Match Analysis
This Match Finished between Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League ended with a 2-1 victory for Arsenal.
Arsenal
Liverpool
Starting XI
Substitutes
Arsenal
Starting XI
Substitutes
No player statistics available for this match
That's it from Anfield. Arsenal move ten points clear of Liverpool and to within four of Spurs, who play Manchester United tomorrow.
Arsenal though will worry about the injuries sustained by Mikel Arteta and Abou Diaby. More injury woe for the Gunners.
Kuyt missed a penalty in the first-half and Liverpool struck the post twice, but it was Van Persie who made the difference.
Robin Van Persie bagged a fantastic brace to grab a victory for Arsenal against the run-of-play. Liverpool punished for not going for the kill when they were on top.
<b>FULL TIME</b> Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal
Oxlade-Chamberlain does brilliantly. The ball runs across him and he spanks a right-footed shot just over the bar from 20 yards. Great technique.
Van Persie plays Gervinho through, but the Ivorian runs the ball into the corner to waste some valuable seconds for Arsenal.
Gibbs breaks for Arsenal and ignores Van Persie in the centre. The left-back instead cuts inside a shoots tamely with his right-foot straight at Reina.
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal Van Persie again!!!</b> Alex Song lofts the ball over the defence and Robin Van Persie side-foots home a volley from a tight angle to rewrite the story of this game!
Cross fired in from the left towards Kuyt. Vermaelen just does enough to deny the striker a chance.
Eight minutes added time signalled...
Dirk Kuyt unleashes a barrage of abuse at the linesman over an incorrect offside decision, but remarkably isn't booked.
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Craig Bellamy replaces Stewart Downing</b>
Liverpool look to set Suarez free, but the Uruguayan is offside once more.
Liverpool look the most likely side to score here. Haven't made a sub yet, but look the fresher of the sides.
Charlie Adam wastes a golden opportunity to play in Jordan Henderson who was completely unmarked. Terrible play.
Charlie Adam fires in a corner, Alex Song clears for another corner. Cleared by Vermaelen this time.
Dangerous looking ball across the face of goal from Henderson, but Koscielny does well to clear.
Throw-in to Liverpool deep in the Arsenal half. Oxlade-Chamberlain playing central-midfield.
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Oxlade-Chamberlain comes on for Abou Diaby</b>
Rosicky lofts a cross towards the back-post. Walcott is onside but tamely flicks the ball on to Reina.
Arsenal look to break, but Walcott cannot bring down an over-hit through-ball. Back to Liverpool again.
Another great chance for Liverpool. The ball falls to Downing 20 yards out and he completely miscues a left-footed volley.
Arsenal given some respite as Kuyt fouls Kieran Gibbs. Tough times for Arsenal once more.
Downing outstrips Sagna down the left and has Suarez free in the centre. But, a simple pass across is miss-hit to Szczesny.
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Gervinho comes on to replace the quiet Yossi Benayoun</b>
Sagna now down for Arsenal after a collision with Charlie Adam and Alex Song.
<b>Great save</b> Gibbs cuts into the box and finds Walcott. His shot deflects off a defender's leg and Reina makes a stunning reaction save with his left leg.
The corner leads to a sustained Liverpool attack. Kuyt fires a ball across the face of goal and Martin Kelly misses a gaping chance.
The free-kick is poor from Adam, but he gets a second-chance and a much better ball is knocked behind for a corner.
Adam crosses, but too deep for the two players in the centre. The ball comes out to the other flank and Liverpool win a dangerous free-kick for a foul by Alex Song.
Rosicky chips the call across the face of goal, causing panic in Liverpool's defence. Carragher does well to clear the danger.
Kuyt has a great chance after a Downing cross from the left finds him unmarked, but the attempted header is terrible.
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Vermaelen</b> clatters Suarez from behind and earns a booking.
Sagna taking a risk in the corner, trying to allow the ball to run out. But, just gets away with it.
Corner is over-hit. The ball is returned into the area from the other-side, knocked down by Skrtel and Szczesny has to scramble to deny Kelly a chance.
Corner to Liverpool. Suarez attacks Koscielny and wins the corner.
Walcott has a shot from the corner of the box. High and wide, back to the regular Walcott now.
Clever one-two between Suarez and Downing almost sees the Uruguayan get a great chance, but slightly over-hit by the Englishman.
Liverpool finally win the ball and burst forward in attack. Free-kick for a Koscielny foul on Suarez in midfield.
Still Arsenal with the ball, probing down the flanks with little effect. Martin Kelly deals well with Gibbs to end the attack.
Arsenal enjoying a good spell of possession since the restart. Arteta suffering severe concussion is the word from pitch-side.
Diaby straight away has an effort from 25 yards. Quite tame, but forces a save from Reina.
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Abou Diaby replaces Arteta</b>
Still no play at Anfield. Arteta is receiving lengthy treatment and is now on a stretcher.
Doesn't look good for Arteta. The paramedics are on to give treatment. Turned into the onrushing Henderson.
Mikel Arteta down now, after an off-the-ball collision with Henderson. Looks worrying for the Spaniard.
Suarez spins Koscielny and runs onto the return-ball. His shot is fired at the side-netting from a tight-angle.
Kieron Gibbs down after a clash of heads. He should be ok though.
<b>SECOND HALF</b> underway.
The players are back out on the pitch. Almost time for the restart. What drama awaits?
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0303/koscielnyog20120303_275x155.jpg"> <br> Koscielny scores in his own-net
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Arsenal fans will consider themselves fortunate to go in level in this one. A well taken Van Persie goal levelling up after Koscielny's calamitous own-goal. Liverpool on top.
