LONDON – Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has called on his players to bounce back from their humiliating defeat by Oldham and keep their slim hopes of making the top four alive by beating Arsenal in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium today.
Report by Supersport
The Reds were knocked out of the FA Cup by third-tier League One side Oldham on Sunday, which left Rodgers furious with the younger players in his squad who let him down.
Facing Arsenal will be a tough ask, however, considering Liverpool are yet to beat a team in the top half of the table so far this season.
Rodgers is set to restore Steven Gerrard to his starting line-up having brought the Liverpool skipper on as a substitute against Oldham and he warned his younger players they must learn from the Reds legend or face up to playing in the lower tiers of English football.
Jose Enrique (hamstring), Glen Johnson (hamstring) and Pepe Reina (thigh) are all set to return at the Emirates.
Meanwhile, Theo Walcott believes Arsenal’s season is beginning to gather some momentum after the Gunners followed up the 5-1 league victory over West Ham with a hard-fought 3-2 FA Cup win at Brighton.
Walcott himself has been in fine form, scoring in three successive matches including the late winner at Brighton that took his goals tally for this season to 17.
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The England international accepts the visit of Liverpool will provide a stern examination, but believes Arsene Wenger’s side, who currently lie sixth, are now ready to step up the pressure on the top four.
Walcott recently agreed a new long-term deal with Arsenal and is showing signs of developing an effective understanding with striker Olivier Giroud.
Walcott started on the bench at Brighton along with Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere, but all three are expected to feature against Liverpool from the kickoff, along with recalled full-backs Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs.
