Lucas: We've proved our quality

When Liverpool were last paired with Arsenal in the Carling Cup, it prompted a raging debate over the strength in depth of Rafael Benitez's squad.

Some things don't change. The Anfield manager has been forced to fend off similar questions as his team stumbled unconvincingly through the opening months of the campaign.
 
But from the nadir of four successive defeats - a worst losing run in 22 years - came on Sunday the relief and potential rebirth of victory over Manchester United, achieved without a number of first-team regulars led by talismanic skipper Steven Gerrard.
 
The quality and quantity of Benitez's resources will again be tested this evening when Liverpool visit the Emirates for a Carling Cup fourth round tie.
 
They'll hope for better fortune than the last meeting with the Gunners in the competition in January 2007, when a dishevelled, makeshift Anfield outfit were thrashed 6-3 at home by a youthful Arsenal side that history has tended to forget contained six full internationals.
 
Nevertheless, it is telling that only Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Fabio Aurelio remain from a watershed moment in Benitez's Anfield reign.
 
While still a worryingly irregular occurrence under the Spaniard, one player to have made the progression from fringe player to first-team regular is Lucas Leiva.
 
The Brazilian has perhaps been Liverpool's most consistent player this season and, in the absence of the suspended Javier Mascherano this evening, will be expected to patrol midfield with the same intent as shown at the weekend.
 
And Lucas reckons the defeat of United can help Liverpool turn a corner and silence the sniping over squad strength.
 
"Beating United was the perfect day for us and it shows we have quality in our squad," he says. "We played really good football in beating a really good team. They are the champions.
 
"We still have to improve a lot but this victory can give us confidence to go on to Arsenal and Wednesday and win through in the Carling Cup. 
 
"Maybe it was important to win a game without Stevie. Of course, we would like to have him in the team as he is our captain, but we showed we do have quality in our squad. We hope Stevie is back soon as he is such a key player."
 
The Carling Cup may be a distant fourth on the priorities of many supporters but, having gone more than three years without a trophy, the pressure is increasing on Benitez to deliver.
 
Most of the current Liverpool squad have yet to lift a trophy during their time at the club, something Lucas believes the players are keen to address.
 
"We want to be in the final of all the competitions," he says. "We don't know what Rafa will do with his team selection, maybe he will make changes as we have a lot of important games at the moment.
 
"But we want to progress as much as we can in the Carling Cup. We know it will be a difficult game as Arsenal are playing some really good football at the moment. They can pass the ball really well, they are creating a lot of chances and scoring a lot of goals.
 
"We want to get through, so we have to produce another good performance like we did against United. With the confidence that we have now, we can show more quality than maybe we were doing when we were losing games."
 
It has taken Lucas more than two years to win over the doubters, although his fiercest critics remain all-too-eager to pounce on any of his mistakes.
 
Lucas, though, is nonplussed. "To be honest, I have heard a lot of things said about me, but I don't really read the newspapers," says the 22-year-old. "Maybe I should when people start writing good things about me! But I'm just trying to be focused on my game.
 
"I have the confidence from Rafa. Rafa is really important for me at the moment. He's given me my chance. On Sunday, it wasn't just about me showing quality, it was about the whole team showing it. I still have to improve a lot, but hopefully I can keep playing.
 
"I feel I am growing in confidence this season. I am a totally different player to the one that arrived at Liverpool. I'm still young, and the criticism just makes me stronger to keep working and keep focused because that's the only thing that can help me improve."
 
Arsenal beat West Brom 2-0 at home in the previous round, when the average age of their starting line-up was less than 21 years and only three players were over the age of 19, and Arsene Wenger is likely to continue that policy tonight.
 
Lucas, though, admits that whatever team they face, Liverpool have to ensure the momentum gained at the weekend is not lost.
 
"The United game was more like we were playing towards the end of last season," he says. "Before Sunday, we'd maybe been playing a little bit anxiously, but when you lose games your confidence is always going to be a bit lower.
 
"Sunday was an opportunity not only for us to get back in the title race, but to show to ourselves and to our fans that we will be fighting until the last game of the season.
 
"It's too early to talk about the title really, but we've got to make sure that we're in contention around January.
 
"It's a long race. We are six points behind Chelsea. A lot of things can still happen, and the top four will lose points. Tottenham, Villa and City are in good form but they all have to play against each other at some point and they will lose points.
 
"We have to just keep on going. We've shown character and quality against United, and if we can play like that in all the games then it will be really difficult to beat us."
 
This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the views or position of Liverpool Football Club.