You'll Never Walk Alone -- The End...

[m_vaughan]

Come on you blues!!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 5th October, 2009

Joe Cole came off the bench to snatch a draw against his old manager Jose Mourinho as Chelsea and Liverpool contested a six-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge.

Joe Cole finished calmly from 12 yards after Liverpool, who twice came from behind, had taken he lead. Chelsea went ahead when Didier Drogba headed home on 13 minutes, but Alberto Aquilani cut-in to level on 33 minutes. Frank Lampard restored the lead with a second-half free-kick, but Martin Skrtel headed home moments later before Fernando Torres scored with a low drive.

The draw was probably a fair result, yet both teams will wonder how they did not pick up all three points from an open match. Chelsea twice took the lead, yet they threw it away, while Liverpool will wonder how they did not close out the game out after doing all the hard work in twice coming from behind.

The former Chelsea manager and now Liverpool boss Jose Mourinho was cheered and applauded by the faithful home supporters when made his way out of the dug out before the start of the match. And Deco, who Mourinho managed at Porto and wanted to buy at Inter, almost earned scored against his old boss, racing onto Jose Bosingwa's long ball only to be superbly tackled by Jamie Carragher.

The Reds started solidly, but, as befits a team playing away from home with only one forward, created little in the early stages. And, when Chelsea took the lead in the 13th minute, they broke the length of field.

Lampard won possession in his own box then, as play passed through midfield, charged down the left wing before receiving the ball and firing in a perfect cross that Drogba flicked home. Liverpool were rattled and Ballack and Deco both nearly profited from the visitors' profligacy, easily picking off wayward passes but firing their shots too close to Pepe Reina.

But despite a disappointing start, Liverpool showed great composure to level on 33 minutes. Chelsea lost possession cheaply in Liverpool's half and were made to pay as the ball was moved quickly to Aquilani. The midfielder ran at Bosingwa, easily cut inside the fall back and fired under Cech with the outside of his right boot. Liverpool were the better side until half-time but Chelsea took control again after the break.

Anelka, on for Obi Mikel, won a free-kick 25 yards out in the 48th minute. Liverpool opted for a partial wall and paid for it as Lampard smashed the ball home.

The visiting team then went up to the other end and equalised. Skrtel who moved forward to join the attack, bravely won a header and, with the Chelsea defence backing off, Aquilani fired in a low shot which Cech could only parry upwards. Skrtel, charging through on goal to follow up, made no mistake.

Liverpool took the lead for the first time on the hour - and again Petr Cech was at fault. Torres and Gerrard combined with a neat one-two, but although the Spaniard's first-time shot was powerful it should never have been allowed to fly in at the near post.

Ancelotti threw on Joe Cole and Yury Zhirkov and the gamble paid off when Joe Cole equalised on 76 minutes with virtually his first touch. Again the defending was sub-standard as the England man was left unmarked in the box and he calmly stroked home from 12 yards.

Joe Cole could have scored the seventh goal of the match a minute later. Again he was given too much space, but this time he shot narrowly over from 22 yards with Reina desperately flinging himself across the goal.

The Spanish keeper was called into action again on 89 minutes and almost made a complete hash of it. There appeared little danger as a cross flew into the box, but his weak punch was from the Cech copybook and deflected narrowly wide. With injury time up, Liverpool made one last break up-field, but were wasteful with a free-kick in a good position.

____________________________________________________​

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti: "We are entertaining, We come back when we are behind. We really played we today, but we should have won after taking the lead twice but we threw it away. The important thing is we have competition for places. We have quality on the bench and I know that are very good signs for the team and its ambitions."

Liverpool manager Jose Mourinho: "I think that if you are a manager you are not that happy at conceding three goals. I think it was a good game and both teams had the chance to win it. It is good to see our team play great football but we have to defend better in such games. I'm very happy for Alberto Aquilani, he has been very close to scoring before but he was very good in this match."

____________________________________________________​

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry(C), Caravlho, A.Cole(J.Cole 66), Essien, Obi Mikel(Anelka 46), Ballack, Deco(Zhirkov 66), Lamaprd, Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Ivanovic, Kalou, Malouda.

Booked: Zhirkov.

Goals: Drogba 13, Lampard 49, Cole 76.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel(Agger 80), Fabio Aurelio, Mascherano(Camacho 88), Gerrard(C), Aquilani, Alexis Sacnhez(Babel 80), Kuyt, Torres.
Subs Not Used: Diego, Benayoun, Dossena, Riera.

