Liverpool will look to breathe new life into their top-four charge when they take on top-of-the-table Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League at Anfield on Wednesday night.

Since Jürgen Klopp arrived at the club in October, the Reds have been frustratingly inconsistent - particularly in the league. Whereas they have boasted huge wins away at Chelsea and Manchester City, they have underwhelmed recently in losses to Newcastle United, Watford and West Ham United, often where they simply lacked enough drive and desire, as opposed to missing quality.

With Klopp's charges targeting some momentum after those big victories, they have instead been well below-par across a run of fixtures which was initially seen as a perfect platform to begin building points towards a tilt for the UEFA Champions League qualification places.

As such, they have failed to capitalise upon slip-ups of any of their rivals and instead require another morale-boosting result to try and kickstart a rise up the table. A positive result - and a good performance - against Arsenal could potentially be an ideal starting point, with another massive home game against rivals Manchester United looming on the horizon.

In their hopes of beating Arsenal, they will take confidence, and plenty of food for thought from Southampton's comprehensive 4-0 thrashing of the Gunners last month, although the Londoners have too proven themselves capable of important victories by beating Manchester City rather convincingly before Christmas after also winning 3-0 away at Olympiakos against the odds to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League in their final group game.

Whilst their title charge, or even top-four hopes, have often looked jeopardised by spates of injuries in recent seasons - they are looking very strong contenders for a first title since 2003-04 this season, enjoying a two-point lead going into the game. Even with the absences of several key players, Arsene Wenger's side are looking one of the most well-rounded teams in the division and are the favourites to end their wait for a title should they avoid any setbacks as we approach the back-end of the campaign.

By contrast, Klopp's side are currently stricken by injuries which have undoubtedly affected their momentum at a crucial time of the season. His side have played more games than any other team in the league, but their packed schedule shows no signs of letting up with another seven games in all competitions awaiting them over the next 24 days.

The German won't be looking to use that as an excuse though, and his demanding style of pressing football has played its part in depleting the options available to him. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of his highly-energetic counter-pressing brand of football cannot be questioned when at its peak. That they demonstrated at City earlier in the season and away at Southampton in the League Cup, when they thrashed the Saints 6-1 despite conceding first early on. 

It is that calibre of performance the manager will be hoping to see from his players this weekend, having given them a rest in favour of fielding an inexperienced young side in their FA Cup third round fixture on Friday night.

He'll be hopeful that their batteries are fully charged when they lock horns with Arsenal, who have won 13 of their 20 top-flight games so far this term, because the Reds will undoubtedly need an almighty effort to secure the kind of result which could spur them on towards a more positive run of results.

Team news:

Steven Caulker, signed on loan for the remainder of the season from Queens Park Rangers, could make his debut after his signing was pushed through in time to ensure he is eligible for the game.

The 24-year-old centre-back will walk straight into the matchday squad with the Reds' injuries, though Mamadou Sakho could partner Kolo Touré with Klopp admitting the Frenchman is keen to play as he returns from a knee injury.

If it is decided that he is not fit enough to start, he could start on the bench with Caulker paired with vetaran Ivorian Touré in central defence, with Martin Skrtel (hamstring) and Dejan Lovren (hamstring) definitely out on the sidelines.

Elsewhere, Jordan Henderson and James Milner should feature after returning to training earlier this week with the captain recovering from the latest repercussion of a long-standing heel problem and Milner having played 56 minutes in the Reds' 1-0 League Cup win at Stoke City last week.

Jordon Ibe is also in contention to feature, despite having succumbed to a slight hamstring problem after firing the matchwinner in the Potteries.

Elsewhere, Divock Origi is unavailable after undergoing minor surgery on a knee issue which will keep him out for a month whilst Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Rossiter (all hamstring) are out.

Danny Ings and Joe Gomez won't feature again until next season with anterior cruciate ligament injuries and Jon Flanagan is currently a few weeks away from first-team football after a 19 month lay-off with a severe knee injury. 

For Arsenal, Santi Cazorla (knee), Alexis Sanchez (hamstring), Francis Coquelin (medical collateral ligament), Jack Wilshere (calf/shin), Tomas Rosicky (knee) and Danny Welbeck (knee) are all out. 

Head-to-head:

Total: Liverpool - 76 wins, Draws - 51, Arsenal - 72 wins 

At Anfield: Liverpool - 53 wins, Draws - 19 , Arsenal - 26 wins.

At the Emirates: Arsenal - 44 wins, Draws - 32, Liverpool - 21 wins.

Most recent meeting: Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool, Barclays Premier League, 24th August 2015.

Recent form:

Liverpool

Form in Premier League: DLWWL
Form in all competitions: WWLWD

Arsenal

Form in Premier League: WWLWW
Form in all competitions: WLWWW

Match facts:

Liverpool have only won two of their last 17 Premier League fixtures with Arsenal, losing six and drawing nine.

In the last nine meetings between the two teams at Anfield, 35 goals have been scored.

Jürgen Klopp has only won five of 12 league games so far, drawing three and losing four - scoring only 14 goals in that spell.

Liverpool's tally of 22 goals after 20 games in the league is their lowest tally at this stage of the season.

The Reds have won five games 1-0 so far, the joint-highest tally in the league with West Bromwich Albion.

James Milner's 12.45km per game is the furthest average which a Premier League player has run this season.

Arsenal have only won one of their last four away games, despite remaining unbeaten in their nine home games.

Playmaker Mesut Özil has scored or assisted 16 of Arsenal's last 24 league goals.

Man in the middle: 

Mike Jones is the official referee, the first top-flight game involving Liverpool that he will have taken charge of since New Years' Day in 2015.

The 47-year-old, from Chester, awarded two penalties to the Reds on that day in a draw with Leicester City and in total has taken charge of just nine Liverpool games - with the Merseyside outfit winning just three, drawing two and losing four. 

In those games, Jones - whose highest-level games refereed include the 2007 League Two play-off final and the 2009 FA Trophy final - has dished out 12 yellow cards and two double yellow sending offs. 

In total, he has distributed 505 yellow cards and 23 red cards in 157 top-flight games since August 2008. 

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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.