Henry ignores fitness concerns

Thierry Henry shrugs aside concerns over his fitness to lead Arsenal’s attack against Liverpool at Highbury as Arsene Wenger’s side looks to stop their season falling even further apart.

Arsenal, with a four-point lead at the top of the table and a game in hand, need to recover from their elimination from the FA Cup and Champions League.

Henry has been doubtful with a back injury sustained in the midweek defeat by Chelsea but passed a late fitness test to partner Dennis Bergkamp in attack.

Gilberto also returns to the side at the expense of Edu, but Wenger otherwise selected his strongest possible line-up as he looks to revive the Gunners’ fortunes.

Liverpool, meanwhile, field an unchanged side from last weekend’s 4-0 win against Blackburn, with El-Hadji Diouf retaining his place and Danny Murphy kept on the bench.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Campbell, Toure, Cole, Ljungberg, Vieira, Silva, Pires, Bergkamp, Henry. Subs: Keown, Reyes, Edu, Clichy, Shaaban.

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia, Biscan, Riise, Diouf, Hamann, Gerrard, Kewell, Heskey, Owen. Subs: Henchoz, Baros, Murphy, Cheyrou, Luzi Bernardi.

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire)