'We must respond at the Emirates'
Lucas Leiva insists Liverpool must respond from the disappointing Anfield defeat by Manchester United when they travel to Arsenal on Saturday lunchtime.
Brendan Rodgers' charges go into the 12.45pm BST kick-off five points off the top four following the 2-1 loss to Louis van Gaal's outfit, but with eight games still to play in the Barclays Premier League this term there's still plenty of points to play for.
Arsene Wenger's team are only six points ahead of the Reds in the table, and despite the Gunners having home advantage, Lucas points to the two displays against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup semi-final as a factor in why Liverpool can come away from the capital with a positive result.
"Of course losing could open the gap too much but I think we've showed this season when we are playing well we can play against any team," Lucas told Liverpoolfc.com.
"We remember the semi-finals against Chelsea and I know we ended up losing the game after extra-time, but I think we created a lot of chances to win the game and we should take that into the Emirates against Arsenal.
"We are on a good run and that was our only league defeat in 2015 which gives us confidence to keep going and try to win the game, because it will be important if we want to close the gap for the top four."
Liverpool's No.21 insists the players can't wait to get back on the field again and put the United result firmly out of their system.
"It was hard," he added when asked how he felt watching on from the sidelines.
"In the first half we didn't play well, we couldn't press the ball the way we are used to and I think they controlled the game very well.
"Then of course we were a man down at the start of the second half which becomes even more difficult, but even that didn't stop us trying.
"The team showed a lot of character to stay in the game after we went 2-0 down, and we had a few little chances to draw the game.
"It wasn't our best day and we didn't play so well, but it becomes a little bit more difficult to our journey now until the end of the season for the top four but we still have a chance.
"We have a lot of big games coming up and we just have to make sure we respond the right way."