Booked: Johnson, Skrtel.

Goals: Aquilani 34, Skrtel 51, Torres 61.

Att: 41,733.

Ref: C Foy.

Man of the Match: Alberto Aquilani.​

 

[m_vaughan]

Good result for Pool at the Bridge. Cole comes to haunt them again though.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 17th October, 2009

Liverpool scored three past the new comers Birmingham City at Anfield thanks to some slack defending by the visitors.

Jamie Carragher headed against the post early on for the Reds, who took the lead when Roger Johnson's mistake let in Steven Gerrard to fire home. Johnson also gave Martin Skrtel room to nod a second goal after half-time. Cameron Jerome replied for Blues from close range after James McFadden' header hit the post but Alberto Aquilani's sweet volley sealed victory for Liverpool.

Birmingham's defence is the most obvious reason for their struggles - they have kept only one clean sheet all season. Their frailties at the back were quickly apparent here when a Steven Gerrard corner was met at the near post by Carragher, who escaped Giovanny Espinoza's attention and rattled the woodwork with a powerful header.

But, going forward, McLeish's side are a potent force and they almost stole the lead when a quickly-taken Seb Larsson free-kick released Jerome, whose shot beat Pepe Reina but was hacked clear by Skrtel.

Birmingham still looked anything but solid though and another mistake, this time a heavy touch by Roger Johnson, allowed Steven Gerrard to feed Fernando Torres, whose shot was tipped wide by Joe Hart. The England keeper was relieved to see Gerrard's free-kick deflected wide but made a good save to deny Mascherano at his near post soon after.

Parnaby's failure to deal with a routine Fabio Aurelio long ball had led to that chance and an almost identical scenario saw the Reds take the lead just before half-time. This time it was Johnson who could not clear from the Brazilian and Gerrard swivelled to fire past Hart from just inside the box.

Things soon got worse for the visitors as a second Liverpool goal followed swiftly after the break. Again Johnson was the defender at fault as he was unable to pick up Skrtel, who met Gerrard's corner with a bullet header into the net.

It looked grim for McLeish, but his side did not lack spirit as they looked for a response. Six minutes later they were back in the game when James McFadden headed against the post from Gary McSheffrey's cross and Jerome tapped home the rebound.

Liverpool were clearly rattled and for a spell Birmingham looked like they could salvage something from their evening. But Blues failed to maintain their pressure and their resistance was ended with 15 minutes left when Aquilani crashed home an unstoppable volley after his first effort was blocked by Bowyer.

Liverpool remain at the top of the table but they are only two points ahead second-placed Manchester United and boss Jose Mourinho can be delighted with his side's early progress. For Blues it is a different story as they lie in the mid-table.

____________________________________________________​

Liverpool manager Jose Mourinho: "We scored three great goals, we outplayed Birmingham, we went out there and did what we wanted to do - and that was get three points. We have played eight games, we have 24 points and it is our best start in many years now. From my point of view and that of the players, with us all just coming together in July, it is a terrific performance up to now from the team."

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish: "We haven't played our potential so far this season. We can have defended a lot better and could have gone home with a good result. They played well and created a lot of chances and so they deserved the win. I pleased that pur team showed some character in the second half with good attacking football and we have do the same for the rest of the season if we want to stay up."

____________________________________________________​

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Carragher, Fabio Aurelio, Mascherano(Camacho 88), Aquilani, Gerrard(C), Babel, Alexis Sanchez(Kuyt 77), Torres.
Subs Not Used: Diego, Dossena, Agger, Benayoun, Lucas.

Booked: Gerrard.

Goals: Gerrard 44, Skrtel 53, Aquilani 75.

Birmingham: Hart, Parnaby, Johnson(Queudrue 77), Espinoza, Murphy, Blaszczykowski, Boywer, McSheffrey(Taylor 88), Larsson(C), McFadden(Benitez 72), Jerome.
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Johnson, Dann, Ferguson.

Booked: McFadden, Murphy, Blaszczykowski.

Goals: Jerome 58.

Att: 44,701.

Ref: U Rennie.

Man of the Match: Steven Gerrard.​

 

[m_vaughan]

Two in two now for Aquilani, so already looking dangerous in a Liverpool shirt, the Italian.

