With Liverpool in disappointing form, they go into the Anfield clash knowing defeat could do great damage to their european qualification challenge, while the Gunners look to extend their lead at the top.

Vieira versus Gerrard is TheFA.com's midweek match-up.

PATRICK VIEIRA (Arsenal) v STEVE GERRARD (Liverpool)

KNOWN FOR...

Vieira: Frenchman who 'Comes from Se-ne-gal', turning down Real Madrid, telescopic legs

Gerrard: Driven crossfield ball, Impersonators' favourite Scouser, Missing World Cup with injury

HIGH

Vieira: Captaining Arsenal to the Double at Old Trafford last season

Gerrard: Immense performance in England's 5-1 win in Germany

LOW

Vieira: Disciplinary problems that have seen his Highbury career interupted by suspension

Gerrard: Two-footed stamp on Gary Naysmith led to widespread criticism after Merseyside derby

CURRENT FORM

Vieira:  At times this season the Frenchman has been outstanding. Newcastle's Gary Speed and Kieron Dyer both said he was the best opponent they had ever faced after the leggy Frenchman had given them the complete runaround at Highbury.

Gerrard: Started the season in outstanding form but his recent slump has coincided with the team's dismal run of three points from eight Premiership games. Gerard Houllier was so anxious about Gerrard he took the unusual step of making veiled references to him changing his lifestyle off the pitch. When he plays well, Liverpool do.

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THEMSELVES

Vieira: "All the ambitions I have, in my mind I know that I can achieve them at Arsenal"

Gerrard: "I'm still only young and have so much to learn from the likes of Vieira" 

HISTORY

Vieira: He was Patrick Who? when he became the first signing for the Arsene Wenger era in 1996, coming to London as an unknown 19-year-old from AC Milan. Within weeks he was a firm Highbury favourite, who even made up their own song for him - 'Vieira, he plays for Arsenal, he comes from Senegal' to the tune of Volare.

In 1998, Vieira won the league and cup Double with The Gunners and went on to lift the World Cup with France, setting up the third goal in the final for Highbury team-mate Emmanuel Petit.

But Champions League success continued to evade Arsene Wenger's men, fuelling two years of speculation that Vieira would be off to Real Madrid, Serie A or Manchester United.

That ended in 2002 when the new Gunners skipper led his team to the FA Cup and Premiership in the same week, he is now as much part of the Highbury furniture as his predecessor as skipper Tony Adams once was.

Gerrard: Made meteoric progress in 1999/2000 culminating in his appearance for England's 1-0 win against Germany at Euro 2000. But he missed the last two games of the tournament with injury - and that has become a recurring theme.

His awesome strength - he once said team-mate Dietmar Hamann had "squealed like a girl" after one of his tackles - helped make him the most complete midfielder of his generation.

But for every outstanding display, most notably the 5-1 win in Germany when he scored from 25 yards, there have been games missed with ankle, hip, back or groin injuries.

He couldn't go to Japan this summer to have a groin operation. He still only has 17 England caps, a poor return for someone of his ability who would be the first name pencilled into the team by most England fans.

Helped Liverpool win the cup treble in 2001 and has gone onto to be a real leader from the middle of the park or wide on the right. Scored a beauty against Macedonia last time out for England. Looking to be included in Sven's squad for the upcoming visit of Australia. 

COMPARISON

"He is the best player I have ever come up against. He was world-class, he didn't give us a kick" Kieron Dyer of Newcastle on Patrick Vieira

"A fit Steven Gerrard would have helped a lot in the World Cup. He's one of the best midfielders you can find in the world today" Sven Goran Eriksson

Compiled by Joe Bernstein

· Liverpool play Arsenal in the Premiership at Anfield on Wednesday 29th January