FA Premiership
Wed 21st April 2009 8pm @ Anfield
For two football clubs who have prided themselves on their defending skills down the years, Liverpool v Arsenal games over recent years – especially at Anfield have been goalfests. A 4-2 for the reds in the Champions League, a 4-1 reds win and a 6-3 defeat in the FA Cup are just some of the results from the last few seasons.
Add to that tonight’s remarkable 4-4 draw. A game which saw Arsenal behind once and the reds behind three times, as Liverpool played a league game that was just like a cup tie. Understandably.
Liverpool move back to the top of the table but now require United’s dodgy patch of form to start transferring itself in to bad results in the Premier League.
This is a reds fans site and no doubt we’re usually somewhat biased (although we do try), but most Arsenal fans know their football and I’m sure the vast majority of them would agree the reds were the better side tonight. Arsenal were just that shade more clinical in front of goal with Arshavin becoming the first opposing player to score 4 goals at Anfield since the world was all in black and white (or the 1940’s to be more specific).
Still without Steven Gerrard due to injury, the reds started brightly – Benayoun was inspired but despite chance, after chance, after chance, Liverpool couldn’t make the first half break through. Against the run of play and with their first real chance on goal, Arsenal scored although there was some debate about the decision. On reflection, it would have been harsh to have been called offside as Arshavin scored their first to take Arsenal in to the break with a 1-0 lead.
The second half game was completely different with chances being converted left right and centre.
Within 10 minutes the reds were 2-1 up with a Torres header and then a Benayoun header.
Cue a couple of minutes of Arshavin madness – the equaliser was a great strike from outside the box, and Arsenal took the lead again after a calamatous attempted clearance from Aurelio – which was easily tucked away from 8 yards out.
The game had turned completely on its head and Arsenal were 3-2 up. Within minutes some more Torres brilliance equalised for the reds.
Liverpool were all out now for the winner and Walcott made a quick counter attack as Arsenal had 2 men on 1 reds defender. Walcott passed to Arshavin who put it past Reina for his 4th and with injury time here, it looked all over.
But in the 2nd minute of injury time, Benayoun popped up again to bring Liverpool back from the dead and rescue what could be a vital point.
The reds pushed for a 5th but the final whistle eventually arrived.
Liverpool go back to the top of the league on goal difference but United have 2 games in hand.
Will there be more twists and turns to come this season? You wouldn’t bet against it.
Team News
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Alonso, Mascherano, Benayoun, Kuyt (El Zhar 86), Riera (Babel 74), Torres.
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Lucas, Ngog, Skrtel.
Goals: Torres 49, Benayoun 56, Torres 72, Benayoun 90.
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Toure, Silvestre, Gibbs, Arshavin, Song, Fabregas, Denilson (Walcott 65), Nasri, Bendtner (Diaby 90).
Subs Not Used: Mannone, Eduardo, Vela, Ramsey, Eboue.
Booked: Sagna.
Goals: Arshavin 36, 67, 70, 90.
Att: 44,424
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)
Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal – In the Forum
Pre Match Thread
In game Match Thread
Post Match Thread
I was extatic with the last Arsenal game the other week, hopefully we can keep the points up and stay first in the premier league, Come on you reds!
Admin, you made a mistake, lol. The 6-3 defeat was in the Carling Cup,
Regards,
CB
I have to agree with Imran, I can`t see united slipping up, they have a pretty easy run in as far as the league is concerned, with only Arsenal as there only real threat (who they have to play three times). I always say to people I support two teams.. Liverpool and anyone thats playing united, but I do admire Arsenal and I didn`t feel as if the game was lost, I felt as though I had just watched a fantastic game of football. Good luck to them in the champs league, well done Everton for holding Chelsea back. we`re heading in the right direction and next season will be our`s
Liverpool fan like i to admit that the Mancs are excellent leaders and very difficult to catch when leading the table where as we seem vulnerable in that position,still lacking something!.
We should have won today but Arsenal will be saying the same so perhaps it was a fair result.From our perspective we defended poorly especially for their second when Arbeloa was caught sleeping!.Torres again proved that he’s the best forward in the world !.
Forgot to mention Yossi Benayoun who must be one of the most underrated players in the Premiership.The boy can score,dribble,run with the ball,create and a has good header so can’t understand why Rafa often prefers the terrible Lucas too him!
Again he was excellent versus Arsenal running the show from the middle of the park and must play more often.A very good signing in my opinion.
What an incredible game, shots all over, incidents and very few fouls, a credit to both teams. But we needed the damn points, so good luck all the top six for the rest of the season
It is a really a good game played by Liverpool and Arsenal despite the defensive mistakes done by Liverpool causing 3 goals to them. Hands off to Torres and Benayaoun for the effort or can be say a true world class player hard work.
What has happened to the Liverpool defence in the past few games? 7 goals conceded in 2 games against Chelsea, and i know there was a clean sheet against Blackburn inbetween but still, and then another 4 against Arsenal at home last night. I still think Agger should be first pick next to Carra at the back rather than Skrtel but he wont have done his chances any good last night. To be fair the whole defence was bad.
Torres though, what a player. Definately the best striker in the league, even best in Europe on his day.
Also you have to agree with Imran above, ive been saying for years now that Rooney is the most overrated player in world football.
Its tough to take that last night was only Torres’ 16th or 17th start in the league this season, 13 goals though, it just makes you wonder where we’d be if he was fit like last season.
This has turned out to be another season of ifs, buts or maybes which im sure all Liverpool fans like me agree, are tired of now.
Turn the home draws against lesser teams into wins and we’d be almost home and dry already……
Liverpool ’till i die
There will probably be more twists in the title race but i just don’t see Man Utd losing two more games.We’ve had our chances this season but failed to capitalise when it really mattered.It’s tough for a Liverpool fan like i to admit that the Mancs are excellent leaders and very difficult to catch when leading the table where as we seem vulnerable in that position,still lacking something!.
We should have won today but Arsenal will be saying the same so perhaps it was a fair result.From our perspective we defended poorly especially for their second when Arbeloa was caught sleeping!.Torres again proved that he’s the best forward in the world and in a different league to the likes of overrated Rooney who isn’t fit enough to lace the Spaniards boots.It’s very frustrating to see us having played so well over the last two months yet we’ll probably end the season with nothing too show for our efforts.