Three more points in the bag.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Group Stage - 21 October 2009 20:15 GMT - Ş?kr? Saracoğlu Stadium - Istanbul - Turkey​

Liverpool hammer Fenerbahce

Gerrard and Torres the two goal scorers celebrate​

Fernando Torres scored for the third successive UEFA Champions League game as Liverpool FC hammered Fenerbahce SK and took a positive stride towards qualification for the knockout rounds yet again.

Fernando Torres who had scored in every UEFA Champions League match season so far, continued hs brilliant scoring form with a pair of early goals in a clinical first half display. Steven Gerrard then added the third one on 42 minutes from a free kick before he too grabbed his double on 75 minutes. With this game Liverpool lead Group C with 7 points followed by Leverkusen and Juventus in second and third respectively and Fenerbahce at the last.

The home side had come into the contest three point behind the leaders, but they were soon chasing the game in Istanbul. Twice Torres threatened in the opening exchanges before eventually beating Volkan Demirel with seven minutes played. The Fenerbahce goalkeeper parried Alexis Sanchez's shot from distance only for the rebound to fall to Torres who fired in powerfully beyond the stranded Turkish.

Colin Kazim Richards came closest for Luis Aragones' team when he drew a save from Pepe Reina with a long-range strike on 13 minutes. Liverpool, though, were providing the real danger and deservedly added a second on 20 minutes. Dirk Kuyt won possession in midfield and picked out Steven Gerrard in the area after skilfully breaking free from his marker. The ball fell for Torres who drove into the top corner for his fourth goal in three games in this season's competition.

Fenerbahce were forced to push forward which gave Jose Mourinho's side space to exploit on the break. Alberto Aquilani and Steven Gerrard were running the midfield and the third goal was not long in arriving – Gerrard scoring courtesy of a low free-kick from 25 meters that skimmed in off the boot of Ugur Boral.

Liverpool had lost two of their previous three fixtures in Turkey and were determined to improve on that statistic as they carried on from where they had left off after the interval. Kuyt rattled the crossbar soon after the restart after connecting with Torres' delivery from the right. Then Aquilani was unfortunate to see his effort cleared off the line by Diego Kugano on 56 minutes, as the visitors continued to menace on the counterattack.

Goalkeeper Reina had to turn away Emre's free-kick as Liverpool withstood a spell of Fenerbahce pressure, before the Premier League outfit registered their fourth goal on 75 minutes. Although Aquilani's powerful shot was kept out by Volkan, it dropped straight into the path of Steven Gerrard who tucked away the rebound to round off the scoring. A glum night for the Turkish team.

__________________________________________________​

Fenerbahce: Volkan, Gonul, Lugano, Dracena, Carlos, Josico(Sahin 45), Emre(Deivid 73), Richards(Senturk 83), Boral, Alex(C), Guiza.
Subs Not Used: Taskin, Baris, Cakamk, Kuru.

Booked: Gonul.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Carragher(Agger 46), Dossena, Mascherano, Aquilani(Camacho 80), Gerrard(C), Alexis Sanchez(Babel 90), Kuyt, Torres.
Subs Not Used: Diego, Benayoun, Reira, Fabio Aurelio.

Booked: Skrtel.

Att: 50,411.

Ref: C Davilia Megia.

Man of the Match: Steven Gerrard.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 25th October, 2009

Manchester United and Liverpool renew their fierce rivalry at Old Trafford for the new season on Sunday lunchtime with more than just North-West pride at stake.

Form Guide
The champions, Manchester United are currently in second place in the table behind Liverpool on goal difference but have played one game more than the Reds. United are in good form having won four out of the last five matches including the 0-0 draw against Arsenal.

While Jose Mourinho's Liverpool have made the best start to the new season in their history with winning seven premier league games out of the eight they have played and also lead their Champions League group with two wins and one draw.

Team News
There are some injury concerns for the defending champions as former Liverpool striker has been ruled out of the tie due to a torn calf muscle while Dimitar Berbatob is fighting against time to recover from a groin strain and will be facing a late fitness test just before the match.

For Liverpool, Alberto Aquilani is suffering a bruised rib injury, but its likely that the Italian will be fit to start the all important game at Old Trafford.

Star Man
For the host, Rio Ferdinand is the man in form as the Red Devils have only conceded 8 goals in the 12 games the commanding centre-back has played in and he hasn't conceded a goal in 396 consecutive minutes of football.

Steven Gerrard the Liverpool captain is the man in form in the Premier League, the type of player who can create something out of nothing for the Reds and has scored 9 times in the 12 matches he has played.

