Liverpool - Arsenal

Diaby 0-1 ( Download )

Hyypia 1-1 ( Download )

Torres 2-1 ( Download )

Adebayor 2-2 ( Download )

Gerrard ( p.k. ) 3-2 ( Download )

Babel 4-2 ( Download )

Highlights


Liverpool stuned Arsenal at Anfield

An amazing finish to a pulsating game sees Liverpool dump Arsenal out of the Champions League with two late goals as the sides share a six-goal thriller.

A thrilling European night at Anfield saw Liverpool win an stunning game 4-2 to wreck Arsenal’s season and dump them out of the Champions League. Goals by Steven Gerrard and Ryan Babel were enough to win the game after Adeyabor had made it 2-2 with only five minutes to go.

As a precursor of what was to come, the game began at break-neck speed with Diaby putting Arsenal ahead on 13 minutes after Arsenal had laid siege to the Liverpool goal. Some wonderful possession from the Gunners in and around the Liverpool box was finished off when the ball fell to Diaby whose long stride carried him into the penalty area, past both Skrtel and Alonso before putting a well struck shot past Reina at his near post.

The goal spurred Arsenal on and suddenly they were the team of earlier in the season: full of incisive passing, energy and adventure. Liverpool were left chasing shadows and looking flustered as Arsenal took complete control of the match, the confidence flowing and the fatigue from the last match well and truly expelled.

Diaby and Clichy on the left were looking menacing and Adebayor almost made it 2-0 to Arsenal on twenty minutes after a great cross from Diaby but Reina managed to punch clear.

However, European nights at Anfield bring something special out in Liverpool and on the half hour mark they were level. A corner swung in by Gerrard found an unmarked Sami Hypia and the big Finn planted a precision header high in the top corner and above the flailing Fabregas on the line who could do nothing to prevent the goal.

Suddenly it was game on, Anfield predictably going wild, and now it was Liverpool’s turn to take the match by the scruff of its neck. Arsenal’s new found confidence began to look fragile as the Reds came forward in swathes. The home side finally starting to relax and pass the ball as they put Arsenal on the back foot for the first time.

A breathless first half ended with that over-familiar score line of 1-1. Crucially for Arsenal they had already cancelled out Liverpool’s away goal and any more would leave Liverpool needing two. However, after the start the visitors had made Benitez was happy to head into the break with his side still in the game.

Liverpool came out for the second half in more determined mood with Peter Crouch forcing Almunia into an early save and then forcing the goalkeeper to scramble across his goal when he deflected Aurelio’s shot just wide. The force was certainly with the home side, suddenly they were tighter, quicker in the tackle and first to the ball.

However the game settled into a cagey, nervous affair as if both sets of players had suddenly realised what was at stake. The game was going to be decided, you felt, by a mistake or a sudden piece of magic. Did anyone have the nerve to try and win it?

Step forward Fernando Torres with twenty minutes to go. A long punt upfield from keeper Reina was knocked down by Peter Crouch to Torres who turned and struck a wonderful shot into the top corner to put give Liverpool the lead. Quite simply a goal fit to win any match.

But there was more drama to come. With only five minutes on the clock substitute Theo Walcott set off on a quite scintillating run from his own penalty area, all the way to the other end of the pitch where he crossed for Adebayor to slot home to make it 2-2. Anfield was stunned and suddenly it was Arsenal who were heading for the semi-final.

Yet seconds later, the crowd was howling again but this time in joy as Toure was adjudged to have tugged Babel back in the area. The referee pointed to the spot and up stepped Steven Gerrard to put it in the back of the net and Liverpool back in the lead.

Arsenal were distraught and their trauma was only compounded moments later when they were caught upfield and substitute Ryan Babel raced through to make it 4-2 and put the game beyond doubt. A breathless finish to an outstanding game.