Kuyt says Carling can be Cup of joy for Pool

DUTCH GOAL ace Dirk Kuyt refuses to be deflated by Liverpool’s exit from the FA Cup as the Anfield men prepare to face Arsenal for the second time in four days.

The £9m summer recruit from Feyenoord insists: “Liverpool still have three trophies to go for.”

On Saturday, Liverpool’s defence of the trophy they won on penalties against West Ham in Cardiff last May was ended at the first hurdle by a counter-attacking Arsenal who pulled off a 3-1 victory.

Now the clubs clash in tonight’s Carling Cup quarter-final at the same venue, with the Gunners intent on their third victory over the Merseysiders this season.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is threatening to field a youthful outfit this time around, with the prospect of a semi-final showdown against Tottenham awaiting the victors.

And Kuyt, who took his tally to eight for the season with his close-range header in

Saturday’s defeat by the Gunners, believes there is still plenty to play for this term.

He said: “We deserved more than we got on Saturday but Arsenal are one of the better teams in the Premier League so we already know it will be tough second time around.

“Let’s hope the defeat we suffered is an incentive and we can win tomorrow, because we want to win trophies. I hope that first defeat gives us an extra boost.”

He added: “For us now it is a question of going on in the Premier League, Champions League and Carling Cup.

“As players you always want to win trophies. We have lost one but there are a few more trophies to fight for and the Carling Cup is one of them.”

But Kuyt is still smarting from the experience of being part of a non-stop attacking Liverpool, only to be defeated by counter-attacking that produced two goals for Tomas Rosicky and a killer blow from Thierry Henry.

Kuyt said: “They made three chances and got three goals. We had a lot of possession in the game but they are really tough in defending and are a really good team. But we played well as a team and deserved more.”

Whether Liverpool can turn their frustration into a performance that takes them into the last four of the Carling Cup remains to be seen.

But boss Rafael Benitez insists he will retain Jerzy Dudek in goal for the second Arsenal visit to Anfield in four days. Jose Reina was rested on Saturday with Benitez keeping a promise to Dudek to play him in cup ties.

The Pole could have done better with all three Arsenal goals, but Benitez said: “Jerzy was promised at the beginning of the season that he would play in all cup ties.

“We will be sticking with that, he will play in the Carling Cup tie. Jerzy had a decent game in the first match, he didn’t have much to do, just a couple of saves.”

Benitez may well have utilised squad players for this match before the defeat on Saturday, but now he has hinted it will be a stronger side than he first planned.

The Spaniard said: “Maybe I will make a few changes from the team I originally had in my head for the match. We will have to see how the players are before picking the team, but it is more important to stay in the Carling Cup now.”

Striker Craig Bellamy could also come into contention up front, while veteran defender Sami Hyypia could return in place of Daniel Agger, while Fabio Aurelio could come in for John Arne Riise.

But Benitez has little option to make many further changes without weakening his side, and he must wish Mohamed Sissoko was nearer a return from injury.

Although he is back in training after a dislocated shoulder, Sissoko has earmarked the Mersey derby on February 3 against Everton for his comeback.

Abou Diaby returns to the Arsenal squad for tonight’s game for the first time in eight months.

The French midfielder has not played since suffering a fractured and dislocated ankle at Sunderland last May but he is in contention for a return at Anfield.

Arsene Wenger will also welcome back Cesc Fabregas, who was suspended for Saturday’s FA Cup win. William Gallas (thigh), Emmanuel Adebayor (thigh) and Freddie Ljungberg (hamstring) are out.