The English Premier League had one match on Sunday, December 13, 2009 as Arsenal traveled to Anfield to face Liverpool. Arsenal has had a solid start to the season but could gain ground on 1st place Chelsea and 2nd place Man U with a victory. Liverpool is out of the top four and is now in danger of not qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for next season. So, who won the match and what happened? Here’s a recap along with video highlights.
Arsenal beats Liverpool 2-1 – Video Highlights
Arsenal grabbed the points after a stunning goal from Andrey Arshavin at Anfield.
The tempo and passion came from both sides and Liverpool could have had a goal in the opening 13 minutes.
First Fernando Torres broke away, fed Steven Gerrard to his right and then took the return before failing to lift the ball over Manuel Almunia when clear.
Denilson was booked for a high tackle on Javier Mascherano as Liverpool poured forward.
Arsenal survived, at times with difficulty, but still sought to play their intelligent, passing football out of defence.
Samir Nasri fired wide and Cesc Fabregas tested Jose Reina as the threat on the break from the Gunners became increasingly apparent.
But four minutes from the break Arsenal finally cracked.
Aurelio lifted a free-kick into the six-yard box, where Almunia, under pressure in the air, managed only a weak punch and Kuyt fired home from 10 yards.
Arsenal came out after the break fired up for the challenge after some harsh words from Arsene Wenger and were level on 50 minutes.
Nasri tore down the right and fired in a low cross that Glen Johnson turned past Pepe Reina for an own goal with Theo Walcott lurking behind him.
Mascherano was soon booked for a foul on Fabregas and it was soon to get worse for Liverpool, and especially Johnson.
Fabregas’ cross after 58 minutes eluded Johnson, who then failed to stop Arshavin turning to fire in off the post from 18 yards.
Rafael Benitez turned to Alberto Aquilani with 25 minutes left, Mascherano making way, and with the watching Xabi Alonso applauding from the directors’ box as the man bought to replace him trotted on.
But Aquilani made little impact and finished the match limping.
As much as the first half had been so positive for an aggressive Liverpool, the second was becoming deeply frustrating.
Passes started going astray, Liverpool were no longer in Arsenal’s faces, rather chasing their heels.
The passion had gone from Liverpool and the accomplished young Gunners had a measure of control they were not going to lose.
Arshavin was booked for one too many late challenges on defenders clearing the ball, then Fabregas for kicking the ball away from a free-kick.
David Ngog coming on for Yossi Benayoun and then Philipp Degen for a flagging, disconsolate Johnson, did little to change the flow of the match and Liverpool now have just three wins in their last 15 matches.
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Fabregas has been on fire these days. I was really impressed by his performance at the Liverpool match. I heard that he got really mad at the team during half time break.