Rafa: No 2006-07 repeat

Rafa Benitez believes his squad has more 'quality and experience' than last time Liverpool met Arsenal in the Carling Cup back in 2006-07.

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Julio Baptista scored four goals as an under-strength Liverpool side lost 6-3 at Anfield in January 2007.
 
Benitez again plans to make changes when his team travels to the Emirates on Wednesday, but he believes the Reds are better equipped for such a task these days.
 
He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "Arsenal did really well on the counter-attack. Julio Baptista scored four goals, so it was a difficult game. They attacked three or four times and got three or four goals.
 
"But we have more experience now and some players with more quality. That is the reason we can manage in a better way.
 
"We will change some players. We're analysing each player at the moment but clearly we have to change some players."
 
Benitez is confident that whatever side he puts out, it will be able to secure Liverpool's first ever victory at the Emirates.
 
He explained: "This is a special competition in which you try to give opportunities to young players or players who are not playing. These things together make it difficult.
 
"The Carling Cup for the young players of Arsenal is always an extra motivation. To play away for us will be even more difficult but we have to be ready to do a job.
 
"We have to change the statistic and we will be really pleased if we win there for the first time."
 
Liverpool go into the game on the back of a morale-boosting victory over Manchester United.
 
Benitez admits confidence has been restored among the playing staff at Melwood - but insists the message now is to push on and record a sequence of victories.
 
"It was important to win and the confidence is back, but it's important to know that it's a long race and we have to keep going," said the boss. "We have important games coming and we have to be ready."
 
Meanwhile, Benitez has spoken of his pride after everyone at the club, including the fans, responded to a difficult period by pulling together.
 
He said: "I was really proud after the game. I knew beforehand we were training well and the mentality was good, and the atmosphere before the game with You'll Never Walk Alone and the fans was fantastic.
 
"Sometimes we talk about Champions League nights with everyone enjoying it, supporting and pushing the team - that's what it was like.
 
"I was talking with Sammy Lee before the game and we were really pleased."
 
Anfield erupted after Fernando Torres opened the scoring against the champions - though Benitez didn't flinch as the net bulged.
 
He added: "I was really pleased and really happy inside but this is the time when you have to think because everything changes after a goal.
 
"We knew the attitude of the other team would now be more offensive and they would attack in a different way. You have to think about that and find a solution just in case.
 
"I was enjoying it 100 per cent but my job is to think about what is going on or what will be going on in the future."