Liverpool – Arsenal

1. Hi there, readers. I'm Alex, and I'm the man ESPN have entrusted to guide you through tonight's Premiership clash at Anfield - Liverpool v Arsenal.

2. Of course, it's Valentine's Day today, but I'm delighted to be in the company of people who have got their priorities straight - Football over Love.

3. Love - it's an over-rated emotion anyway. "Oooh, you're great. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I can't imagine being with anyone else. You complete me." Rubbish.

4. Who needs red roses, Luther Vandross and a tub of edible body chocolate anyway? Give me 22 angry men kicking a football about - that's what I'm talkin' about.

5. The Anfield crowd tonight looks to be full of loved-up couples, holding each other tight and whispering sweet nothings in each other's ear. Get a room folks - we're here to watch the football, not two sappy suckers dote on each other.

6. Arsenal kick off the action on a cold, dry night in Liverpool. The visitors wear their yellow away kit, and look splendid.

7. 1'

   Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler starts a match at Anfield for the first time since re-signing during the transfer window. He looks very excited.

8. 2'

   Both sides have gone with fairly attacking 4-4-2 formations; we could be set for an open, offensive game this evening.

9. 2'

   Liverpool win the first corner of the night when Kewell's attempted cross is deflected behind by Eboue.

10. 3'

    Riise clips a tasty cross in to the area, but Toure out-jumps Hyypia at the back post and clears the danger.

11. 3'

    Good pressure from the home side in a bright start.

12. 4'

    Jamie Carragher is playing his 400th game for Liverpool tonight; let's applaud the burly centre-back for his commitment to the club. Let's also remember he was a boyhood Everton fan...

13. 5'

    Benitez is very active on the sidelines. He is wrapped up warm in what looks to be a very thick, padded jacket. Either that, or he's put on a lot of weight.

14. 6'

    Arsenal haven't got started yet at all; they have barely strung two passes together, although that is down more to Liverpool's bright start than carelessness on the visitor's behalf.

15. 7'

    Liverpool win their second corner of the night. Lehmann is unhappy at the attentions of Fowler in front of him on his goal-line, and when Kewell does swing the ball in, the referee immediately blows for a free-kick on the German keeper.

16. 8'

    Gerrard has played much of this season on the right wing, but he seems to be playing fairly cenrally tonight; Kewell has spent much of the early stages out on the right.

17. 9'

    Kewell does very well against make-shift left-back Flamini, pulling the ball back to Alonso on the edge of the area, but the Spaniard's tough lets him down.

18. 9'

    A first effort on goal from Kop favourite Fowler, but his header from 12 yards out is weak and drifts harmlessly wide of the far post.

19. 10'

    The reasoning for playing Kewell on the right wing seems to be to put young Flamini under as much pressure as possible; Gerrard has a tendancy to drift inside, but Kewell will maintain the pressure on the full-back.

20. 11'

    A good link-up between Adebayor and Ljungberg out on the right ends when Riise brings down the Swedish winger. Free-kick in a good position.

21. 12'

    HEADER! Fabregas drifts the free-kick in from the right wing, Toure makes a good run at the far post but his header is a yard or so wide of the near post. Poor marking from Liverpool.

22. 13'

    Kewell and Gerrard seem to have already swapped wings; the Liverpool skipper is out on the right again, with Kewell on the left.

23. 14'

    A Morientes knock-down almost lands at the feet of Fowler inside the penalty area, but Toure does well to block him off and allow the ball to run through to the keeper.

24. 15'

    Flamini is adjudged to have obstructed Gerrard out on the right wing. Free-kick to Liverpool. Kewell swings the ball in to the near post, but Henry puts it behind for a corner.

25. 16'

    Riise crosses early towards Fowler; Senderos half-clears with his head but the ball drops to Kewell, who smashes a volley well wide from a tight angle.

26. 17'

    DREADFUL! Ljungberg plays a nice one-two with Adebayor; he breaks in to the area, turns Riise, but his left-foot shot is weak and dribbles wide of the post. He should have done much better there.