<b>HALF TIME</b> Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
Adam crosses from the left and this time Kuyt beats Szczesny to the ball, but it comes back off the post once more!
Kelly gets a low cross into the near post from the right, Kuyt beaten to the ball by Szczesny.
Sloppy passing from both teams sees the ball stuck in midfield. Two minutes added time signalled.
Charlie Adam in acres of space 30 yards out, feints to try and break between the two centre-backs and is dispossessed.
Arsenal want to play it out from the back, but pressure from Suarez forces the long-ball from Szczesny.
Arteta is down, but Liverpool play on this time. Much to the derision of the Arsenal fans. Bit of bite to this game now.
Corner comes in from the right, but Skrtel heads over unmarked from the edge of the six-yard box.
Great Save! Suarez beats two man and pokes away a shot, Szczesny does well to save low to his left.
Song fouls Downing in midfield. Chance to fire in a free-kick. Taken short, but Gibbs heads clear the eventual cross.
Rosicky will be ok. Liverpool look to attack, but Koscielny flies in to end that chance.
Rosicky down injured in midfield after a tough tackle from Spearing. Lucky man to avoid a card.
Martin Kelly gets past his man on the Liverpool right, but his cross is over-hit and goes out for a throw-in on the other side.
All Liverpool again, Arsenal clearing straight back to the men in red.
Against the run of play, Arsenal are level. Thirteen minutes till the break and Liverpool pile forward once more.
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal Van Persie header!!!</b> Sagna finally gets space to deliver a delicious ball from the right-flank, Van Persie pulls off his marker too easily to head home unmarked from six yards.
Walcott now tries to attack for Arsenal, but marshalled by Jose Enrique.
Again Liverpool intercept an Arsenal pass and attack down the right. Always space down that flank at the moment.
Sagna tries twice to get a cross in from the right, but Downing is sticking to his man like glue. Throw-in only.
Suicidal defending from Arsenal today. So lucky that they have a goalkeeper of Szczesny's quality.
<b>CHANCE</b> Suarez hits the post. The defence goes missing giving Kuyt a great chance, saved by Szczesny. Suarez hits the rebound and it hits the post.
Incredible defending from Arsenal. No left-back and then a terrible attempted clearance. More of the same once more...
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal Koscielny own-goal!!!</b> Liverpool break down the right with Gibbs nowhere to be seen, Henderson crosses and Koscielny slices the ball past Szczesny.
Gibbs looks to get forward down the left, but is hounded off the ball by two defenders. Liverpool have been on top so far.
What athleticism to get off the ground and get to the other side to save. Szczesny makes sure justice is done. Big dive from Suarez.
<b>SAVED</b> Szczesny gets down low to his right to save Dirk Kuyt's penalty, then miraculously gets to the other side of the goal to save the rebound. Incredible!
<b>PENALTY</b> Suarez escapes his marker and dives over Szczesny's tackle
Once more Liverpool and Downing look to get down the left, but cleared by Sagna.
Downing is through after a superb through ball, but from nowhere comes Bacary Sagna to get a toe in and clear. Downing was about to pull the trigger from six yards.
Song is robbed in midfield, Suarez and Henderson break, but they mess up a 2-on-1 opportunity.
Liverpool waste a corner and the game continues...
Sagna down the other end has a left-footed swipe at goal from 30 yards and the ball slices off his boot for a throw-in.
Looks like Suarez is through on goal after Koscielny messes up a long-ball. Szczesny is quickly off his line to head clear and Downing fluffs his lines on a volleyed shot at goal.
The sun is out and Arsenal have a sustained spell of possession.
Danger for Liverpool. Theo Walcott gets behind the defence down the right and fired a shot at goal, parried by Reina.
Kuyt gets himself into a dangerous position, but once more offside is given.
Liverpool explore down the left-flank again after some slick passing, but Sagna deals with the threat of Downing.
Lots of long-balls so far. Both teams at it, with diagonal passes the order of the day
Liverpool seem to be targeting the space behind Sagna. Suarez given offside this time.
Suarez wins a corner. Fired in by Charlie Adam ad Martin Kelly heads over.
Liverpool look to attack down the left once more with Downing, but the England winger is given offside.
Straight away Liverpool push forward down the left and Vermaelen has to put the ball behind for a corner. Cleared by Song.
<b>KICK OFF</b> Arsenal get us under-way at a rainy Anfield
Arsenal Subs: Fabianski, Diaby, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jenkinson, Gervinho, Chamakh, Miquel.
Liverpool Subs: Doni, Carroll, Maxi, Coates, Shelvey, Flanagan, Bellamy.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Song, Walcott, Rosicky, Benayoun, van Persie.
Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Carragher, Jose Enrique, Spearing, Kuyt, Henderson, Adam, Downing, Suarez.
Five minutes till kick-off then, time for some full team-news.
Robin Van Persie has 23 league goals this campaign, but he has never scored at Anfield. Will that change today?
More stats for you. Liverpool undefeated in twelve at home, but Arsenal have won their last three, scoring at least two in each
The encounter at the Emirates earlier this season, which Liverpool won 2-0, was the first time this game had been won by more than a single goal since 2008. Expect a tight game.
Liverpool's side missing Stevie Gerrard: Reina, Kelly, Enrique, Skrtel, Carra, Spearing, Adam, Henderson, Downing, Kuyt, Suarez.
Some early team news. Arsenal keep it the same as their win over Spurs. Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Song, Rosicky, Walcott, Van Persie, Benayoun.
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