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Benitez to prey on Gunners' weakness

Rafael Benitez will look to hurt Arsenal on the counter-attack © Getty Images

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Liverpool travel to the Emirates on Wednesday looking to inflict a third straight league defeat on Arsenal and move within two points of third place, while Aston Villa look to complete a rare league double over Manchester United and Chelsea travel to Everton. West Ham host an in-form Birmingham, Tottenham travel to Wolves and Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce comes up against his former Bolton sidekick Phil Brown as Hull travel to Ewood Park.

Arsenal v Liverpool
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez plans to follow the counter-attacking blueprint set by Manchester United and Chelsea when his side take on Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

Arsenal have scored once and conceded five times in 180 minutes, and Benitez, whose side have six clean sheets in a seven-match unbeaten streak, believes his side are well equipped to cope with Arsenal's possession passing game as they look for their first win at Arsenal in a decade.

"If you play them at the Emirates they have more confidence and they try to go forward all the time, it is the way they play,'' Benitez said. "You cannot control the game unless you are strong in defence. You can score if you play good counter-attack - like United did the other day.

"When you are playing well and winning everything is fine. If you don't win you have to change things and you have to play as you can - sometimes ugly, sometimes nicely. If you are strong and work hard against them you will always have a chance.''

Arsenal will be without Eduardo and long-term absentees Robin van Persie and Johan Djourou, but Nicklas Bendtner will be pressing for a start after coming off the bench against Chelsea. Alberto Aquilani is unavailable for Liverpool with illness and Sotiris Kyrgiakos begins his three-match suspension after his red card against Everton on Saturday.

Aston Villa v Manchester United
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is only too aware of the threat Aston Villa pose after Martin O'Neill's side's 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in December. "There is a consistent vein about Villa,'' Ferguson said. "There are no dramatic changes with them."

Emile Heskey is doubtful after sustaining a groin injury in Saturday's goalless draw at Tottenham - John Carew could start alongside Gabriel Agbonlahor in his place. Rio Ferdinand is suspended for United, but Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, both rested at the weekend, could return to the starting line-up.

Everton v Chelsea
David Moyes will be without Steven Pienaar and Marouane Fellaini for the visit of Chelsea to Goodison Park. Fellaini is out with an ankle injury while Pienaar is suspended after his red card in Saturday's Merseyside derby.

John Terry has recovered from a dead leg and will lead Chelsea as they look to continue their title bid, but Carlo Ancelotti is still without Michael Essien and Jose Bosingwa, while Deco is a doubt.

West Ham v Birmingham
Hammers striker Benni McCarthy is unavailable for Birmingham's trip to Upton Park. While Gianfranco Zola's side will looks to put defeat to Burnley behind them, the Blues have just one defeat in 15 matches and enjoyed a derby-day victory over Wolves at the weekend. Alex McLeish will be forced to name a changed side for the first time in 13 games following the injury to Christian Benitez. Veteran striker Kevin Phillips could be handed a rare start following his two-goal appearance from the substitutes' bench to down Wolves on Sunday.

Wolves v Tottenham
Harry Redknapp's side will be looking for a win at Molineux if they are to maintain their fight for fourth place this season. Spurs have dropped to sixth place behind Liverpool and Manchester City after just one win in five matches. Captain Ledley King will be rested, while Roman Pavlyuchenko and Aaron Lennon are still unavailable, but midfielder Adlene Guedioura could make his first start for Wolves.

Blackburn v Hull
Hull boss Phil Brown is hopeful Andy Dawson and George Boateng will be fit for the trip to Ewood Park. A win for the Tigers, who are still without key players Geovanni and Jimmy Bullard, would see them move to within a point of Blackburn. Christopher Samba is suspended for his red card against Stoke, while David Dunn is sidelined with a calf injury, but Lars Jacobsen and Vince Grella could return to the squad after injury.

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