League Cup Arsenal vs Liverpool

[King Of East]

Arsenal 2 - 1 Liverpool

Arsenal proved too strong for Liverpool as they beat the Reds in an absorbing Carling Cup fourth round tie.

Fran Merida thundered in an 18-yard shot to put Arsenal ahead.

Emiliano Insua equalised with a superb 25-yard dipping strike but Nicklas Bendtner shot into the roof of the net for what proved to be the winner.

Alberto Aquilani impressed after coming on for his Liverpool debut and felt he should have had a penalty when Philippe Senderos blocked his overhead shot.

Referee Alan Wiley waved away the Italian's appeals for a Senderos handball but, after the long wait to see the £20m summer arrival, he showed some nice touches and energy in a 15-minute cameo appearance as his side pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages.

Andriy Voronin put a shot wide for Liverpool and Ryan Babel missed a Dirk Kuyt cross with the home goal gaping as Arsenal held on for the win.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has always used this competition to plunge some of his youngsters into action but, on this occasion, his side also had a more experienced look as he included several senior players needing first-team football.

His counterpart Rafael Benitez had a similar blend of experience and youth as he tested the depth of his squad by giving his supporting cast the chance to shine.

The Reds' fringe players almost took their chance when Voronin found David Ngog and his clever backheel put Philipp Degen through on goal only for the right-back to angle a shot wide.

Arsenal's fluidity and slick passing is a feature of their game no matter who is in their line-up, and they upped the tempo before being rewarded with a stunning goal.

Merida scored with a powerful left-foot strike after 18-year-old Gunners debutant Craig Eastmond, who put in a promising display in central midfield, had won a tackle on the edge of the Reds box.

But the visitors hit back with an equally superbly struck effort when Babel nodded the ball down to Insua and he chested the ball down before sending a dipping shot past keeper Lukasz Fabianski for his first Liverpool goal.

The sense of attack from both sides and a vulnerability about both defences made for a captivating and open game.

A swift Arsenal counter-attack masterminded by the skill and vision of Aaron Ramsey provided an opening for Merida and, despite chipping a shot over on-rushing keeper Diego Cavalieri, Reds defender Martin Skrtel headed the danger away.

Cavalieri had another escape when he missed a cross and, after a goalmouth melee, gratefully gathered Bendter's close range shot on the turn.

However, the Denmark international gave Cavalieri no chance when he latched on to a Gibbs ball and powered a strike into the roof of the net.

Liverpool had chances to equalise but Voronin angled a shot across goal wide and a well-struck Babel free-kick was saved.

Babel should have scored from a Kuyt cross but he missed the ball completely as Arsenal continued their impressive record of not having lost to Liverpool at home since February 2000.



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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"Overall it was a game of top quality with two teams who really went for it, played at a high pace.

"We gave people what they paid for - top quality. The experienced players played well, so did the young players.

"Liverpool came back to 1-1, and we still managed to win, that shows we have also mental resources."

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez:
"The worst thing was the result, but the players showed passion, character and quality - Aquilani was one of these players.

"You can see he can pass the ball and make a difference in the final third.

"He is getting closer every day, but he needs games to improve his match fitness. It's a question of time."

[BTAC]

Fantastic game to watch.
The first two goals were brilliant, and both sides played some excellent football at times.

[Jackie Chiles]

attacking game with 3 great goals. merida will be happy he didnt go out on loan this season. also that new guy eastmond looked pretty good. 2 bad wilshire didnt play cause of injury.

[totsreds08]

i saw some better football from both teams than what the senior players show was pretty even game anyway..great first two goals

[Tony Adams]

i saw some better football from both teams than what the senior players show was pretty even game anyway..great first two goals

[ronaldo07]

damn .. now no chance for liverpool to win anything this season

[DOC]

i saw some better football from both teams than what the senior players show was pretty even game anyway..great first two goals

thats because they are able to go out their an express themselves while the senior players in a league match know there is more at stake and it often becomes a boring cagey game, call it youthful exuberance

[haywood djablowme]

Great game by both teams especially considering the names on show.
Yes both teams had some experience but mixed with some quality youth it had great game written all over it & it didnt let ya down the 1st two goals were crackers.

Thought it tappered out a bit in the 2nd half due to the lack of match fitness in most but good to get thru & the fringe players get another chance to shine spewin Jack was injured, was looking forward to watching him. Jack & Merida the wide men of the future. Nasri 90 minutes is much needed, same with Eduardo. Ramsey was running the show, you can see he hangs out all day with Cesc on the training pitch

Overall good game happy with the result

[Ronnie]

are any of you serious?
a great game? you have to be kidding.
yes it was open, but the quality was terrible, some of the defending on display was the worst i have seen in a long time.
quality game if you were watching a championship or div 1 game, but these were two premier league teams.
yes they had weaker sides out, but still some good players on show.
no wonder skretl has lost his place in the first eleven, some of the worst defending i have ever seen.

[Ubietz]

Some ok passages of play and nice goals but there were some very poor passing by both teams. Arsenal also lost the ball way too much towards the end of the match.

