Rafael Benitez hopes Liverpool can retain the feel-good factor that has changed the whole atmosphere at the club following Sunday's triumph over champions Manchester United.

But the Liverpool manager confirms he will make several changes for Wednesday night's Carling Cup fourth-round tie at Arsenal, with Alberto Aquilani set for his debut following his £20million move from Roma in the summer.

Steven Gerrard is still out, while Javier Mascherano is serving a one-match suspension.

But Benitez will have Aquilani available - probably as a second-half substitute - while defenders Andreas Dossena and Sotirios Kyrgiakos have recovered from injuries and are in the squad.

But the memory of Sunday's morale-boosting victory that did so much to lift the gloom at Anfield is still strong.

Benitez said: "I was really proud after the game. I knew beforehand we were training well and the mentality was good, and the atmosphere before the game with 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and the fans was fantastic.

"Sometimes we talk about Champions League nights with everyone enjoying it, supporting and pushing the team - that's what it was like."

Anfield erupted after Fernando Torres opened the scoring against the champions, though Benitez did not flinch as the ball hit the net.

He added: "I was really pleased and really happy inside but this is the time when you have to think because everything changes after a goal.

"We knew the attitude of the other team would now be more offensive and they would attack in a different way. You have to think about that and find a solution just in case.

"I was enjoying it 100 per cent but my job is to think about what is going on or what will be going on in the future."

He added: "It was important to win and the confidence is back, but it's important to know that it's a long race and we have to keep going," said the boss. "We have important games coming and we have to be ready."

Of the Carling Cup, he said: "This is a special competition in which you try to give opportunities to young players or players who are not playing regularly. These things together make it difficult.

"This cup for the young players of Arsenal is always an extra motivation, so it will be even more difficult but we have to be ready to do a job."