Match Reports
Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool Liverpool managed to take a point from Highbury, despite going behind to a Freddy Ljungberg goal. A rather uneventful first half saw all the chances go Arsenal's way, with Anelka and Owen kept quiet at the Arsenal end. Thierry Henry hit a cross which clipped the bar early on, and Arsenal always looked the more likely of the two sides to score. And a goal looked to have arrived on 15 minutes. Kanu played a brilliant ball through the Liverpool defence and Freddy Ljungberg ran onto the ball, before playing it wide of Dudek and with an open goal at his mercy, Ljungberg somehow hit a shot across the face of the goal and out of play for a goal kick. That proved the best chance of the first half, and the only shot on target came from Robert Pires, who collected the ball after Danny Murphy gave away possession, but hie long range effort curled comfortably into the arms of Dudek. The second half was much more exciting though, but still took a short while to get going. But on the hour mark, just as they did against Southampton, Liverpool fell behind. A long ball played towards Bergkamp was poorly dealt with by Carragher, and Bergkamp was given time to turn and pick out Pires in the box. Pires then played a short ball to the near post and Ljungberg finished in a similarly to his goal at Anfield to put Arsenal one nil up. With Liverpool still failing to register any shots on target, Phil Thompson brought on Emile Heskey to replace Danny Murphy, and Liverpool's equaliser followed soon after. With Arsenal on the attack, Liverpool managed to dispossess the Gunners, and Steve Gerrard struck a wonderful diagonal pass into the Arsenal half, which Riise had run the length of the field to collect, and after charging into the Arsenal penalty area with only the goalkeeper to beat, Riise put the ball around the keeper and inside the near post. Liverpool defended well following the goal though, and held out for the point without really looking like snatching all three points. The win leaves Liverpool 3 points behind leaders Man United, who are the next side who Liverpool travel to. Newcastle have the same points as Man United, with Leeds a point behind, and Arsenal a further point behind and one point ahead of Liverpool. View match pictures from this game!
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