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BIG tests are coming thick and fast but the demands are bringing the best out of Liverpool - can the same be said about Arsenal?

It would be wrong to get carried away on the back of a comfortable win in the Merseyside derby extended our unbeaten run to seven but, suddenly, there is a slight chance that third place - never mind fourth - is up for grabs again.

Much, of course, depends on the outcome of tomorrow night's tussle at the Emirates Stadium and, despite losing to Manchester United and Chelsea in their last two games, Arsenal will start favourites.

LIVERPOOL'S worries over not making the Champions League have hung over them like a dark cloud all winter.

But now it is starting to lift. And as the weather hopefully gets a bit brighter, so do the prospects of Rafael Benitez's team holding on to the place in the top four they secured with victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby.

In fact, forget top four. Top three will become a genuine target with a good result at the Emirates tomorrow.

It seems like forever since Liverpool last held the blowtorch to an opponent. Yet there's every chance they'll get that opportunity on Wednesday.

LIVERPOOL'S recent interest in Kenwynne Jones was curious.

Because the Reds already possess a striker who has exactly the same qualities, if not more, than Sunderland's occasionally effective centre-forward.

He is quicker, trickier, he has a better shot, and while his aerial ability isn't quite as good, he's certainly no slouch upstairs.

I THINK Sotirios Kyrgiakos will have a key role to play in Saturday's derby.

I'll be honest, when I first saw the big Greek defender play I wasn't impressed. I didn't think he was good enough for a club of Liverpool's stature but he's made me reassess.

Over the past four games he has been excellent. He gets stuck in and is very strong in the air.