth success next February.
He, after all, was at the helm for the Reds’ last appearance in the final – against Chelsea in 2005 – and success in the Carling Cup is high on his list of priorities.
“If you can progress in a competition, that is what you have got to do,” he said. “You have got to select the right players for each game and it depends on the programme you have.
“But we are always thinking about progressing and winning and the Carling Cup gives us that first opportunity. I would love to win a trophy with Liverpool at Wembley.”
Benitez – who expects skipper Steven Gerrard to return at Fulham on Saturday but will be without Albert Riera and Martin Kelly for another fortnight – will undoubtedly make changes to the side that beat United three days ago.
He will mix youth and experience but there is a frustration that the Spanish FA’s insistence on calling up exciting young striker Dani Pacheco for a under-19 tournament next week has cost him the chance of making his debut.
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