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“Our Own Fault” LIVERPOOL 1 v 2 Arsenal – Match Report

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IT was the same old story at Anfield this season, where despite dominating for periods of the game, a lack of cutting-edge, along with that troublesome woodwork, conspired against the men in Red once more.

Whilst Liverpool were missing their Captain Fantastic due to England injury once again, Arsenal could rely on their very own Captain Van-tastic to snatch all 3 points for the Gunners as van Persie continued his phenomenal goalscoring season and one-man wrecking show – even scoring a header (his first of the season) in front of the watching Kop.

The game started brightly enough for the Reds, with Suarez in particular worrying the Arsenal back-line and it was the Uruguayan who won a penalty for Liverpool after just 18 minutes played. Up stepped last Sunday’s hero Dirk Kuyt, once so reliable from 12-yards. However, as the Cup Final showed, Liverpool have been far from convincing from the spot and Kuyt failed to replicate his kick from 6 days prior – Szczesny saving before producing an even better save from the rebound, again from Kuyt. In fact the Dutchman would have been leaving the rebound for the better placed Henderson, as he snatched at a second chance.

Other chances came Liverpool’s way but to no avail, leaving it to an Arsenal man to show the home team how it’s done – Henderson’s cross sliced into his own net by Koscielny. It was no more than Liverpool had deserved who were then unlucky not to go 2-0 up as the woodword was struck.

With the home team on top but failing to extend their lead the inevitable happened – an Arsenal equaliser – from the inevitable source of Robin van Persie who headed in a Sagna cross, as the right-back was afforded too much space to pick out his captain. Another negative feature of Liverpool this season, who have allowed too many crosses to come in. There will also be a question mark over Jamie Carragher’s (standing in for the injured Agger) role in allowing Arsenal’s star-striker to get in front of him.

Liverpool’s love affair with the woodwork continued just before the break when Kuyt touched on a Charlie Adam cross – this after Suarez was again unlucky not to score as Szczesny denied the number 7.

HT: LIVERPOOL 1 v 1 Arsenal

The second-half opened up more with Arsenal growing in confidence, although they lost midfielder Mikel Arteta to concussion as the former Blue clashed heads accidentally with Jordan Henderson. Walcott was denied by an excellent sharp reaction save from Pepe Reina as his shot was deflected by Martin Skrtel, whilst as the other end Kuyt’s excellent cross fell to Martin Kelly, who finished like a fullback.

Just when Liverpool seemed to be heading for a ninth home draw of the season, up stepped that man van Persie again who instinctively hit a volley which found the net in injury time. Reina will be most disappointed to be beaten by a finish at his near post, leaving Liverpool to rue missed chances once more.

Manager Kenny Dalglish summed the Reds performance up perfectly: ‘The scoreline didn’t reflect the game, but that was our own fault. We played well and did enough to have won, but we were beaten because we didn’t score enough goals when we were dominating the game.’

It was Liverpool’s first home defeat of the season and surely now puts to bed any slim chance of finishing in the top four – European football will almost certainly be played at Europa League level next season.

FT: LIVERPOOL 1 v 2 Arsenal

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Jimmy Areabi (Editor) - @fantasista1077: Huyton raised like Steven Gerrard, football has been my passion since the time I received a Kenny Dalglish badge as a toddler, and I've followed the Reds ever since – something that was easier during the 80s, when I worshipped John Barnes! I've produced work for many football media outlets & am now happy to run a major site on the club I love - providing our fans with a voice, and to bring as much information and news on the club as possible.
Having played football all my life, I aim to continue longer than Stanley Matthews...
Email me at live4liverpool@snack-media.com if you have any questions or you have an article you'd like published.

13 comments

  • Mike says:

    Dalglish’s fault. 115m to show for henderson, downing, carroll, adam, enrique. FSG, pls bring Rafa Benitez & make Dietmar Hamman d asst. Sell carroll, downing, henderson, reina, carragher, spearing, kuyt, wilson, cole, aquilani, gulacsi; 80m. Add another 50m and he’ll get; muslera 10m, butland 7m, jorgensen 5m, inigo martinez 4m, shinji kagawa 15m, james mccarthy 5m, hazard 22m, adam johnson 15m, luuk de jong 10m, castaignos 8m, coutinho 8m.

    • mr wenger says:

      lol dreamer or maybe you really are rafa benitez?

    • kumber says:

      in what world does james mccarthy cost 5mill and eden cost 22, maybe should offer 40mill and a signed steve gerard shirt for messi

  • kumber says:

    now that 4place is gone its time to give the youngsters a run aswell as carroll,henderson and shelvey. carroll needs to play every minute.

  • lukey gooner says:

    have massive respect for liverpool today are seeing them respectfully applaud mikel arteta after seeing he was ok after his injury, very unlucky you didnt get atleast a point but its the way football is. happily admit that your fans are by far the best in the league. COYG

  • stonroy says:

    Come on you’ve gotta mention the dive by Suarez. Look I know he’s your boy but we can all be objective can’t we??? Even the mancs were embarrassed by Ronaldo..

  • Stuart says:

    Suarez is an embarrassment to Liverpool football club. I’ve lost any respect I had for you now!!

  • Chris Tobin says:

    Oh dear the comments column seems to be a free for all from the local primary school this morning, we are not a club who sacks a manager every season, or hals season, go and support Chelski if you really want that.
    Mike what actually planet are you on?????
    As for Suarez 100% penalty, Arsenal fans accusing players of diving, do you not know your own checkered history about such matters.

  • stonroy says:

    all I’m saying is just admit Suarez is a diver that’s all. He dived for the penalty and he dives week in week out. Arsenal fans are the first to put their hands in the air and admit something about our players. When Eboue would dive we would call him an embarrassment, why can’t you do the same?

  • 3PHD says:

    Dalgish needs to be sacked. No ambition to get 4th. Too old school to change. With him we cannot make the next step up.

  • Akash@Superstarfc says:

    .
    .
    .
    Just sack Kenny Dalglish… and appoint Frank Rijkaard!!!
    .
    SIGN IN:
    Messi
    Christiano Ronaldo
    Lukas Podolski
    Mascherano
    Torres
    .
    .
    SIGN OUT:
    Andy Carroll
    Gowning
    Charlie Adam
    Wnrique
    Aurelio
    Glen Johnson
    Aquilani
    Joe Cole
    Lucas
    .
    .
    Liverpool 1st Eleven Team:
    .
    …………..Reina…………..
    .
    …..Coates…Skrtel…Agger…..
    .
    …………Mascherano…………
    .
    Ronaldo……Gerrard……Podolski
    .
    …….Messi……..Suarez……..
    .
    ………….Torres…………..

  • NJRedsFan says:

    Stonroy – Arsenal keeper didn’t even complain about incident. Stuart – If he doesn’t get his leg out of the way and go over he get’s it very possibly broken, but you’d probably like that. Suarez was unlucky he didn’t get at least a second goal.

Comments are closed.