Liverpool – Arsenal

1. And tonight's teams are: Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Alonso, Mascherano, Benayoun, Kuyt, Riera, Torres. Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Toure, Silvestre, Gibbs, Song Billong, Fabregas, Denilson, Arshavin, Nasri, Bendtner.

2. Subs for Liverpool: Cavalieri, Dossena, Babel, Lucas, Ngog, El Zhar, Skrtel. And Arsenal: Mannone, Diaby, Eduardo, Vela, Walcott, Ramsey, Eboue

3. So Liverpool replace Gerrard (who's in the studio in a white shirt and white tie combo - better than a shell suit but still rubbish) with Benayoun At the back, Agger comes in for Skrtel, who's been badly beaten up by Drogba twice of late.

4. Meanwhile, Arsenal go with five in midfield. This might give Fabregas a little more freedom than usual, but with Adebayor and Van Persie unavailable he's only got Bendtner to aim at. Walcott, Arsenal's most potent weapon - in both sense of the word, given his recent rentagobbishness of late - is left on the bench.

5. If Liverpool can win this, they'll put themselves in a strong position - their run-in is not particularly tricky, although they do have a habit of tripping themselves up like a barman in Southport.

6. Of course in a way it suits Arsenal to lose tonight, so that United continue to play under pressure prior to the European semi. With fourth place looking secure, it won't kill them to get beaten, but there are some handy teams who'll be in Champions League qualifying next season who'll it'd be worth finishing third to avoid.

7. Arsenal prepare to kick off.

8. 1'

   Arsenal begin with a few nice passes and win a throw.

9. 1'

   Sagna heads away Aurelio's long ball aimed at Torres.

10. 2'

    For Liverpool Kuyt is playing up front and Benayoun is on the right.

11. 2'

    Arsenal have started confidently, zipping the ball around and moving well. With Liverpool also needing to attack this should be a good game.

12. 3'

    Torres beats Sagna in the air, skins Toure cutting in and wastes a presentable opportunity by rolling his shot too close to Fabianski who saves low to his left.

13. 5'

    Denilson gives the ball away but Arsenal manage to crowd Torres out after he's found by Mascherano.

14. 5'

    Alonso finds Benayoun who slides a cross in Torres' direction that Toure does well to cut out.

15. 6'

    Torres finds space between Toure and Silvestre, but they manage to block him off. Torres is now receiving treatment on his right angle after he flings himself to the floor with back arched.

16. 8'

    Liverpool - or Torres to be precise - have looked dangerous in the last few minutes.

17. 9'

    Toure finds Bendtner who controls well on his chest, but is given offside. Very close, that.

18. 9'

    Great keeping by Fabianski. Kuyt slips Benayoun through in the inside-right channel, but the keeper's out well to smother, doing the same to Arbeloa who follows in.

19. 11'

    Free kick to Arsenal on the right abuot 50 yards from goal.

20. 11'

    Headed clear easily.

21. 12'

    Fabregas runs in behind Carragher but Carragher sees him away.

22. 12'

    Gibbs forced to concede a throw deep in Arsenal territory.

23. 13'

    Fabregas' lofted pass to Bendtner is cut out.

24. 14'

    Sagna heads Benayoun's cross out of play.

25. 15'

    Mascherano cuts in from the left but drags his shot wide. Liverpool on top here.

26. 15'

    A good ball from Bendtner inside Aurelio forces Reina to come rushing out of his area and he gets there, just.

27. 16'

    Better from Arsenal. Great interplay between Bendtner, Nasri and Fabregas forces Liverpool to concede a throw that comes to nothing.

28. 17'

    Arsenal pressure Liverpool high up the pitch and force them to pass back to Reina.

29. 18'

    Torres shoots from the right corner of the area but Fabianski tips over at his near post. Corner.

30. 19'

    Corner is eventually cleared after much scrambling. Arsenal do not look comfortable in defence.

31. 21'

    Silvestre goes through the back of Torres and Liverpool have a free kick 50 yards from goal, dead centre.

32. 21'

    Headed clear easily.

33. 22'

    Riera dithers in a good position and Nasri sneaks up behind him on his tiptoes to avert the danger.

34. 23'

    Incidentally, earlier in the season, Nasri described his position as a "non-axial playmaker". I wonder how many English players are familiar with the term.

35. 24'

    Arsenal have not really threatened after passing the ball nicely in the first few minutes. Arshavin has not had a kick.

36. 25'

    Slighly better from Arsenal as they weave a nice pattern down their left, but it comes to nothing.

37. 26'

    Alonso's long ball is chased by Kuyt and Silverstre catches him, but the referee signals no free kick with a gesture similar to the one for which Benitez was attacked by Allardyce and Fergie.