Rivals Watch
Arsenal were stunned by Steve Bruce's Sunderland at the Stadium of Light by defeating them 3-1 while Chelsea failed to create their chances against London rivals West Ham and ended the match 0-0. Both the matches took place on Saturday.

Odds
Man Utd 6-4, Draw 2-1, Liverpool 13-8.​

 

[m_vaughan]

Awesome result away from home. Gerrard and Torres can destroy any team by themselves. (Apart from Aston Villa ofcourse).

I back Liverpool to beat United 1-0.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 25th October, 2009

Liverpool stay at the top of the Premier League table after a dour goalless draw against arch rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Jamie Carragher shone for the Reds from Merseyside as the defences dominated the game. Manchester United created the better chances, and Liverpool's keeper Pepe Reina saved well from striker Wayne Rooney either side of the interval. Liverpool improved as the game went on, but only threatened when Fernando Torres shot tamely at Manchester United keeper Edwin Van Der Sar.

Carragher was kept busy as Manchester United held the edge in a tight first 45 minutes, showing why Liverpool consider him as their best ever defender. Alexis Sanchez gave Van Der Sar an anxious moment with an overhead kick in the 26th minute, but it was a rare threat to the Manchester United keeper.

Wayne Rooney almost capitalised on Dimitar Berbatov's header, but Liverpool cleared the danger, and it needed a desperate interception from Carragher to block a close-range effort from Patrice Evra after 27 minutes. Rooney then tested keeper Reina with a shot on the turn after good work by Paul Scholes.

The United striker had furious penalty appeals turned away when he fell under Javier Mascherano's challenge, but referee Alan Wiley felt the collision was accidental and waved play on.

Manchester United started the second half in the same attacking vein, with Darren Fletcher flashing a shot across the face of goal after 49 minutes, with Berbatov just failing to apply the crucial touch.

Liverpool had their best opportunity when Scholes gifted possession to Dirk Kuyt, but Fernando Torres' shot was comfortably saved by Van der Sar. Reina came to Liverpool's rescue after 64 minutes when Rooney was released by a superb pass from Antonio Valencia. It looked a certain goal, but Reina produced a crucial block.

Reds showed greater attacking intent after the break, and the outstanding Nemanja Vidic blocked Kuyt bravely after Alberto Aquilani's cross. And the Reds had their own appeals for a penalty waved away in the closing stages when Ryan Babel felt he had been fouled by Rio Ferdinand, but again referee Wiley was unmoved.

__________________________________________________​

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson: "I am pleased with the performance of the team today. We outplayed them and created some really good chances. But we weren't able to convert them into goals. Wayne had couple of very good chances but their keeper was very good to stop them. Our defence was also strong as expected. We also had one penalty appeal turned down, which the referee got wrong."

Liverpool manager Jose Mourinho: "I thought Jamie Carragher was absolutely fantastic. He was commanding the back four and winning everything in the air. He was tight when he needed to be and made great decisions. Sometimes the good players are the ones that make the best decisions and Carragher does that. We are very pleased with him."

__________________________________________________​

Man Utd: Van Der Sar, Neville(C), Ferdinand, Vidic(Brown 90), Evra, Valencia, Scholes, Fletcher, Giggs(Tosic 82), Berbatov(Obertan 88), Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Foster, Nani, Carrick, O'Shea.

Booked: Scholes.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio, Aquilani(Camacho 80), Mascherano, Gerrard(C), Alexis Sanchez(Babel 60), Kuyt, Torres.
Subs Not Used: Diego, Benayoun, Agger, Riera, Dossena.

Att: 76,174.

Ref: A Wiley.

Man of the Match: Jamie Carragher. ​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 28th October, 2009

Steven Gerrard scored a stunning late winner as Liverpool secured a hard fought victory over Bolton Wanderers at Anfield.

The Reds spurned several good chances before taking the lead when Jussi Jaaskelainen spilled Dirk Kuyt's weak shot and Fernando Torres tapped home. Bolton hit back and Glenn Whelan curled a superb free-kick against the underside of the bar before his corner was headed in by Johan Elamnder. But Gerrard won it, slotting in after a fabulous reverse pass from Dirk Kuyt.

The result, which keeps Liverpool on the top of the table, was harsh on the visitors given their response to going behind - although Jose Mourinho's side could have been four up by the time they took the lead.

