As predicted in my Champions League: Liverpool vs Arsenal, Second Leg, Team News, Line Ups & Predictions post, we started with a 4-5-1 with Diaby and Eboue on either wing. Van Persie and Walcott on the bench and can bring something special to the team if needed.
Arsenal team: Arsenal: Almunia, Toure, Gallas, Senderos, Clichy, Eboue, Flamini, Fabregas, Diaby, Hleb, Adebayor. Subs: Lehmann, Van Persie, Song Billong, Silva, Bendtner, Justin Hoyte, Walcott.
Liverpool team: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Hyypia, Aurelio, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Torres, Crouch. Subs: Itandje, Riise, Voronin, Benayoun, Arbeloa, Babel, Lucas.
The game kicked off on time and we started well. The pressure was with us to score, but we didn’t play with any pressure. Our play was good, one and two touch passes to keep the ball well and pass it around. Reina has been dodgy of recent and continued the trend with some nervous play. Our attacking play was good and our will to score was evident. We started well, the first 15 minutes was all Arsenal.
It was clear to see that Rafa Benitez had said to his players to dive, dive, dive as we saw Crouch, Kuyt, Gerrard and Torres fall to the ground and win free kicks galore. But nevertheless our attacking play continued to dominate and good play from Flamini and Fabregas saw Diaby just out side the box near the left corner flag. He passes to Ade who burst into the box, cut back and a couple of deflections later Flamini chested it down outside the box. An excellent pass to Hleb, a decoy run by Cesc and a brilliant pass to Diaby from Hleb saw Diaby through on goal. It was all intricut stuff, but when Diaby struck the ball with venom, it was 1-0 to the Arsenal.
Liverpool 0 – 1 Arsenal
Come on you Gunners, we’ve got the away goal, so Liverpool have to come out and attack now.
And that’s exactly what they did… I have to say that we did kind of give it away, our mindset seemed to change and Liverpool came on strong. It did take them 30 minutes and their first main attack came from a corner. Senderos was marking Kuyt and he lost his player. Hypia powered it, and equalised. Another mistake from Senderos.
Liverpool 1 – 1 Arsenal
Disasppointing goal to give away and there was a bit of sustained pressure afterwards, but Liverpool started to dominate.
A big injury next, which saw Flamini twist his ankle, unable to continue, Gilberto on.
It’s Half Time! Wow, what a half!
The second half starts with the same players that ended the first half. Liverpool started well, and it looked like it was going to be an open second half. Liverpool had their chances, but so did we. Eboue taking the ball around Reina but failing to square, out for a goal kick.
It’s been 20 minutes since half time and nothing has really happened.
Hold on, a long ball by Liverpool sees Crouch flick on and Torres has the ball.
He turns and has Toure, Senderos and Almunia in front of him. Close him down someone!
Too late, Torres lashes it into the back of the net to put Liverpool in front.
Liverpool 2 – 1 Arsenal
Okay, so we’re back to where we were at the start of the game, we need to score. 20 minutes to go, come on you Arsenal.
Arsene brings on Van Persie and Theo Walcott, we’re going 4-3-3, we need to score.
Suddenly Clichy to Van Persie, Cesc and hold on Ade is free. Can he go round the keeper? No, he tries a first time and wide. Ade!!!
What a miss, that could have really got us into the game.
Torres has moved to the left wing and is really playing well now. We’re stuck in our half, looking deflated.
A move breaks down and young Theo has got the ball at the edge of our area, he’s off on a mazy dribble.
The last fifteeen minutes of the game saw a lot of midfield and nothing much. Past Torres, past Gerrard, past Alonso (yellow card please), past Mascherano, past Hypia, past Skirtel, square to Ade. Goal!!!!!!!!!
Liverpool 2 – 2 Arsenal
5 minutes to go. If only we could bring on a defender now! But we’ve made all three subs!
I tell you something – that Theo is some player…. hold on, PENALTY to Liverpool? You must be joking!
It looks like Toure has touched Babel and he’s stumbled – how is that a penalty – Kuyt’s pull down last week was 10 x worse.
Ref? FA? UEFA? FIFA? Someone! Do something! Blatter – call the ref – tell him that it’s not fair. Come on…!
It’s not going to be overturned. Gerrard steps up, Almunia guesses the right way, but it’s in the back of the net before I could finish my rant at the ref.
Liverpool 3 – 2 Arsenal
3 minutes to go, it looks like it’s all over. Can we do something right at the death? Come on get forward. We have a free kick.
Cesc is taking it, surely Almunia should take it and Clichy should be back, as he’s got the pace.
The move breaks down, the ball’s broken to Babel.
Cesc is nowhere near him… it’s a race, Babel wins… and shoots past Almunia.
Liverpool 4 – 2 Arsenal
It’s crazy, how on earth are we losing 4-2, this is an outrage.
Arsene, I’m heartbroken, it’s over… you must be feeling even worse…!
Damn!
Blast!
Over and out.]]>
