Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger playing it cool despite admitting he expects 'ferocious battle' with Liverpool

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Table-toppers Arsenal appeared in a relaxed mood as manager Arsene Wenger put his men through their paces ahead of their trip to face Liverpool on Wednesday evening.

The Barclays Premier League leaders are bidding to end a 12-year wait for the title and Wenger knows this fixture will pose plenty of questions to his side's title credentials.

Fresh off the weekend's routine 3-1 FA Cup third-round win over Sunderland, Arsenal will be well aware that Jurgen klopp's side will provide much more of a test as the German looks to reignite their stuttering season.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger gives out instructions ahead of his side's trip to Anfield

France Striker Olivier Giroud rises highest to head the ball in training at London Colney

Goalkeeper Petr Cech takes a breather as the Gunners get ready to face Liverpool

Arsenal have not won at Liverpool since 2012. A match-up that is never short on goals, who can forget the 4-4 draw, when Russian Andrey Arshavin announced his arrival in stunning fashion, with the midfielder grabbing all four that night, or the 5-1 drubbing Liverpool dished out a couple of years ago to make a mockery of an Arsenal team -  who were top the league heading into that game.

Arsenal boss Wenger is under no illusions as to what lies in store for his men.

'Every time we go to Anfield, we face a team who is up for it,' he said. 'It's always a ferocious battle, no matter who the manager is.

Chief creator Mezut Ozil fires in a cross - he will be looking to add another assist in Wenesday's clash

The Gunners star was maybe a little bit early as he possibly predicts the outcome

France international forward Giroud has been on fire recently and has scored 16 goals this season

'They had a very strong manager before, they have a very strong one now and Klopp has the personality to do well there. 

'We need to play our game at a good pace. We are used to pressing. It is not just Liverpool who do that, everybody in the modern game does it.

'Pressing has been created in England basically because there is a history of teams who have done that very well so it is part of the modern game to make quick decisions, be very short with your first touch and play your game.'

With only one defeat in their last 10 matches, Arsenal are in excellent form and ahead of the meeting, Wenger has offered some words of advice to his opposite number who has had difficulty getting used to the thick-and-fast nature of the games over winter.

The Frenchman, who himself was shocked by the fixture list upon his arrival back in 1996, has told the grumbling German to get used to it.

'You get that from everybody who comes to England at the start because you have to adapt,' said Wenger. 'I was like that. And I'm still in favour of a winter break, but without losing the traditions of English football. In January, not at Christmas. 

'But we go a bit overboard, because now the English clubs are in a financial situation to have a squad of 25 top-level players. It's not like 25 years ago. We cannot complain too much. We can rotate. It's not like we have 13 players who play every game.

'The Germans are more surprised as they have a good winter break. There are only 18 clubs (in the Bundesliga) so that is four games less, and they have no League Cup, so that is a few games less as well. The fixtures are much easier.' 

Wenger gets his point across to Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey at training on Tuesday

Joel Campbell (left) is looking to continue his good form after he scored against Sunderland on Saturday