38. 27'

    Free kick to Arsenal wide on the right but it's too long and easy for Liverpool to clear.

39. 28'

    Good run by Benayoun, weaving away from challenges in the middle of the pitch and Song concedes a corner.

40. 29'

    Arsenal break and from Gibbs' cross, Agger and Reina get in each other's way, but Fabregas mishits his volley.

41. 30'

    Good keeping again from Fabianski,out fast to reach the ball before the onrushing Benayoun. Arsenal, like many of Liverpool's recent opponents, look vulnerable to the long, aerial hoof.

42. 30'

    Fabianski saves Torres' shot from 20 yards after he's escaped Toure too easily.

43. 31'

    Nasri clears Agger's header off the line. Arsenal are living dangerously.

44. 32'

    I'm not sure I've ever noticed that Fabregas has a nasty tattoo on his elbow, but I have and he does.

45. 33'

    Arshavin takes the ball well, then shanks it behind.

46. 34'

    Alonso puts the ball out as Fabregas is down after Carragher went through the back of him.

47. 35'

    Denilson and Song need to impose themselves for Arsenal. Right now they are ornaments.

48. 36'

    GOAL! Mascherano loses possession, Nasri wins the ball on the right of the area, slips Fabregas in and he cuts it back to Arshavin who finshes in off the bar.

49. 36'

    Liverpool think Fabregas was offside, but the replay suggests otherwise.

50. 38'

    Fabianski turns Benayoun's shot away diving to his right.

51. 39'

    Good defending by Silvestre, turning away Riera's cross. Corner.

52. 39'

    Toure touches Alonso's overhit corner behind for another, this time from the right.

53. 39'

    Easy for Fabianski, who has had an inspired half.

54. 40'

    Arshavin looks like he has nappy rash on his face.

55. 40'

    Song shoots from 25 yards, but nowhere near.

56. 42'

    Arsenal have improved a little since the goal, but it seems unlikely that they'll keep a clean sheet.

57. 43'

    Torres flicks the ball into his face, runs into Silvestre and has a tantrum.

58. 43'

    More desperate blocking in the Arsenal penalty area and it's a corner.

59. 44'

    Another scramble and it's a Liverpool throw.

60. 44'

    Benayoun's header from Arbeloa's cross is just over the top.

61. 45'

    Silvestre is first to Riera's low cross.

62. 45'

    1 minute to be added drones the flat tones of the stadium announcer.

63. 45'

    Another crosspings around the Arsenal box and Fabianski saves Arbeloa's shot.

64. 45'

    LIVERPOOL 0-1 ARSENAL

65. 45'

    Somehow Arsenal are ahead. Liverpool have dominated, but Arsenal have survived thanks to some last-ditch defending and excellent goalkeeping. Liverpool will doubtless pile it on in the second half - should they fail to win, their first title in 19 years will look exceedingly unlikely.

66. 45'

    Despite being confronted with clear evidence that Fabregas was onside, Steven Gerrard in the television studio insists that there is ambiguity. There is not.

67. 45'

    Arsenal's midfield will need to offer their defence better protection than they have so far. For their part, Liverpool will be wary of Arsenal's ability to hit them on the break.

68. 46'

    Liverpool kick off.

69. 46'

    Torres crosses from the right but Fabianski claims easily.

70. 46'

    Benayoun and Kuyt appear to have swapped.

71. 46'

    The former wins a corner for Liverpool on the right hand side.

72. 46'

    Alonso chips it to Aurelio on the edge of the box, but he slices a shot wide.

73. 48'

    Song fails to find Bendtner after good play from Arshavin, Fabregas and Nasri.

74. 49'

    GOAL! Sagna messes up a clearance, Kuyt's first cross is blocked, but he gets another chance, stands it up and Torres powers a great header from a standing start past Fabianski low to his left.

75. 51'

    Riera almost gets through but his touch is off and the chance goes. Arsenal's defenders were all over the place there.

76. 52'

    Kuyt almost gets in down the right but Arsenal manage to get the ball away.

77. 53'

    Good tackle from Song to stop Torres.

78. 54'

    Agger brings the ball away but overruns it.

79. 55'

    Benayoun's pass was far too heavy, when he had a great opportunity to play in Torres or Riera.

80. 55'

    Has anyone ever had more ridiculous hair than Bacary Sagna?

81. 56'

    GOAL! Gibbs makes a mess of a clearance, Kuyt crosses, and a combination of Benayoun's head and Sagna's foot forces the ball over the line.

82. 58'

    I remember someone telling me a joke when I was a kid: What's always coming but never arrives? The answer is "tomorrow", but it could jus as well be Wenger's Arsenal.

83. 59'

    Free kick to Liverpool 40 yards from goal on the left.

