Toure: Reds are scared of Gunners | Liverpool | English Premier League | Football News from TEAMtalk
Kolo Toure insists Liverpool will be scared of facing Arsenal after the Merseysiders were put to the sword on three occasions last season.
The Gunners host the first leg of the all-Premier League affair on Wednesday in what will be a run of three matches against the Reds, with a domestic fixture at Emirates Stadium to come in between on Saturday.
But while Toure accepts Arsenal are in for a battle against their English
adversaries, he remains confident Arsene Wenger's side have the mental edge on them.
"It is an exciting tie," said Toure. "Last season we played them four times (meeting in the FA and Carling Cups as well as the league) and we showed how strong we were - we beat them in three of those games.
"It is going to be really tight, we know that, but we have the quality and I think they will be scared to play against us.
"We need to show them that we have continued to improve and are even stronger than last season."
Toure added in the April edition of the official Arsenal magazine: "We are used to playing against them, so we know we are in for a battle."
Team-mate Cesc Fabregas is determined to get past Liverpool and then Chelsea or Fenerbahce to realise his dream of playing in another Champions League final with Arsenal.
However, Fabregas is not so keen on the prospect of an all-English climax to the tournament.
Fabregas, speaking to Spanish radio EFE, said: "Obviously, everybody dreams, but you have to work hard to make dreams become reality. If you stay in bed then you are never going to obtain your dream.
"I am dreaming of playing in another Champions League final. If it is against Barcelona it will be difficult because they have a great team.
"All I want is another chance of playing in a final, whoever that is against. If we won, then in five years' time nobody will care who the opposition was.
"I would have preferred to play a European team. To play in the Champions League against the same players that you play every week and see on the television, well, I would have preferred Barcelona, Madrid, an Italian team.
"But this is what we have been given and we have to deal with it. I am still a youngster here.
"When you look at the team I am still one of the youngest and am still a boy really. I do feel important and for any player that is vital."
Meanwhile, boss Wenger has admitted Diaby deserved his red card at Bolton on Saturday but rejected suggestions the tackle could be compared to the one which left striker Eduardo with a broken leg and a dislocated ankle at Birmingham.
Diaby was sent off after sliding in and catching Gretar Steinsson with his studs raised at the Reebok Stadium.
However, the Arsenal manager insisted Diaby's tackle was not as bad as Martin Taylor's challenge on Eduardo last month or indeed the lunge by Sunderland's Dan Smith which sidelined Diaby for nine months in May 2006.
"I knew the injury [to Steinsson] was not bad," said Wenger.
"Diaby certainly hit him but it was not comparable with what happened (to Eduardo) a few weeks ago. Diaby's tackle was a fraction high but as long the foot is off the ground you cannot complain.
"Diaby was injured and out for nine months but that tackle (from Smith) was very bad.
"It was malicious. Diaby's tackle was not malicious but your intention does not count. It is where your foot is that counts."[/b]