[totsreds08]

Ngog looked very gd as did deegan in attack but in defence he didn't look so gd. Vorinon showed flashes of brilliance but then showed why he is crap. Skrtel looked shocking. Diego was shaky. Plessis is far too easy going-lift the intensity and stop worrying about on
others and play ffs. Spearing, insua, kuyt played well and babel was okay. Kyragiakos (spelling) looked ok but is slow. We played okay and should of came away with more.

[simoo3]

Ngog looked very gd as did deegan in attack but in defence he didn't look so gd. Vorinon showed flashes of brilliance but then showed why he is crap. Skrtel looked shocking. Diego was shaky. Plessis is far too easy going-lift the intensity and stop worrying about on
others and play ffs. Spearing, insua, kuyt played well and babel was okay. Kyragiakos (spelling) looked ok but is slow. We played okay and should of came away with more.

you came away knowing you lost to a better team .

[totsreds08]

there is a reason i dislike chatting with you. you are far too one eyed

[simoo3]

when you say things like voronin showed flashes of brilliance what do you expect vincent

[BTAC]

when you say things like voronin showed flashes of brilliance what do you expect vincent

Voronin did do some very nice things. The only reason he isn't a regular in our first team is because he is far too inconsistent. He has a great footballing brain, but he just doesn't have the skills to go with it.

If you put Voronin's footballing brain into Babels body...You'd have one helluva player. As it is, both fall short of the standard required at Liverpool.

[simoo3]

or both are shite.

[BTAC]

or both are shite.

Good to see you're capable of having an intelligent discussion. Can't wait to do it again sometime.

[simoo3]

someones gotta tell the truth

[DOC]

or both are shite.

Good to see you're capable of having an intelligent discussion. Can't wait to do it again sometime.

watched voronin a lot last year in the bundesliga and was freat on his day, rubbish when it didn't go his way, but did well against the top teams such as bayern

[BTAC]

or both are shite.

Good to see you're capable of having an intelligent discussion. Can't wait to do it again sometime.

watched voronin a lot last year in the bundesliga and was freat on his day, rubbish when it didn't go his way, but did well against the top teams such as bayern

Yeah thats the thing, he's too hit and miss. If he could consistently bring the goods I have no doubt he'd be a regular first teamer for Liverpool..
As it is though, I'd have him as third in the pecking order. Behind Torres and Ngog.

[simoo3]

id have babel in front of him also

[BTAC]

id have babel in front of him also

Babels fuckn useless.
I'd have Reina up front before I put Babel in the team.

[simoo3]

he is same as voronin if you ask me.
im watching your game atm ill see how voronin goes.
cracker from torres although not as good as cescs goal ;)

[BTAC]

he is same as voronin if you ask me.
im watching your game atm ill see how voronin goes.
cracker from torres although not as good as cescs goal ;)

Yeah I agree, it was better

Voronin has done shit all this game so far, but regardless of that, I'd have him in the team over Babel every single day of the week. Babel is the biggest donkey in the premier league I swear..

[simoo3]

he is same as voronin if you ask me.
im watching your game atm ill see how voronin goes.
cracker from torres although not as good as cescs goal ;)

Yeah I agree, it was better

Voronin has done cabernet all this game so far, but regardless of that, I'd have him in the team over Babel every single day of the week. Babel is the biggest donkey in the premier league I swear..

was quite weird the replays of the first goal were still on then the commentator is goin crazy like oh look at this fabregas im like whatt then up he comes and he shoots haha.
yehh that is 1 area were liverpool are weak i reckon. quality back up strikers. if you had someone who could play with torres every second game and be a good back up to him you would have a much better team imo

[simoo3]

copping the wrong end of the stick right there. no way red card.
and wtf is rafa doing? taking torres and benayoun off wow i thought you try to win matches..

[simoo3]

ANOTHER red.
wtff are yous doingg

[BTAC]

he is same as voronin if you ask me.
im watching your game atm ill see how voronin goes.
cracker from torres although not as good as cescs goal ;)

Yeah I agree, it was better

Voronin has done cabernet all this game so far, but regardless of that, I'd have him in the team over Babel every single day of the week. Babel is the biggest donkey in the premier league I swear..

was quite weird the replays of the first goal were still on then the commentator is goin crazy like oh look at this fabregas im like whatt then up he comes and he shoots haha.
yehh that is 1 area were liverpool are weak i reckon. quality back up strikers. if you had someone who could play with torres every second game and be a good back up to him you would have a much better team imo

Thing is, David Ngog is not a bad backup and imo will turn into a very good striker with experience. I wouldn't mind seeing him slot into the striking role in Torres' absence. But yeah, we do need another world class/very good striker, as Ngog is too young to be relied upon to be second choice striker for a club such as Liverpool.

[simoo3]

yeh i was about to say that young striker is good but like you need a back up one for now while he improves so yeh thats shit.
cant believe how bad it went for yous tonight.
pretty much same as what man united did there last year lost about 2-0 and got 2 red cards i think