If Liverpool are to harbour any hopes of returning to the Champions League, they face an almost must-win situation Saturday at Emirates versus Arsenal, who are looking to solidify their status for their own return to the elite European tournament. Brendan Rodgers' side currently hold the fifth spot in the table on 54 points, which will put them in the Europa League, but they are still five points behind Manchester United for the fourth and final Champions berth. Liverpool (16-6-8) took a damaging hit to those chances before the international break, absorbing a 2-1 home loss to United on Mar. 22 as talisman Steven Gerrard succumbed to the red mist less than a minute after entering as a halftime substitution. Losing Gerrard for this high-profile crunch match is not ideal, but the bigger blow may be the absence of defender Martin Skrtel, who was given a three-match ban for his stamp on United 'keeper David De Gea in the waning moments of last month's defeat. More...