‘Liverpool’ll Crush Arsenal’

Brendan Rodgers has delivered a rousing battle-cry ahead of the showdown with Arsenal after warning Liverpool are no longer weighed down by the burden of expectation and that he expects his players to derail the league leaders’ momentum.

The Liverpool manager highlighted one of the biggest improvements he has overseen in his 20 months at Anfield as being the change in mentality of his players.

Rodgers said Liverpool now expect to emerge on top from every game they play whereas the squad he inherited lacked confidence, especially at home, and could not handle the pressure to win.

Liverpool trail Arsenal by eight points, but a victory over Arsene Wenger’s side tomorrow would serve to underline the strides they have made while strengthening their hopes of Champions League football.

“I think the big change for us is we expect to win now,” said Rodgers.

“When I first came in, the pressure to win was difficult for us. We expect it because of the club and the size of the club. But we were never that confident to consistently do it.

“But now, because of the level and consistency of our work, we go into every game expecting to win, and never more so than at Anfield.

“We see that belief and expectancy to win in our results. We’ll always respect every opponent and none more so than the leaders. But we’ll come into the game looking to perform and win.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal fullback Kieran Gibbs says they can prove their title credentials with victory at Liverpool, adding that this will prove that they can last the distance at the top of the Premier League.