Almunia: Reds will be gunning for cup revenge

ARSENAL goalkeeper Manuel Almunia knows Liverpool will be “looking for revenge” when Arsene Wenger takes his much-changed side to Anfield for tonight’s Carling Cup quarter-final.

The Spaniard, 29, is likely to captain the Gunners again as Wenger opts to give several of his fringe and young players another chance to impress.

Almunia was, though, part of the side which inflicted a comprehensive 3-0 Premiership defeat on the Reds at the Emirates Stadium in November, standing in for the ill Jens Lehmann.

Since then Rafael Benitez’s men have found their form, and are currently above the Gunners in the league table.

Almunia believes the Merseysiders will be out to prove a point — even if Arsenal are unlikely to be at full strength.

“It will certainly be more difficult at Anfield,” said the Spaniard.

“Liverpool have just had a big defeat to us, so I am sure they will be looking for revenge.

“It is the same as the Everton game in the last round, though, because everyone thought we were too young to win there.

“We might win, or we might lose — but one thing I am sure of is that we will cause them problems.”

With several senior players likely to be rested, Almunia is again likely to be asked to wear the captain’s armband.

He said: “I think one reason the boss made me captain was because I was the oldest man on the pitch — but I like to help the youngsters, and for some of them the Carling Cup is a very big experience.

“It is true, though, wearing the armband gives you something extra.”

England starlet Theo Walcott is one first-teamer expected to start tonight — but Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor and full-back Emmanuel Eboue, both carrying niggling injuries, are set to be rested.

Freddie Ljungberg (hamstring) could miss the whole of the festive schedule, while captain Thierry Henry has targeted the FA Cup tie against Liverpool on January 6 for a return.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will aim to rest players ahead of the busy Christmas programme, but without jeopardising the Anfield club’s chances of reaching the last four.

Benitez aims to rest some senior players, but is unlikely to plunge youngsters into the side at this stage of the competition. Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio, Luis Garcia, Peter Crouch and Robbie Fowler — none of whom were in the starting line-up at Charlton on Saturday — will come into consideration.