'We showed the right mentality'
Lucas Leiva believes Liverpool displayed the right attitude and enough resolve to take more than just a point home from Arsenal on Wednesday night.
The Reds got off to a flier at the Emirates when Luis Suarez swept the ball past Wojciech Szczesny on five minutes.
After a superb first-half display the visitors then stormed to a two-goal advantage courtesy of a fine solo effort from Jordan Henderson.
However, the Gunners pegged them back during a frenetic three minutes of play as Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott salvaged a point for the hosts.
"We're disappointed with the draw, especially having been 2-0 up," Lucas told the Liverpool Echo.
"We responded really well from the FA Cup defeat against Oldham. We showed the right mentality and a good attitude.
"This was a really important game for us. Arsenal are only three points above us and this was an opportunity to go level with them.
"We know how hard it is to come here. Arsenal pass the ball well and move the ball quickly."
Brendan Rodgers' side struck a fine balance between attack and defence for most of the game with Jamie Carragher putting his body on the line and Pepe Reina pulling off two world-class saves to thwart Walcott.
Lucas reflected: "Sometimes you have to do the dirty work by playing deep and defending and we did that.
"We started the game very well and built on that. We played really well on the counter-attack.
"I think we were defending really well but in the space of 10 minutes we conceded two goals and the game changed. Then we came back strongly at the end and nearly got a winner.
"It would have been a big three points for us but we just couldn't get them."
The Reds now face a trip to the home of the Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday.
And Lucas feels the performance his side turned in midweek will fill them with confidence heading into the clash against Roberto Mancini's title chasers.
"We have to start winning against the top teams if we want to achieve a better position," said Lucas.
"The game against Arsenal was a real opportunity for us. We didn't win but we showed we are capable of fighting against and beating the top teams.
"For so long we did well but unfortunately in 10 minutes we conceded two goals. We have another opportunity to get a good result against a top team this weekend."