Football - Liverpool FC: Jamie Carragher looks to keep momentum going at Emirates

Feb 9 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Liverpool FC latest: Jamie Carragher looking to break Emirates duck

Football - Liverpool FC: Jamie Carragher has urged Liverpool to maintain their growing Premier League momentum as they aim to break their Emirates duck tomorrow.

Rafael Benitez’s side travel to Arsenal buoyed by their hard-fought derby victory over Everton on Saturday.

The Anfield outfit have taken 17 points from the last 21 available to force their way back into the top four for the first time since October.

By contrast, Arsenal have seen their title challenge derailed by a goalless draw at Aston Villa and consecutive defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea.

Liverpool, though, have not won in five previous visits to the Emirates while their last win away to Arsenal came at Highbury in February 2000 when Titi Camara scored the only goal.

And that is a record Carragher is determined to change, with Benitez’s men knowing victory tomorrow night would move them to within two points of the third-placed Gunners.

“In one sense, winning the derby is more than three points because everyone is buzzing in the dressing room but that can quickly change if we don’t build on this result,” said the centre-back.

“It’s important that we keep the feel-good factor that we’ve got until after the Arsenal game and if that is to happen we’ll have to make sure we get a good result.

“Arsenal have been at the Emirates for a couple of years and we’ve not had a win there yet. So it’s something we’re going to have to do sooner or later and hopefully Wednesday will be the time.

“We’re going into it in a great frame of mind but Arsenal is always a difficult game.

“We’ve had plenty of results this season against the big teams and we’ve maybe faltered against the smaller sides.

“We’ve had great results against Man United, Everton, Tottenham and Villa, all these teams, so it’s important that we pick up maximum points from the other games now.”

Meanwhile, Benitez believes much-maligned midfielder Lucas Leiva is winning over the Liverpool support.

Lucas has appeared in every Premier League game for Liverpool this season – a record shared with only Pepe Reina and Dirk Kuyt – and was an impressive performer on Saturday.

His efforts earned the plaudits of the home crowd, a far cry from last season when the 23-year-old was singled out for criticism from the Anfield faithful.

And Benitez said: “Lucas is a very good player. His team-mates know it and now the fans are starting to realise it too.

“If you analyse the history of the club you will find players that have perhaps had bad times. But Lucas is the kind of player that has character.

“The fans realise that this is what they want to see from their players.”

Liverpool reserves’ Lancashire Senior Cup semi-final clash with Wigan will be played on Wednesday, March 17, with a 2pm kick-off.