Granit Xhaka is confident Arsenal can end their 11-year wait for a Premier League win at Anfield - but has warned his team-mates not to underestimate Liverpool.
Arsenal are currently eight points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League and they are just nine games from a first title since 2004.
The Gunners head to Anfield next Sunday, where they have not won since a 2-0 victory in September 2012 which manager Mikel Arteta played in.
Xhaka believes Arsenal now have what it takes to bring an end to that winless run, but he insists they will take nothing for granted.
Liverpool have struggled this season and are currently sat eighth in the League after losing 4-1 to Manchester City on Saturday.
“It does not matter how their season is going - they are always a dangerous team and, at Anfield, a very difficult team to play,” said Xhaka.
“But we have confidence enough to win there as well. This is what we will try to do. That’s why we are going there, so let’s see if we can bring the three points back.
“If I am honest, we are looking at ourselves [and not Manchester City]. We have everything in our hands - nine games to go now.
“Let’s say five points over City - or eight now we have played one game more. It is most important what happens in the team, not what anybody else does.”
Arsenal’s eight-point lead was briefly cut to five on Saturday after City beat Liverpool. The Gunners swiftly responded, though, with a 4-1 win of their own over Leeds.
“It was not always easy or open,” said Xhaka. “Teams are playing against us now very deep, waiting for our mistakes and counter-attacking.
“We know that when we score the first goal that maybe they have to open the game a bit more and in the second half they did that. The first half we had to fight more.”
Gabriel Jesus was the hero against Leeds, scoring twice to get his first goals since October. The striker had been out for over three months with a knee injury, but Xhaka has insisted he remained a key part of the squad by influencing matters off the pitch.
“When you are injured it does not mean that you don’t have anything to do with the team any more,” said Xhaka.
“It was the same with myself as well when I had my injury. From outside you see a different picture than from within the team.
“You know exactly when and how to help and Gabi has been excellent because it is not always easy for himself to be out for three or four months but he was very positive in the dressing room and that is what we need.”