Kuyt had the first chance, bursting through after a neat turn on the halfway line but he was torn between taking a shot or picking out one of two men waiting for a cross and in the end he failed to do either.

Fabio Aurelio then forced Jaaskelainen into action, the big Finnish keeper pulling off a sensational one-handed reaction stop as the Liverpool man advanced on goal. Fernando Torres saw a well-directed near-post header cleared by Paul Robinson and Martin Skrtel also went close with another header from a set-piece.

It was all Liverpool and the home pressure finally told - although it took a blunder by the otherwise impressive Jaaskelainen. The lively Dirk Kuyt wriggled free and shot tamely at the keeper, who spilled the ball into the path of Torres, the striker gleefully knocking in the rebound from a couple of yards.

Bolton, who had barely had a look-in until that point, could have been level within seconds when the excellent Whelan skipped his way past a couple of defenders before being upended by Jamie Carragher. Referee Lee Mason initially pointed to the spot but changed his mind and awarded a free-kick after consulting his assistant. That failed to faze Whelan, whose delicious curling effort beat Pepe Reina but crashed back off the underside of the bar and to safety.

Bolton started get on top and continued in the same vein after the break. Their reward came when Elmander, leading the line met a powerful Whelan corner on the full and powered the Trotters level from ten yards

Reina then made a smart stop from Elmander's fizzing low effort as the game flowed from end to end while the ever-willing Dirk Kuyt sent a header narrowly wide from substitute Ryan Babel's teasing cross.

Twice in the last 10 minutes Bolton had excellent chances to secure all three points. But Carragher's last-ditch tackle denied Elmander a second goal and sub Ebi Smolarek rounded Reina but struggled to keep his feet after being clipped by the Liverpool keeper and he was crowded out.

Bolton were made to pay when Gerrard coolly finished in the final moments after being picked out by Kuyt's delightfully disguised reverse pass.

__________________________________________________​

Liverpool manager Jose Mourinho: "I thought at half-time we had lost an opportunity to put the game out of sight. But psychologically it was very important to win today. It's the three points and it didn't matter how we got them. The competition is getting tougher and tougher day by day and we have to play at our best every game if we have to achieve our target of winning the League."

Bolton manager Gary Megson: "We certainly deserved at least a draw and probably all three points. We created chances and were the better team in the second half. We played very well after the break and had two good chances but we didn't take them and they go up the other end and get the winner in the last minute."

__________________________________________________​

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio, Mascherano(Lucas 88), Camacho, Gerrard(C), Alexis Sanchez(Babel 68), Kuyt, Torres.
Subs Not Used: Diego, Dossena, Agger, Reira.

Booked: Mascherano.

Goals: Torres 30, Gerrard 90.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen(C), Steinsson, Cahill, O'Brien(Hunt 70), Robinson, Muamba, Davies, Gardner, Whelan, O'Brien(Smolarek 58), Elmander.
Subs Not Used: Bodgan, Ricketts, McCann, Knight, Shittu.

Booked: Steinsson, Cahill, Davies.

Goals: Elmander 52.

Att: 44,083.

Ref: L Mason.

Man of the Match: Dirk Kuyt.​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 31th October, 2009

Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Saturday lunchtime as the hosts look to continue their impressive unbeaten form in the Premier League and also look to stay at the top of the table.

Form Guide
Hosts, Liverpool have been in their best this season with Gerrard and Torres firing all cylinders and scoring goals. Jose Mourinho has completely changed the team and the Reds are unbeaten in the 10 Premier League games and have drawn just two.

While, the visitors, Arsenal are struggling at seventh position in the Premier League with four wins, four draws and two defeats. In the last five league matches Arsenal have won just once against Chelsea and have lost twice against Birmingham and Sunderland.

Team News
Not many major concerns for boss Jose Mourinho, as Steven Gerrard has recovered in time from the knock he got in the midweek game against Bolton, but questions are asked over the fitness of Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani as he looks doubtful and is suffering from a damaged heel.

For Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger there are no fitness worries as skipper Frances Fabregas as recovered well within time for this crucial encounter against Liverpool at Anfield.

Star Man
Liverpool will again be heavily depending on their captain incredible Steven Gerrard who has performed many a times whenever Liverpool need him. The England international has found the back of the net 10 times in Premier League and the fans would be hoping to see him add more to it.

Arsenal would be hoping that their star striker Robin van Persie continue his remarkable goal scoring form in this match, having scored 15 times in competitions this season.

