Charlie George flat on his back, arms outstretched in celebration, on a sweltering FA Cup Final day in 1971; Michael Owen performing somersaults after his two late goals won the day at the Millennium Stadium 30 years later; Michael Thomas charging through in the dying seconds in 1989 to settle the tightest league title race in history.

Arsenal versus Liverpool is a fixture that evokes numerous memories and, as they prepare to do battle for a place in the Champions League semi-finals, it appears a safe bet that a dramatic late twist or two lies in prospect.

Arsène Wenger’s instinctive reaction to the quarter-final draw was to describe it as “challenging, interesting”, while Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, called it “special”. It is a pairing that throws up all manner of fascinating duels — Wenger versus Benítez, Cesc Fàbregas versus Steven Gerrard, Emmanuel Adebayor versus Fernando Torres — but, above all, it is a clash of contrasting footballing philosophies, of cultures, of Arsenal’s style versus Liverpool’s substance.

And while Arsenal may look down upon the Merseyside club in the Barclays Premier League table, Liverpool will believe that they have nothing to fear when the battle switches to the European arena.

“It will be really difficult because Arsenal are a really good team, but I think it will be difficult for them, also,” Benítez said at Liverpool’s training ground yesterday afternoon. “They will know that we are a tough team to play against. They will respect us in the same way as we respect them. To win the Champions League and to reach another final in the last three years, and now to be in the quarter-finals again, that shows the level of this team.”

The clubs face each other three times in seven days next month, with the two legs of the quarter-final taking place either side of the league match at the Emirates Stadium on April 5. No matter what the teams may have to play for in the Premier League, that game threatens to be one of phoney warfare, particularly in Liverpool’s case. When Liverpool travelled to Portsmouth late last season, Benítez rested all but one of the 11 players who started against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final, second leg, at Anfield three days later. Even with Liverpool’s Champions League qualification for next season hanging in the balance, it is feasible that Benítez will give Gerrard, Torres and others an afternoon off.

Perhaps as a consequence of the rotation policy that has attracted such criticism over their inconsistent league form, there are signs that Liverpool are coming to the boil at the right time to fulfil their European ambitions; they have won their past six matches in all competitions, while Arsenal have won one, albeit 2-0 against AC Milan at the San Siro. “We are playing well and all the data we have suggests that we’re stronger physically for the rest of the season,” Benítez said.

Arsenal have been the more impressive this season, but, although their performance in Milan hinted at a coming of age, they have progressed beyond the quarter-finals of the Champions League only once under Wenger, when they were beaten by Barcelona in the 2006 final. “Maybe you need to ask Arsène Wenger why that is,” Benítez said. “I think they have enough quality to win a lot of games and a lot of competitions.”

Wenger is optimistic that Arsenal will do that, continuing to lead from the front in the Premier League title race while pursuing their ambitions in Europe. “We want to focus immediately,” he said. “We aren’t sitting there waiting for the Liverpool game. We are focusing on Middlesbrough [their opponents at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon]. It will help us when we play Liverpool if we are in a good shape in the title race to play with less pressure.”

Liverpool, by contrast, seem to thrive on pressure of the other kind: Europe or bust.

Daniel Agger, the Liverpool defender, has been told that his season is over after enduring a troublesome rehabilitation from a fractured foot. The 23-year-old has not played for the first team since suffering the fracture in September and, after a series of setbacks, has been sent for surgery. “It is a blow for Daniel, but we want to get the problem sorted out,” Rafael BenÍtez, the manager, said.