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PLAYING FOR HIGH STAKES: Arsenal's Matthieu Flamini (left) and Liverpool's Xabi Alonso went all-out during the Champions League match on Wednesday. Chances are Flamini will have to play today, while Alonso gets a break. -- PHOTO: AFP
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LONDON - A CLASH between two of the Premier League's big guns is usually one of the English season's red-letter occasions.
Yet, for both Arsenal and Liverpool, today's fixture has the feel of an unwanted distraction.
Both sets of fans, and even players, would be forgiven if their minds are already drifting to Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg at Anfield.
That is an exquisitely poised encounter - after Wednesday's 1-1 first-leg draw - that will decide which team progress.
Against that backdrop, today's meeting between third and fourth in the Premier League appears almost irrelevant.
But appearances are deceiving, and the clash could well be the key to deciding who come out on top on Tuesday.
The Merseysiders' title ambitions have long died and they took a giant leap towards the fourth-place finish that will ensure qualification for next season's Champions League by beating closest rivals Everton last week.
With a five-point lead and the knowledge that the Toffees must go to the Emirates and they also have to play Chelsea, manager Rafael Benitez has an ace up his sleeve.
He has never won away against any of the 'Big Four' in the league, but that would not affect his decision to rest all his big guns and make wholesale changes for today's match.
Top scorer Fernando Torres will be rested if only to make sure that he avoids injury.
And there is every chance that captain Steven Gerrard, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt, Xabi Alonso and Ryan Babel would all be on the bench.
'Torres and Gerrard will need to be strong for the second Champions League leg, and Kuyt ran himself to a standstill on Wednesday,' said Benitez, who has midfielder Javier Mascherano suspended.
'I am expecting to make changes. It is impossible to play these same players three times in a week. Impossible.'
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, whose side have won just two of their last 10 games, does not have the same luxury.
He simply cannot write off today's league game, given his side's title ambitions are still showing faint signs of life.
The Gunners trail Manchester United by six points, with six games to go, but they have yet to travel to Old Trafford.
As Wenger pointed out: 'You think I've been fighting since the first day of the season in the championship to finish second? I want to finish first.'
The pressing need for victory against Liverpool could end up taking its physical toll on Arsenal ahead of their European D-Day.
Even the psychological impact of victory today has been rubbished by Benitez, who insisted the league will 'have no influence at all' on which team progress to the Champions League semi-finals.
So, while Liverpool have little to lose even if they are beaten today, Arsenal have to put the fitness of their players on the line.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Arsenal v Liverpool
Live, Ch27 & Ch303, 7.40pm
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