A game which was expected to be the talking point of this week’s Barclay Premier League action lived up to the billing with a late late drama at Anfield as 10 men Liverpool side equalized late on to make it 2-2 on the night where idally the home side could have won the game easily.
Regardless of the full time result, this season’s Liverpool vs Arsenal fixture was sure to be dominated by one man and one man only, Alexis Sanchez. Man from Chile had publicly turned down Liverpool in favour of joining Arsenal. This was Alexis Sanchez’s first appearance against Liverpool since that famous Transfer Saga.
Arsenal came in to the game looking to wipe out last season’s results from the minds of Arsenal fans. Arsenal, last season came to Anfield as league leaders but their title hopes were blown away with a 5-1 Liverpool win. Arsenal returned the favors by knocking Liverpool out of the FA cup only fortnight later. So this game always has something to talk about.
Brendan Rodgers made Four changes to Liverpool side which lost against Manchester United in the league last time around. Liverpool fielded the same team that ended the league cup win against Bournemouth. Kolo Toure was paired with Mamadou Sakho at the heart of Liverpool defence, while Balotelli’s ban meant Sterling again was playing up front on his own.
Arsene Wenger saw Calum Chambers available again after his suspension, it meant Debuchy slotted in his preferred right back position. Olivier Giroud started up front, which meant Danny Welbeck was forced to play left wing.
Last week gaianst Manchester United Philippe Coutinho was asked to mark Wayne Rooney, and he was completely ineffective. Coutinho is a player who should be given enough permission to take on defences and he drew game’s first foul when he charged on Arsenal’s defence only to see the resulting free kick nearly missing the goal from Steven Gerrard.
Liverpool and Adam Lallana had plenty of the ball in the early minutes of the game and Lallana had the first real chance of the game when he used his clever feet to get the shot away, only to see it just slide over the goal post. The combination of Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling and Markovic was proving to be vitally effective for Liverpool and too much to handle for Arsenal defenders.
Arsenal adopted a different style of play in the first half by sitting deep and waiting for the chance to appear rather than make it happen. Liverpool had 80% of the possession in first 20 minutes of the game which is unheard of in a game involving Arsenal. Such tactics saw Arsenal’s front three Sanchez, Welbeck and Giroud having very little to show for their efforts in the first half.
Liverpool were dominant in almost every aspect of the game, it was well capitalized by Liverpool when goal came late in the first half. Great Goal from Coutinho. Once it came to Coutinho it was inevitable that he was going to score and he did. He deserved his goal as he was the best player for Liverpool. But seconds later Liverpool show the other side of their game, not defending the set pieces.
Arsenal levelled the score just seconds after Liverpool scored their goal. Liverpool conceded a cheap free kick and two of the shortest man on the pitch in Flamini and Debuchy combined to score the equalizer for the gunners. Liverpool could have a brilliant half of play, rather ended in disgust and disbelief.
Second half saw Arsenal attack with more vigour and hunger and it resulted in Liverpool having less of the ball and Arsenal stepping up a gear with Cazrola and Giroud getting more involved in the game and it was not a surprise when these two players combined to help Arsenal take the lead in this pivotal game.
Santi Cazrola chased a lost ball near the by line and set Giroud to put his more than effective left foot on the ball and that emphatic strike meant Arsenal were a leading a game which they were completely outplayed for the first 45 minutes. Fabio Borrini and Ricky Lambart were sent by Brendon Rodgers to get the goal back for Liverpool.
Fabio Borini late on had a good chance when he got up to head from Sterling’s lofted cross but Szczesny from six yards out made a fine save to deny Borrini and Liverpool. Fabio Borrini was all action since coming on, he was booked for loosing his cool over a debatable wrong throw decision. Temper were boiling high and Fabio Borrini’s dreadful challenege saw him pick up his second yellow and being sent off. In all fairness his challenge was worth a direct red.
Liverpool failed to create anything substantial in the entire second half but they never gave up trying and their efforts paid off when Martin Skrtel towered in to head to level the game for Liverpool. With only couple minutes left in the game Liverpool won a corner and Skrtel was left on his won and he made sure Arsenal regret that defensive error. He was strong and precise in heading Liverpol’s equalizer. Liverpool with their play deserved this late goal and draw.
This was a typical Barclays Premier League game, full of drama, lots to talk about, in the end it ended 2-2 and we cannot be sure which manager would be happier of the two. Liverpool had the first half won where they deserved their lead with Coutinho scoring but their defensive error pegging them back once again. Arsenal in the second half showed their metal and went ahead with Giroud scoring a superb goal and then against a 10 men Liverpool side Arsenal let their lead slip away.
Ideally both the teams had lots of positives tonight and at the same time both teams would rue their missed opportunities and what could have been had thing gone their way slightly more than what did. This is what Barclays Premier League is all about and probably this was the perfect game for us to lead in to the busy and exciting holiday season fixtures.
Image Courtesy: mirror.co.uk