Rivals Watch
Chelsea travel to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth in afternoon, while Manchester United will face tricky challenge against Stoke City at Britannia Stadium later in evening.

Odds
Liverpool 4-6, Draw 9-4, Arsenal 7-2.​

 

[m_vaughan]

Two good results. Gerrard and Torres dont seem like stopping, do they? They and the rest of the team should have too much to offer for Arsenal, especially in front of their home fans.
2-1 to Pool.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 31th October, 2009

Nicklas Bendtner's 92nd-minute spectacular overhead kick denied Liverpool after Fernando Torres looked to have won the game for them at Anfield.

Arsenal competed manfully early on and Theo Walcott missed an opportunity when Andrei Arshavin headed across goal. But Manuel Almunia superbly kept out a Steven Gerrard shot and Torres wasted a glorious chance just before the break. Skrtel had a shot cleared off the line by Bakary Sagna before Torres headed in Fabio Aurelio's corner, only for Bendtner to stun the hosts in spectacular style.

Arsenal went into the game on the back of just two victories in all competitions and were comfortable in the early stages, defending stoutly and maintaining decent possession, while trying to break in good numbers. And so successful were they in their endeavours, they should have gone ahead in the 17th minute.

Walcott found himself free in the six-yard box when Arshavin headed Robin van Persie's cross from the left flank back across goal, but the Englishman completely missed with his kick. Liverpool gradually took charge, however, and should have been a goal up by the interval.

Their full-backs had been the likeliest source of opportunities and Almunia magnificently palmed away a Gerrard side-footed effort after Glen Johnson had surged down the right and played the ball into him in the area.

Then Torres, of all people, missed as easy a chance as he is likely to get at this level. Left-back Fabio Aurelio found Alexis Sanchez, who crossed to the Spanish striker in acres of space with only Almunia to beat, but the striker somehow missed the ball completely.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had seen enough and replaced Walcott and van Persie with Emmanuel Eboue and Samir Nasri. It was Liverpool who exerted pressure in the first 10 minutes of the second half, though, with Gerrard at the heart of their attacking moves.

Arsenal were not content just to sit back and soak up the pressure - and in Bendtner they had a genuine physical presence at the other end. Indeed, the home fans were starting to grow frustrated until Gerrard's curling long-range effort was tipped over by Almunia.

From the resulting corner, Almunia punched the ball to Skrtel, whose shot was expertly cleared by Sagna. Having worked so hard to keep out Liverpool, the visitors will be disappointed by the ease with which Torres escaped his marker at the near post to glance his header past Almunia and Sagna.

But Everton battled away right to the end and were rewarded when the impressive Nasri's shot was blocked and Bendtner acrobatically pounced as Johnson hesitated.

__________________________________________________​

Liverpool boss Jose Mourinho: "It was one of our best games - we played very good football, created a lot of chances and from their one chance they scored. We moved the ball very well and played quickly. People like this but what happened is one of the reasons I don't because from nowhere they scored a goal. The most important thing is we created chances and didn't win the game but if we continue to play like this we will be going in the right direction."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: "In the first half they had one or two chances and we missed a good one too. We had to change it to get a better grip of the game and I felt we did that. We were never out of the game, we were gritty and determined. We always felt if we could hang in there we had people on the pitch who can score goals and that's what Bendtner does for us. Nasri's been unfortunate not to be involved. He made a difference in the second half with Eboue. We had to change it, we were brave and got our rewards for it."

__________________________________________________​

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio, Mascherano, Camacho(Aquilani 82), Gerrard?, Alexis Sanchez(Babel 70), Kuyt, Torres.
Subs Not Used: Diego, DOssena, Reira, Lucas, Agger.

Booked: Fabio Aurelio, Skrtel.

Goals: Torres 72.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Senderos, Gallas, Clichy, Walcott(Eboue 45), Fabregas?, Denilson(Vela 72), Arshavin, Bendtner, Van Persie(Nasri 45).
Subs Not Used: Kinsky, Silvestre, Murphy, Diaby.

Goals: Bendtner 90.

Att: 45,343.

Ref: M Riley.

Man of the Match: Manuel Almunia.​

 

[m_vaughan]

As good as it is to see Torres and Gerrard do well, Liverpool really are depending on them a bit too much.

 

[treva]

Liverpool looking good so far this season, but they got a bit of their own medicine by conceeding late against Arsenal. If they want to win the title they'll have to start winning the big games against Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United.