Lucas eyes 'perfect game'

Lucas Leiva is confident a victory over Arsenal on Sunday can be the catalyst for a profitable festive period for Liverpool.

The Reds head into Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash determined to claw back ground on the third-placed Gunners, who sit just four points ahead of Rafa Benitez's charges.

Lucas believes a Liverpool win will send out a real statement of intent as the busy Christmas schedule looms into view.

"This is a massive game for us and if we can win, we will get back close to the top four which is where we want to be," said the Brazilian.

"It's the perfect game for us to try something different and show that we can improve from now until the end of the season.

"If we win, it will give us a lot of confidence to go into the run of games we have over Christmas and we are all positive that we can change things around."

Following the visit of Arsenal, Liverpool will take on Wigan Athletic, Portsmouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It's a run of fixtures Lucas feels the Reds are capable of taking maximum points from, and the midfielder reckons a return to the top four before the turn of the year is a realistic target.

"We had a chance against Blackburn to improve our position but we could not do that and we were very disappointed," he said.

"But we are looking at the next few games as a really big opportunity to start putting things right and we know if we play well, we can win them.

"We will be focused and we will work hard to get the win. If we could get into the top four before the New Year, that would give everyone the best lift."

After sitting out Wednesday's Champions League clash with Fiorentina, Lucas will be hoping to return to the starting XI for the fixture with Arsene Wenger's side.

The 22-year-old is one of only three Liverpool players to have started every Barclays Premier League game so far this term, enabling him to form a blossoming partnership with Javier Mascherano in the centre of midfield.

Lucas added: "When I came to Liverpool, I wanted to play all the time and now I have had the opportunity to do that.

"I'm happy with my performances, especially with Javier, and I think we are linking well. But my form is not important; the team is all that matters and we have to improve."