Game of the Weekend Review: Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
For those who read my preview of the game at Anfield, you will know I had this pegged as an Arsenal sneak at 2-1. As a Liverpool fan, I am reveling in being wrong. Only just wrong mind you, but still wrong all the same.
I had an inkling that Liverpool may win when Steven Gerrard started the game as he did. Putting himself about, making sure the supply to Fabregas was limited and also Javier Mascherano he had no space should the ball reach him. The goal on 7 minutes was shear Gerrard; power, accuracy, genius. Xabi Alonso had exaggerated for the free-kick but contact was made and hats off to the ref for noticing.
However from 15 minutes Liverpool were in trouble. Gerrard started playing too far up the field and the midfield of Alonso and Mascherano began to get exposed, and Arsenal hit third gear. Only commanding goalkeeping from Pepe Reina and heroic defending by Jamie Carragher and the luckless at the moment Sami Hyypia saved them. For a moment the 7-1 odds of Hyypia scoring another OG were getting shorter by the millisecond, but luckily he kept his head and cleared as well as could be expected.
The second half saw the introduction of Peter Crouch for the injured Fernando Torres. For the first 10 minutes the dimension to Liverpool’s attack changed and Crouch had the beating of skipper William Gallas. But from then on the Frenchman morphed into Carra, and he somehow began to get more and more heroic throughout the game, culminating in the magnificent block of Steven Gerrard in the final 10.
Up top meanwhile, Theo Walcott was introduced and the Arsenal machine kicked it up to fourth. When Nicklas Bendtner came on at 74 though, the Liverpool defence seemed to have too much to deal with. And this became reality when the outstanding Aliaksandr Hleb picked the perfect pass for Cesc Fabregas who wrong-footed the off balance Reina to make up for an earlier glaring miss.
Overall, Arsenal deserved more, and looked like they would get more when Fabregas and Bendtner failed to convert two open goals. But their football, all through the match was superlative. They were one down, and they didn’t panic (at first) when the equaliser failed to come, although as the game wound on the Gunners started to look flustered.
Man of the Match: Aliaksandr Hleb for me. Hold up play was excellent, superb ball for Fabregas for the goal, passing was good, handy in defence as well. Top performance in all. (Cesc would’ve got the MOTM but the miss was unforgiveable…sorry!)
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Discussion - 17 Responses
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heh, this coming from a liverpool fan…. thankyou for the unbiasedness…
yes, you’re spot on…
but as with all these big games, they are tough for both teams and there were times liverpool couldve sneaked another one in….
i thought the ball going through the wall was just pathetic defending by arsenal….
i dont blame fabregas for missing the sitter… he’s done so much for us this season, sometimes it just doesnt go in…
Completely agree & i said as much in the comments section in the preview article for this match right after it ended.
It was amazing to watch Hleb in action. He was the only player, other than Almunia, who was not frustrated or frantic on the pitch & kept his head cool for Arsenal. Constantly probing & creating chances his set-up for the Arsenal goal was a thing of beauty! Its good to see him in such form this season coz we’re gonna need him in the big matches.
Another player to mention is Almunia. Kept his cool & made some fantastic saves! I almost couldn’t believe some of them. He’s also really improved his form this season & i hope Wenger rewards his efforts with even more game time.
arsenal were mind blowing this is from a manutd fan….im going to see a great match far better than yesterday this saturday…let the better team win…having seen utd and arsenal play..the classic era of utd and arsenal are back..after the chelshit dominance..
hear hear manutd fan…..
well the ball came too quickly to him .. ideally he should have stopped it & then taken the shot .. it was a nice game to watch .. hard to admit this(being a Man Utd fan) but Arsenal’s game after conceding a goal was breathless .. there were moments when Liverpool just hung by the skin of their teeth .. hopefully the match on Saturday will be a cracker
Great goal by Gerrard. Excellent strike. But, I think a lot of credit should go to Kuyt for his part in helping to disintegrate the wall.
Imho, Liverpool’s downfall came when they decided to defend a 1 goal lead against Arsenal, from so early on in the game, at Anfield.
Arsenal though, played brilliantly. Excellent passing.
Good game and could have been sneaked by either team. It’s always a pleasure to welcome the Gooners to Anfield. It seems as though this meeting will always provide entertainment and edge of your seat viewing.
Im sorry but i dont think Arsenal deserved anything. i no i no im a Liverpool fan but– they didnt penetrate our defence at all until they hit the post then Liverpool became under pressure. Liverpool had full control watching Arsenal play it about. We should have gone 2 or 3 up from CLEAR CUT chances at the start of the second half.
Arsenal played good football but couldnt break down hypia and carra nearly as good as Besiktas compare attacks in games?
Mascherano man of the match for keeping Fabregaes quiet. (Apart from his goal of course)
im sorry if i sound like a dick but i put a bet on Gerrard to score first and Liverpool to win. Blackurn and Everton too. godammit
I think Liverpool dont even deserved a point here.
It’s just pure luck Arsenal missed the 2 sitters.
We will be waiting you at the Emirates.
they didnt play that well.
Didn’t watch the game, but Arsenal will get their asses kicked next weekend… to much quality in United’s team for the young lads of Arsenal.
[…] slotted it home. With this draw Arsenal stayed top of the table ahead of Manchester United and The gunners will take on the Red Devils next! Bring on the […]
LiverFOOL weren’t good enough, but the saddest part is that Stevie G is starting to realise that he’ll never win the league with the scousers.Glory Glory Man Utd.Bring on the game of the season.Licking my lips in anticipation.
i was hoping that liverpool wins so that arsenal gets behind of manchester united but arsenal is just too good right now.
Arsenal was cruising trew the enfield and had been much better than livverpool…those open goals misses from ars was just bad luck and they deserved to win and they really are best in europe at the momment..