Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Tuesday night as the hosts look to return to the top of the Premier League table.
The Reds currently sit one point behind leaders and Manchester United, who host Portsmouth on Wednesday, and a draw would be enough to overtake the defending champions on goal difference.
But Rafa Benitez will see victory as the perfect response to recent off-field sagas, while hopes of avoiding a European hangover will also be high in the first game since defeat to Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Arsenal, though, have their own targets and the Champions League semi-finalists are eager to reinforce their hold on fourth place in the Premier League to guarantee they will have a spot in Europe's pedigree club competition next season.
Faith
Liverpool's mission will not be helped by the continued absence of captain Steven Gerrard, with the England star still sidelined with a groin injury.
The 28-year-old missed the 4-4 second-leg draw with Chelsea, and was an unused substitute for the previous domestic victory over Blackburn, and will remain absent.
Yossi Benayoun is therefore expected to play in a supporting role to Spain striker Fernando Torres, with Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano anchoring midfield.
Benitez must also decide whether to maintain his faith in centre-back Martin Skrtel, who has looked a little out of sorts over recent weeks, or give Daniel Agger the opportunity to earn a new contract when partnering Jamie Carragher.
Injury problems
Arsenal's injury-hit season has suffered a further blow following the news that attacking duo Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie will be missing for the trip to Merseyside.
Adebayor is carrying a hamstring complaint, while top scorer Van Persie has sustained a groin problem and will not be available for boss Arsene Wenger.
First-choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is also unavailable, but the Spaniard has announced he will be ready to return from his ankle injury against Middlesbrough at the weekend.
Lukasz Fabianski has been standing in for Almunia and the Pole will bid to rebuild his reputation after failing to cover himself in glory in last weekend's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea.
Full-back Bacary Sagna has recovered from a virus and could feature, along with fit-again Croatia forward Eduardo, but defenders Gael Clichy (back), William Gallas (knee) and Johan Djourou (knee) are all out.
Possible starting XIs
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Kuyt, Alonso, Mascherano, Riera, Benayoun, Torres.
Arsenal: Fabianski, Gibbs, Toure, Silvestre, Sagna, Walcott, Fabregas, Diaby, Denilson, Arshavin, Bendtner.

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Arsenal have made an offer for Marseille's highly-rated playmaker Samir Nasri, according to the player's agent.
The 20-year-old Frenchman only recently signed a long-term deal with Marseille but he has been linked with a move to one of Europe's top clubs for some time.
It was reported earlier this week that Arsenal were closing in on Nasri and agent Jean-Pierre Bernes has now revealed that an offer is being considered.
Bernes has also claimed that other clubs are interested in Nasri, but he admits his client is very tempted by the Gunners.
"We are not in a hurry. It is true that we are examining an offer from Arsenal, which is interesting for Samir Nasri from a sporting point of view," Bernes told southern French newspaper La Provence.
"But I have also received other offers."
Arsene Wenger has been promised funds to spend in the transfer market after Arsenal finished third in the Premier league this season.
Mathieu Flamini has already left to join Milan and Wenger is understood to be keen to bring in a number of new players quickly to strengthen his squad.
Nasri, who has often been likened to Zinedina Zidane, has been included in the France squad for Euro 2008.

MARSEILLE, France (AFP) - France international playmaker Samir Nasir has not had his move from Marseille to Arsenal finalised, his agent Jean-Pierre Bernes told AFP on Wednesday afternoon.
French daily L'Equipe reported on Wednesday that Nasri would be "signing a four-year contract in the next few hours" for Arsene Wenger's Premiership club.
Nasri, who helped Marseille clinch third place in the league and Champions League qualification in their 4-3 win over Strasbourg on Saturday, also told l'Equipe: "Perhaps it's my last match for Marseille. It would be great to leave on that note."
However Nasri's agent Bernes said: "No agreement has been finalised though it's true we are looking into a bid by Arsenal which interests Nasri in sporting terms, but it's also true that other offers have arrived in my office."
He did not reveal the origin of these other bids for the 20-year-old attacking midfielder, who started all 30 of his league matches for Marseille this season.
L'Equipe also reported: "The two clubs (Marseille and Arsenal) agreed a transfer fee yesterday. Nasri, who extended his contract at Marseille at the beginning of May to 2012, is going to bring a little more than 15 million euros to Marseille who had been hoping for 17.8m."
Regional daily newspaper La Provence also said on its internet site that the transfer had been finalised.
Bernes added however: "Samir Nasri cannot already be considered an Arsenal player, not at all. It's premature."
In recent weeks, there had been rumours of swap deal with Lyon's attacking midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa coming to Marseille and Nasri, touted as the next Zinedine Zidane, going to Lyon.

Ok,now romour has it that Arsenal has signed the versitile mid fielder and could well make a replacement for the going Hleb.
For the first season i doubt he could make the impact that Hleb has but Surely Yes he will be our prised assets later in the coming years.
He is bieng termed as the New ZIZU due to is origin and his playing style and who know the exposure to Premier League could make him an even better dribbler and player than C .Ronaldo...
On the Whole i think Arsene has carried out a great signing in terms of a creative player that he was due to sign.
What happens to all the Ben Arfa admiration by Arsenal. Will he be bouhgt as well or is Arsenes hand full buying this maestro.what i would like to see now is that how will Nasri settle into the team and where would Arsene set him to play.Can he play beside Fabregas in place of Flamini but then i think Fabregas will have to control his forward runs as he will be more in the attacking area due to his pace and his power to beat the defender.Or will Wenger utilise him in the flanks as a winger where we already have rociky walcot eboue playing.playing him in the Attacking mid field will not be a bad option after all Hleb played in the same position for the whole season.
what i would really like to see in him is that he grab goals from the mid field tat Hleb has failed to do.
Veiw the video of Nasri aswell

Congrats Arsenal Fans

Respected French sports newspaper L’Equipe claim Marseille play maker Samir Nasri will sign for Arsenal tomorrow afternoon, before he returns to France’s Clairefontaine training camp to prepare for the forthcoming European Championships.
It was reported earlier in the week about the possible transfer in the comment sections, however since then Marseille based sports newspaper La Provence have confirmed the transfer will take place for a fee of €17.5 million or around £12.5 million pounds. L’Equipe claims it could be as little as €15 million, with the player due in London tomorrow for a medical and personal terms.
Only recently Samir signed a new long term contract to 2012, but it later emerged that included in the deal was a release fee between the aforementioned €15-17 million Euro. He is expected to be the replacement for out going Alexander Hleb, which Young Guns speculated could be in talks with FC Barcelona. So despite featuring as an attacking midfielder, Wenger it seems will play Nasri on the wings as he has done with Robert Pires, Alex Hleb, and more recently Tomas Rosicky.
Nasri is expected in London early tomorrow morning, where he will meet with Arsenal officals to agree personal terms, and undergo a medical at the Shenley based training centre. He will then travel to the Emirates Stadium where he will be shown around, before having pictures taken for the clubs official website. His day will end as he flys back to France at 19.30 hours for French national team training.

Congrats Gunner Fans