Arsenal's Arsene Wenger says being a football boss is about crisis management as he prepares to face a toiling Liverpool side led by Brendan Rodgers.

Rodgers is facing a stern examination of his managerial calibre this season as last year's Barclays Premier League runners-up are 11th in the standings this season.

Wenger, who has been Gunners boss for 18 years and survived his fair share of challenges, said: "I've sympathy for every single manager in the Premier League. Everybody goes through periods where it goes a bit less well.

"Our job is to survive crises. Part of the job, not all the job.

"When you want to make a long career, you cannot only win, unfortunately."

Criticism of Wenger resurfaced after their most recent Premier League away match, when he was booed at a train station following the 3-2 loss at Stoke.

Arsenal responded by beating Galatasaray and Newcastle, scoring four goals in each match, but return to Anfield, where last season they lost 5-1.

The Gunners conceded four goals in the opening 20 minutes last term against a rampaging Reds as their title challenge unravelled.

"We've won five of our last six games," Wenger said.

"We want to continue our strong run. We had a good game against Newcastle and Sunday is a good game for us to show that we can have continuity in finding a good balance between attacking well and defending well.

"Liverpool are always very strong at home and that's why we want to continue to be faithful to our philosophy and play our game, but as well be solid defensively."

Asked if the pain of last year's loss at Anfield lingers, Wenger added: "Every defeat hurts. Every defeat is a scar in your heart forever. We have as well very good memories at Liverpool. We won many games at Liverpool as well.

"And even last year, we lost against them. A week later against the same team we won 2-0 at home in the FA Cup.

"Liverpool last year scored over 100 goals in the championship, they were very good going forward.

"This season they've scored 19 until now so they are not on the same trend offensively, but I must say they started out the blocks very strong and we were too late to get into the game."

The match is between two top-four contenders, but Wenger is not yet looking to the end of the season.

"It's a very important period now," he said.

"Over the Christmas period we play four Premier League games. Over Christmas we'll come back strongly I'm sure in the league.

"After, when you get over the hill to January, you look towards the end.

"How you come out of the Christmas period is of course very important."

Wenger's latest challenge is managing a busy treatment room.

Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (both groin) and Nacho Monreal (ankle) face fitness tests to determine if they can play at Liverpool.

Calum Chambers is back from suspension, but Laurent Koscielny (calf), Mikel Arteta (calf), Mesut Ozil (knee), David Ospina (thigh), Abou Diaby (calf), Jack Wilshere (ankle), Tomas Rosicky (thigh) and Serge Gnabry (knee) are all still out.

Wenger fears midfielder Aaron Ramsey will be out until the new year with his hamstring problem, though.

The Frenchman said: "I'm scared that he will miss the Christmas period. He should be back end of December, early January."

Wenger was speaking publicly for the first time since former Arsenal forward and record scorer Thierry Henry announced his retirement.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for what he has done for the club and what a huge success he has been for us," Wenger said.

"He was of course an exceptional football player. Thierry was a combination of a huge physical, technical talent, but as well special intelligence."

Henry has spoken of his desire to enter coaching, with a warning from Wenger.

The Gunners boss added: "He has enjoyed it now. It's time to suffer as well for him. Coaching is of course enjoyable, but it is as well suffering.

"He will see it's not easy to get everybody to score the goals that he scored."