27. 18'

    Henry has a word with Ljungberg after his team-mate's woeful effort on goal a moment a go; he wanted a low cross to the back post where he waited, unmarked.

28. 19'

    Hyypia gives the ball away in midfield, but Arsenal aren't able to create anything.

29. 19'

    GOOD EFFORT! Riise strikes a low shot from 30 yards; Lehmann scrambles across his goal, and is relieved to see the ball drift a foot or so wide of his post.

30. 20'

    Sissoko is punished for a foul in midfield. He needs to be a little careful; he has already been booked nine times this season, and a yellow tonight will mean he misses the FA Cup game against Manchester United.

31. 21'

    SAVE! Gerrard's cross from the right causes untold confusion in the head of Senderos. The young Swiss defender stoops in a strange attempt to flick the ball over the bar, and Lehmann is forced to tip it wide of his post as it looked to be dipping over his head in to the far corner.

32. 22'

    ON YER 'EAD! Alonso's shot from the edge of the area is well-struck but deflects off the magnificent head of Henry and out for another corner.

33. 23'

    Alonso is starting to see more of the ball in the Liverpool midfield, and the Reds usually begin to tick when he is on his game.

34. 25'

    The game is starting to pick up after a slow start, but it's certainly no classic, my friends. I'd like to say otherwidse, but that would be lying. And my mum hates it when I lie. Hi Mum!

35. 26'

    Adebayor does well to come deep and release Ljungberg with a nice pass down the right wing, but the Liverpool defence has been solid tonight and they flood back to snuff out the threat.

36. 27'

    Arsenal are really struggling in the final third; they haven't been able to create anything as yet, and Henry has seen little of the ball.

37. 28'

    Alonso spreads the ball out to Kewell down the left. He fires a great cross in to the middle, but Morientes swings wildly with his left-boot and mis-kicks horribly. Ugly football from the beautiful Spaniard.

38. 29'

    Henry collects a good long pass over the top of the Liverpool defence; Henry collects, but Hyypia shows good strength to hold off the Frenchman and see the ball back to Dudek.

39. 30'

    PENALTY! Harsh decision from Referee Poll as he rules that Eboue pushed Morientes as they tussled for the ball inside the area.

40. 31'

    SAVE! Gerrard goes low to Lehmann's right, but the German guesses the correct way and makes a good save.

41. 32'

    So, Lehmann keeps his side in the game with a good stop from the Liverpool skipper. The Anfield fans have gone a little quiet.

42. 33'

    Kewell loses the ball in a dangerous spot, but Arsenal can't create. Lehmann's penalty save has given the Gunners a massive boost; they have a spring in their step at the moment.

43. 34'

    Replays show that the penalty decision was very harsh on the young Arsenal full-back. He was simply doing his job, holding off Morientes, but the striker went down very easily. Justice, I suppose, was done.

44. 35'

    Adebayor is unlucky to been adjudged off-side as he sprints on to Fabregas' through-ball between the Liverpool defence. Replays show the striker was a yard on-side.

45. 36'

    Kewell attempts to fire a cross in to the near post, but he rather slices it and the ball flies a yard wide of the post and in to the side-netting.

46. 37'

    MORIENTES! Morientes plants a header straight at Lehmann from eight yards out. Here's a question: What on earth has happened to Morientes? He used to be good, now he's dreadful. Go figure.

47. 38'

    The Liverpool bench look concerned; perhaps someone has left the gas on at home.

48. 39'

    Arsenal have scored only nine goals in twelve away games this season. FACT. Nothing is happening on the pitch of any note.

49. 40'

    Arsenal win a soft free-kick, 45 yards out, for a high foot by Kewell. Senderos and Toure trot forward, less in menance than in boredome. The free-kick comes to nothing; Carragher clears with his angular head.

50. 42'

    Kewell mis-controls Alonso's pass out to the left wing. He looks at the turf, accusingly. He has no right; he simply allowed the ball to roll under his foot. The grass is innocent.

51. 43'

    Fowler grimaces as he gets up from a challenge in midfield; he has worked hard this evening, but just looked a little off the pace.

52. 44'

    Liverpool started the half very strongly, but have got worse as the game has gone on. Arsenal, on the other hand, started poorly and have continued in the same vein.

