Liverpool aim to break Arsenal jinx

Andy Carroll is hoping lightning will strike twice at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow as Liverpool aim to secure their first away win over Arsenal in more than a decade.

Carroll, who bagged the first goals of his Liverpool career in an emphatic 3-0 defeat of Manchester City on Monday, has already produced a match-winning performance at Arsenal this season.

The 21-year-old striker scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory for Newcastle at the Emirates back in November and is now hoping to repeat the feat for his new club, who have not won at Arsenal since February 2000.

Carroll, who scored twice in the victory over Manchester City at Anfield, believes Liverpool can learn from the tactical template used by Newcastle in their victory over the Gunners.

“We need to work hard to close them down and make sure that we don’t give them space or time on the ball because we know what a good side Arsenal are and what they can do if you allow them to do that,” Carroll said.

Carroll’s aerial presence caused no end of problems for Arsenal’s fragile back four earlier this season, when the England striker netted with a glancing header to secure victory for the Magpies.

Anything less than victory for Arsenal will deal a potentially fatal blow to the Gunners hopes of overhauling Manchester United, who are otherwise engaged in their FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City this evening.

A defeat to Liverpool would leave Arsene Wenger’s side seven points adrift of United with only six games remaining.

Elsewhere today, Chelsea will attempt to shake off the disappointment of their Champions League exit to United with a potentially awkward trip to West Bromwich Albion, unbeaten since the arrival of Roy Hodgson as manager.

The Blues head to the Hawthorns with clouds of uncertainty swirling around manager Carlo Ancelotti, whose future at Stamford Bridge has been called into question following their latest European disappointment.

Chelsea officials have insisted that no decision on Ancelotti’s future will be taken until the end of the season.

At the other end of the table, Wigan face a six-pointer at Blackpool, where victory for the Latics may lift Roberto Martinez’s side out of the relegation zone depending on results elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan hopes to help his side halt a run that has included seven defeats in eight games when the Black Cats travel to Birmingham aiming to pull themselves out of the relegation mire.

“If Sunderland need a win, then I need a goal,” said Gyan, who has not scored since February.

“It’s been a long time without one but as a striker bad runs like this can happen.

“You can talk all you like about how badly the results have gone and what might happen in the remaining games, but it all comes down to the fact that we need that win. If we get it, then it changes everything.”