84. 59'

    Alonso curls it wide past the far post.

85. 60'

    Finally Arsenal have a bit of possession but after passing intricately on the edge of the area they can't find the killer ball.

86. 61'

    Sagna catches Riera in the face and is booked.

87. 62'

    Free kick to Liverpool 45 yards out and left of centre.

88. 62'

    Rolled the width of pitch to Arbeloa and the ball pings around until Torres'shot is saved.

89. 63'

    Liverpool are far too strong and fast at the moment.

90. 63'

    Almost another goal for Liverpool. Riera cuts in and takes an unnecessary touch, allowing his attempted cross to be put behind.

91. 64'

    Corner is half-cleared, fed back into Benayoun, but he is offside. Arsenal need to do something, else they'll be further behind very soon.

92. 65'

    Walcott is receiving instructions from Pat Rice. One can only wonder at the tactical insight he has to offer.

93. 65'

    Walcott replaces Denilson. Nasri comes inside and Walcott goes wide right.

94. 66'

    Free kick to Liverpool wide on the right.

95. 66'

    Good punch clear from Fabianski but Benayoun is penalised anyway.

96. 67'

    GOAL! Brilliant, brilliant goal from Arshavin. Robs Arbeloa on the left and hits a fantastic inside-out shot into the bottom corner with his left foot from 20 or so yards.

97. 69'

    Well in Nasri, chasing back down the left of Arsenal's defence and shouldering Arbeloa off the ball.

98. 70'

    GOAL! Hat trick for Arshavin. Nasri does well wide on the left, the cross isn't dealt with by Aurelio and it falls to Arshavin in the middle of the area, eight yards out, and he hits it past Reina.

99. 72'

    This is some remarkable remarkableness. Arsenal have been utterly outplayed. had three shots, and somehow scored them all.

100. 72'

     GOAL! Torres scores again. Gets the ball into his feet, does Silvestre with a feint and drills hit shot past Fabianski.

101. 74'

     Babel on for Riera.

102. 74'

     Oooh. Bendtner played in by Song and finishes well, but he's offside.

103. 76'

     Throw to Liverpool 20 yards from goal.

104. 76'

     Arbeloa is late on Arshavin and is fortunate to avoid a booking.

105. 77'

     Good recovery Toure. Just when it looked like he'd lost Torres, he robbed him with a desperate sliding tackle.

106. 79'

     Arsenal are defending like they've been Rohypnolled.

107. 80'

     Free kick to Liverpool 30 or so yards away on the left side of the area. Didn't look a foul, but this is a good position.

108. 80'

     Belted over the bar by Alonso.

109. 82'

     Babel gets a yard on Sagna who blocks his cross behind.

110. 82'

     Gibbs clears Torres' header off the line.

111. 82'

     Torres thought he'd scored there.

112. 82'

     Fabianski punches the resultant corner away and Carragher volleys wide from outside the box.

113. 84'

     Arshavin into Bendtner who is well tackled by Agger.

114. 84'

     Nasri shoots from distance, low and hard, but it's wide.

115. 86'

     Arsenal have decent possession until Song gives it away. El Zahr replaces Kuyt.

116. 87'

     Arshavin breaks but can't find the pass. Walcott then whacks it wide from an acute angle.

117. 87'

     Nasri penalised for a foul.

118. 88'

     Carragher takes it forward and fires it wide at the near post. Liverpool are getting desperate.

119. 89'

     Babel gets away but is crowded out.

120. 89'

     Nasri robs El Zahr. He has had a very good second half.

121. 90'

     Gibbs concedes a corner.

122. 90'

     GOAL! Fabianski punches clear, Walcott carries i from one end to the other and plays in Arshavin who whacks it past Reina with his left foot. Great finish.

123. 92'

     Diaby, sporting a new and silly goatee, is on for Bendtner.

124. 92'

     Apparently there shall be five added minutes.

125. 92'

     Fabianski beats away El Zahr's shot at his near post. Corner and Reina is up.

126. 93'

     Cleared.

127. 93'

     GOAL! Benayoun bundles it in after a scramble.

128. 94'

     Just before the goal Arsenal wasted a break with Reina stranded - that would have settled it.

129. 95'

     Last chance for Liverpool.

130. 95'

     Song heads clear.

131. 95'

     Fabianski clainms a high ball.

132. 97'

     FULL TIME: LIVERPOOL 4-4 ARSENAL

133. 97'

     All of a sudden Liverpool have changed the habits of a lifetime and involved themselves in astonishing games. They battered Arsenal tonight, but Arshavin's finishing may well have ended their title ambitions.

134. 97'

     As I mentioned earlier, an honourable mention too for Nasri, and Fabianski also did well. The rest of the Arsenal players were a joke and they could have conceded many more than they did.

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