Liverpool take on fellow top-four hopefuls Arsenal on Saturday afternoon in a do-or-die clash at the Emirates Stadium. The Reds' 13 game unbeaten streak in the Barclays' Premier League grinded to a halt two weeks ago when Manchester United downed Brendan Rodgers' side 2-1 at Anfield, leaving them five points behind fourth place with only a few games remaining. Arsene Wenger's side currently sit 3rd, six points ahead, and could effectively end Liverpool's hopes with a victory. On home turf they'll be confident, having won their last eight consecutive league games at the Emirates, but we chatted to Luke Blackstock, a VAVEL Arsenal writer, to find out how confident he was ahead of the clash.

Q: How do you feel about Arsenal’s season so far? Has it been one of mixed emotions?

LB: Mixed emotions is a great way to put it. Coming in to the season, I think that many Arsenal fans, including myself, were overly optimistic so Arsenal haven't reached the heights many expected at the beginning of the season. I'm happy about our league position and our upcoming FA Cup semi-final, but another bad display in the Champions League was disappointing. Overall, I don't think Arsenal's season has been as bad as some people said it has been.

Q: What about Liverpool? How do you think they’ve done this year?

LB: Liverpool's season has panned out in the same way that I thought I would at the beginning of the season. When I did my personal pre-season predictions I predicted a 5th place finish for them, and that's where they are now. They started very poorly, but they've definitely improved. It's difficult for any team when you lose a top player like Luis Suarez and Liverpool have struggled without him. 

Q: There seems to be a mixed attitude towards Arsene Wenger. Some seem to berate him whenever they get the opportunity and others seem to love him, why do you think that is? And is the criticism warranted?

LB: I think that the lack of success that we had under Wenger in the past did lead some fans to want him to leave the club. Criticism based on those 9 years without a trophy is justified, we're a big club and we need success trophy-wise. I do think that the consistency Wenger brought to the club and his previous successes mean that many fans believe he should stay at the club. 

Q: What’s your personal opinion of Wenger, is he the man you want in charge of your club?

LB: I personally don't want to get rid of Wenger now, but I thought that last year's FA Cup win would have been the perfect time for him to leave, it would be great for him to leave on a high. Nevertheless, I was happy he signed a new deal, but I think it must be his last. I think by 2017, there should be a manager easy to replace Le Proffeseur.

Q: A lot has gone on between Liverpool and Arsenal fans over the last 18 months with the transfer sagas of Suarez, Sanchez and now Sterling. What’s your take on the Sterling contract situation?

LB: I think that Sterling is right to postpone his contract negotiations until the end of the season, but I'm upset to say that I think he's doing it for the money. He's right to postpone them because he needs too focus on his football and a top four push.  It reminds me of the Van Persie contract situation of 2012. He says it's about the trophies but it's probably about money.

Q: How important to your season has Alexis Sanchez been? He seems to have tailed off a little in recent months, but has he still been your best player overall?

LB: Sanchez has been amazing so far this season, he has tailed off a bit but he's been an integral part of Arsenal's team. His work rate and his desire has been great, honestly just what Arsenal needed. I really hope that he can recapture his earlier form though, and where better to start than against Liverpool.

Q: Back to Raheem Sterling, is he a player that you’d like to see your club fork out big money to bring in?

LB: Arsenal have loads of wide players, so we don't desperately need Sterling. Sterling is a top player though and he's still young, so if we did buy Sterling I wouldn't be upset. If we bought Sterling and addressed some of our other issues, defensively and maybe upfront then that would be great. If we bought Sterling and didn't address these issues, I wouldn't be as happy. He's a great player, but we just don't need him now.

Q: This season’s top-four race has been one of the most open yet, do you think that Arsenal’s Champions League place is pretty much wrapped up now? Or is there no room for complacency?

LB: I think that if we beat Liverpool then Arsenal's top four place is basically secured. Whatever happens on Saturday though, Arsenal can't slack off now. We need to continue to win matches and yet and finish as high as possible in the league. We're also still in the FA Cup so we need to aim to try and retain that.

Q: Some Arsenal fans have even talked about finishing 2nd with Manchester City’s inconsistent form, but how high are you aiming?

LB: I think finishing second would be great and it's a possibility. We need to focus on a top four finish first and then focus on where in the top four. I'd love to finish 2nd but I'd still take a 3rd place finish. Talk of winning the title is very unrealistic but talk of second is more realistic.

Q: Liverpool are coming into the back of this game off of a disappointing loss to United which really hurt their chances, does that play in your favour? Or will you be fearing a backlash?

LB: Liverpool will want a response after a poor performance against United, so yeah I fear a backlash from Liverpool. The fact that the international break splits the two matches mean that Brendan Rodgers and his players have a chance to assess the opposition and maybe to recover from that loss. 

Q: Would an Arsenal win effectively see off Liverpool’s top-four hopes?

LB: Yeah, I think so. If we win and Manchester United also win then Liverpool are eight points off 4th with seven games left. I don't think that there is any way that Liverpool can make it back from there.

Q: With that in mind, how should Arsenal approach the game tactically – cautiously? Or do you go all out attack?

LB: I don't think that we should be overly cautious, I think that's why we came away with the first goal and almost the win at Anfield in December. I I think we need to play possession football, but if we decide to play defensively then we need to hit Liverpool on the counter attack. I'd love us to play attacking football because without Martin Skrtel I think the Liverpool defence will really struggle.

Q: Who do you see as your side’s biggest attacking threat on Saturday?

LB: I think that Alexis Sanchez will pose a huge problem for Liverpool. Even though he hasn't been in form goals wise, he still had an impact in the game that he played in. Also, Olivier Giroud was in great form in match and if we utilise him to his strengths, then he could be a huge threat.

Q: What about Liverpool’s? Who should you be keeping a close eye on?

LB: I think that both Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling could prove a problem for Arsenal. They both have huge amounts of pace that could trouble the Arsenal defence. 

Q: Finally, what’s your prediction for the game?

LB: I think that it will be a close game, but I think that Arsenal will win. I'm saying 2-0 Arsenal. 

You can find Luke on Twitter: @blackstockblog, or you can read his articles for VAVEL here. Luke also writes for Sport Rooter and runs his own blog, which you can find here.

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About the author
Charlie Malam
Digital Sports Writer at the Daily Express. First-class Staffordshire University Sports Journalism graduate. Formerly VAVEL UK's Liverpool FC editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief. Contributor since June 2014.