53. 45'

    HALF-TIME: Started brightly, ended badly. The players leave to utter indifference from the home crowd - and that was perhaps a little generous of the Anfield faithful.

54. 45'

    Liverpool kick off the second half. No changes at the break. The home side were out on the pitch a long time before the visitors. What does that mean? I don't know.

55. 47'

    Sissoko releases Gerrard down the right; the skipper fires a low cross in to the middle, which Senderos intercepts. At first glance, the ferociousness of the cross appears to snap the centre-back's leg; on second glance, it looks to be 'just a tweak'.

56. 48'

    Riise comes in with a good strong challenge on Pires inside the centre-circle to give possession back to Liverpool. Pires has been anonymous so far this evening.

57. 49'

    "Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal" the Gunners fans sing. It's rather a hypnotic chant, in truth. I like it.

58. 50'

    GOOD EFFORT! Kewell fizzes a volley in towards the near post from 25 yards, but Lehmann is down quickly to save.

59. 51'

    Gilberto's attempted pass to Pires is woeful, and easily intercepted by Finnan.

60. 51'

    CHANCE FOR FOWLER...

61. 51'

    ...BUT LEHMANN SAVES!

62. 51'

    Gerrard fires a great pass in to the middle, Fowler controls brilliantly and prods for goal with his right foot, but Lehmann makes an excellent low save.

63. 52'

    The Kop were willing Fowler's attempt over the goal-line, but the Arsenal keeper made a great save to keep the legend waiting for his first goal.

64. 53'

    HENRY! Henry collects a knock-down from Adebayor, composes himself and smashes a volley goalwards from 25 yards, but Dudek punches his fierce shot clear. Good effort.

65. 54'

    Adebayor and Sissoko get in something of a messy tangle. The referee has a word with both men, who promptly shake hands and wander off in different directions.

66. 55'

    Fowler makes a good run down the left wing, but his attempted cross deflects behind off his own boot after ricocheting off Eboue.

67. 56'

    Adebayor has very luxourious hair; thick and glossy and lustrous. I wonder what product he uses?

68. 57'

    Gerrard fires a free-kick in from the right touchline, but Hyypia heads clear. Kewell gets hold off the loose ball, but his effort is well wide.

69. 58'

    Both managers have options on the substitutes bench, should they deem that this match is worthy of some action. Garcia warms up for Liverpool; he looks moody and primed for some game-time.

70. 59'

    A clumsy challenge from Senderos on Morientes hands Liverpool a free-kick, 40 yards out, dead-centre. Alonso stands over the ball, and takes a very measured run-up...

71. 60'

    Alonso lofts the ball in towards Hyypia, who wins the header, but Kewell can't quite get on the end of the knock-down and the Gunners clear,

72. 61'

    Fabregas plays a rather hopefull ball over the top, thinking that Henry could use his pace to chase it down. Henry doesn't agree, and looks at his young team-mate with no little disdain.

73. 62'

    Sweet Valley High - this game needs a goal. At the moment, it sucks.

74. 63'

    JUST WIDE! Gerrard wanders over to the left and clips a super ball in to the middle. Morientes climbs high, but plants his header just wide of the far post.

75. 64'

    Ljungberg turns the air blue with some colourful language after the referee rules he has fouled Kewell. The official isn't impressed at his florid words, and promptly books him.

76. 65'

    Liverpool win a corner when Lehmann fails to deal properly with the free-kick. Referee Poll invites Henry and Ljungberg for a chat after the latter aims more abuse at him. No second yellow.

77. 65'

    ALMOST! Hyypia brilliantly flicks Kewell's corner goalwards at the near post, and it needs Ljungberg to turn the ball away to prevent an opening goal.

78. 66'

    Ljungberg has the chance to run at the heart of the Liverpool defence, but he is soon out-numbered and forced to turn back. Henry is somewhere around the half-way line, looking utterly disinterested.

79. 67'

    Flamini plays a great ball from left to right, picking out Henry on the far side of the penalty area, but his side-foot volley is mis-hit and flies well wide.

