Focused on, not obsessed with, title glory - Liverpool's Xabi Alonso

"We don't need to get obsessed about the title race," he said.

But an obsession is what it is. When you've gone 19 years and been forced to watch Leeds, Blackburn, Chelsea and tomorrow's opponents Arsenal play musical chairs with your throne it can't be anything else.

And that's before Manchester United's dominance in the Premier League era is taken into account. When it began they had only won seven titles in their entire history, a number dwarfed by the 18 on show at Anfield.

But after Sir Alex Ferguson led his side to their 10th top flight victory in 16 years last year, that gap has narrowed to one.

It makes the desperation for number 19 more acute than ever and it's felt in every corner of Anfield, not just by the supporters but players as well.

Which goes some way towards explaining why Liverpool have performed so unconvincingly at home this season compared to an away record which has surrendered just five points.

And why tomorrow's trip to the Emirates may help relieve some of that uneasiness and allow Liverpool to take the same kind of natural and relaxed approach that saw them come away from another part of London with three points in October.

"Hopefully it will give us more confidence going to places like the Emirates," added Alonso, who scored the winner in that 1-0 win at Chelsea.

"The win at Stamford Bridge came after a good performance - we fully deserved it. We will have to repeat this kind of performance if we want to win at the Emirates and hopefully we're ready for this.

"They are a very attacking side. Whoever is playing up front, whether it's Emmanuel Adebayor, Samir Nasri or Robin van Persie, it will be tough.

The Emirates is a tough stadium to play at. They play good football at home but we have enough quality to stop them and be good in attack as well."

Arsenal have allowed their own title challenge to be undermined by a series of below-par performances of their own. They have already been beaten five times in the league, at Fulham, Stoke and Manchester City, while Hull City and Aston Villa have left the Emirates with three points.

The Midlanders have even snatched a top four spot at the expense of Arsene Wenger's men who yesterday were paired with Roma in the last 16 of the Champions League - a competition in which more indifferent form left them having to settle for a group runners-up spot.

But a home win would see the gap on the leaders close to five points to further increase the pressure on Rafael Benitez's front-runners and give further evidence of the fierce competition they face to secure that first title for 19 years.

"They are far away but I wouldn't rule them out because there are a lot of games to play," Alonso added.

"Things can change very quickly. We have to respect them a lot.

"It is still early stages and it's another three points - and if we want to stay at the top it's three points we need."

A win will guarantee Liverpool will be top going into the Boxing Day programme because it would open up a four-point lead on Chelsea, who go to Everton on Monday night.

But while there is still no breathing space, assistant manager Sammy Lee is similarly reluctant to rule out those touching distance - including Wenger's men.

"I have nothing but respect for Arsenal. They are a terrific football club and a terrific institution," he said.

"You can't write anyone off in December, particularly a side with the quality and calibre of Arsenal."
Focused on, not obsessed with, title glory - Liverpool's Xabi Alonso