The Gunners saw their Barclays Premier League title hopes take a near fatal blow yesterday following a 1-1 draw with the Reds.

While there are still key battles between the top three sides still to come, Wenger's men now trail leaders Manchester United by six points - and travel to Old Trafford for their next domestic fixture.

By then, of course, Arsenal will know their fate in Europe and whether or not they remain on course for the Champions League final in Moscow.

With the tie delicately poised at 1-1 following the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last Wednesday night, it is all set up to be a fascinating encounter on Merseyside.

Wenger insists his team will "go for it" in what will be a third meeting with Rafael Benitez's men in the space of a week, which will take another Herculean effort from a squad already stretched to the limit.

"Now we need to recover - recover physically and mentally because the players gave everything against Liverpool on Saturday," the Arsenal manager said.

"However, we have enough resources to qualify on Tuesday night."

Wenger said: "We are making progress compared to last season.

"We have been going for the championship for the whole season and we still are, although now it's become a little bit more difficult.

"The turning point this year was very tight and we started when we lost Eduardo and also didn't have (Robin) van Persie or (Tomas) Rosicky.

"I think if we had got everybody back we would still be up there.

"We go until the end of the season and then see what it is like, but it was difficult to predict that all three of them would be out together and for such a long time."

With perhaps one eye on Tuesday's second leg of their European tie, both managers made several changes yesterday - Arsenal had five which included leaving top scorer Emmanuel Adebayor on the bench.

It was Liverpool who took the lead just before half-time following a fine effort from recalled England striker Peter Crouch.

Arsenal eventually forced an equaliser when Dane Nicklas Bendtner - who had earlier missed a gilt-edged chance - headed in a deep free-kick from close range.

The Gunners, though, could not find a way through despite plenty of pressure in the closing stages and had to be content with a point which probably will not be enough to keep them realistically in with a chance of overhauling United.

The Arsenal manager, however, remains convinced his young Gunners will be even stronger for the new campaign.

"I feel as well some young players have made big progress and next year they will be better players," he said.

"Players like Bendtner, who has already made progress from the start of the season. Next year you can consider him a real striker."

Wenger added: "The youngsters have done remarkably well and carried the team through.

"Overall I believe this team has enough class to qualify on Tuesday night and for the rest of the season we will see."

Bendtner, 20, felt Arsenal had done enough to deserve victory which would have moved them closer to United.

He said: "We should have come away with more. It is obviously more difficult for us now in the league, but we have to keep believing.

"If we win every game between now and the end of the season then we will see where that takes us.

"If we can win at Manchester United next week it might go our way.

"It would be very hard for us if we didn't win anything.

"We have worked very hard and played as well as anyone. We have kept going and kept the belief strong and that belief is still there, very deeply."

Despite injuries to some of his key men, it has been suggested Wenger - whose last trophy was the 2005 FA Cup - needs to spend big in the summer to ensure they can stay the distance in the hunt for honours.

However, the Gunners boss observed: "We would have wage bills as big as them.

"But yes, we have a rich budget and a big potential when the stadium's paid."