80. 68'

    Still no signs of any changes from either manager, despite the monotonoity out on the pitch.

81. 69'

    I guess Arsenal might consider a draw a good result; a point at Anfield in their current form might be priceless.

82. 70'

    Morientes sprints on to Kewell's flick-on, but his attempted cross from the left is, without wishing to be churlish, quite appalling.

83. 71'

    Fowler is flagged off-side as he tries to get on the end of Kewell's header back in to the penalty area.

84. 72'

    Some sign of action on the Liverpool bench. Who has Benitez turned to to try and win the game for the Reds...

85. 72'

    ...Cisse?

86. 72'

    ...Garcia?

87. 72'

    Nope...

88. 72'

    LIVERPOOL SUB: Alonso is replaced by.....Hamann. Strange change from the Liverpool boss. Alonso was one of Liverpool's better players, but has been replaced by a defensive midfielder.

89. 73'

    Gerrard does brilliantly to find some space and fire a cross over from the right wing; it falls to Kewell at the far post, but his volley is quite dreadful.

90. 74'

    OVER-HEAD KICK! Kewell rises above the mediocrity with a bicycle kick at the far post, forcing Lehmann to palm the ball around the post for a Liverpool corner.

91. 75'

    The news from the Liverpool bench is that Alonso picked up a thigh injury sometime in that second half. He has, according to my source, 'got an ice-pack strapped to his thigh'. My diagnosis? A thigh strain.

92. 76'

    Pires and Fabregas combine wonderfully in the middle of midfield, but Pires' attempted through-ball to Henry is woefully under-hit.

93. 77'

    Henry is getting more and more frustrated; his team have looked really poor this evening.

94. 78'

    Henry and Adebayor combine to slide in Ljungberg on the edge of the penalty area, but the linesman halts him in his tracks with an elegantly-raised off-side flag.

95. 79'

    ARSENAL SUB: Hleb replaces Fabregas. An attacking change from Wenger as he bids to sneak an unlikely winner.

96. 80'

    LIVERPOOL SUB: Fowler is replaced by Cisse. The Anfield fans rise to their feet to applaud off their hero, who has been, at best, fairly average.

97. 81'

    Cisse offers the home side a threat in behind the Arsenal defence, but Liverpool have shown scant inclination to try and play their strikers in all evening; what's going to change in the final ten minutes?

98. 82'

    Kewell forces another Liverpool corner when his attempted cross is deflected behind by Eboue. Gerrard fires the ball in, but Senderos clears.

99. 83'

    Senderos puts a dangerous cross behind for another corner, but Liverpool can't create anything.

100. 84'

     WHAT A MISS! Morientes contrives to completely mis-kick from six yards out as Gerrard's cross lands at his feet. Unbelieveable.

101. 85'

     LIVERPOOL SUB: Sissoko is replaced by Garcia.

102. 86'

     A slight moment of panic as Toure and Lehmann both decide to allow a through-ball to run on. Unfortunately, the only Liverpool player in attendance is Cisse, and he looks as bemused as the rest of us.

103. 87'

     GOAL! Lehmann makes a superb save from Hamann's 25-yard drive, but the ball falls at the feet of Garcia, who tucks away the rebound from a tight angle.

104. 88'

     Lehmann was so unlucky there; he has kept his side in this match with a couple of excellent saves, and deserved more from his defenders - none of whom had followed-in Hamann's shot.

105. 89'

     The Kop suddenly come to life as their side close in on priceless victory in the race for second place in the Premiership.

106. 90'

     Wenger must be infuriated; his side have been dreadful tonight but they came within a couple of minutes of an undeserved point that might have given the club a little confidence.

107. 91'

     There will be three minutes of added time.

108. 92'

     Some late Arsenal pressure comes to nothing.

109. 93'

     Arsenal win a late corner. Lehmann comes up for it, but Liverpool clear.

110. 93'

     FULL-TIME: Not a particularly entertaining game, stolen at the death by Liverpool, who move to within three points of Manchester United in second place.

Sağlayıcının güncel lig tablosudur; maçın oynandığı tarihteki sıralama olmayabilir.