| Tuesday 14 February 2006 20:00 FA
Barclays Premier League |
| |
 |
|
 |
| "Liverpool" |
1 - 0 |
"Arsenal" |
| |
(0-0) |
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| |
| GOAL |
| Garcia 87 |
|
|
| |
1 Jerzy Dudek
23 Jamie Carragher
4 Sami Hyypia
6 John Arne Riise
3 Steve Finnan
7 Harry Kewell
22 Mohamed Sissoko
8 Steven Gerrard (c)
14 Xabi Alonso
11 Robbie Fowler
19 Fernando Morientes
Subs:
20 Scott Carson
21 Djimi Traore
16 Dietmar Hamann
10 Luis Garcia
9 Djibril Cisse |
|
1 Jens Lehmann
16 Mathieu Flamini
20 Philippe Senderos
28 Kolo Toure
27 Emmanuel Eboue
7 Robert Pires
15 Francesc Fabregas
19 Gilberto Silva
8 Freddie Ljungberg
25 Emmanuel Adebayor
14 Thierry Henry
Subs:
24 Manuel Almunia
2 Abou Diaby
28 Johan Djourou
13 Alexander Hleb
29 Sebastien Larsson |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
Alonso (Hamann 72)
Fowler (Cisse 80)
Sissoko (Garcia 84) |
|
Hleb (Pires 79) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Graham Poll
(Hertfordshire) Linesman: G Atkins, J Devine |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: Ljungberg 64 |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 45,362)
Attendance: 44,065 |
|
Rafael Benitez (Liverpool)
Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) |
 Price:J3,00
Notes:
- Steven Gerrard missed a penalty on 32'
- Jamie
Carragher plays his 400th match for Liverpool.
|
|
FROM LUIS WITH LOVE,
GARCIA THE VALENTINE HERO
Supersub Luis Garcia made it a Valentines night to remember at Anfield, coming off
the bench to score a crucial winning goal three minutes from the end of an enthralling
clash with Arsenal.
Garcia had only been on the field a matter of minutes when he converted from
close-range to seal a well-deserved 1-0 victory for the Reds.
Steven Gerrard had earlier saw his 32nd minute penalty-kick saved by Jens Lehman
and despite enjoying near total domination it looked like being another frustrating night
in front of goal as a succession of chances went begging until the diminutive Spaniard
intervened.
It was a fitting performance on the night a new generation of Liverpool fans
remembered the amazing achievements of former manager Bob Paisley. On the 10th anniversary
of his death, Paisley's memory was honoured with a rapturous round of applause prior to
kick-off.
In turn, the great man will have been impressed with what followed from his former
club as he looked down from above to see them consolidate their position in the Champions
League qualification places.
Rafael Benitez kept faith with the strike partnership of Robbie Fowler and Fernando
Morientes as he made just one change to the team that started the weekend win over Wigan.
Momo Sissoko was the new entry, replacing Dietmar Hamann in the centre of midfield, while
at the heart of defence Jamie Carragher lined up for his 400th senior Reds appearance.
Liverpool went into the game holding a seven-point advantage over the fifth-placed
Gunners and there was an air of confidence about their early play as they forced two
corners inside the first five minutes.
Fowler then headed wide from a Riise cross with the first effort on goal but
Arsenal responded through Kolo Toure who went even closer to opening the scoring minutes
later with a free header at the Kop end that the Liverpool defence were relieved to see go
behind.
In what was developing into an open contest Riise's left foot deliveries into the
Gunners box offered hope of a deadlock-breaking goal and on the quarter hour Harry Kewell
almost obliged with a low angled drive that whizzed inches past Jens Lehman's near post.
The Norwegian was seeing a lot of the ball at this stage and he soon had Lehman
flying through the air in desperation has his powerful 25-yard strike whistled menacingly
through a crowded penalty box and just beyond the far upright.
All the action was being played out in front of the Anfield Road end that Liverpool
were attacking and Lehman did well to pull off a stunning save and spare the blushes of
Philippe Senderos whose attempted headed clearance from a Gerrard cross seemed destined
for the roof of the net.
As the Reds continued to apply the pressure Arsenal survived a penalty appeal after
Gilberto looked to have handled in the area when protecting his face from a venomous
Gerrard centre from the right.
Another eye-catching break saw Harry Kewell find space down the left but his ball
across the face of goal was frustratingly wasted by Morientes who mis-kicked on the edge
of the six-yard box.
Undeterred, the Spanish striker continued to toil away in attack and within minutes
he won a penalty when shoved off the ball by Emmanuel Eboue. Unfortunately, Gerrard's
spot-kick was pushed away by the inspired Lehman.
The former Real Madrid man was in the thick of the action but he will have been
disappointed not to have done better with a powerless headed effort from a Fowler cross
shortly before half-time.
The one-way traffic resumed after the interval and with the Kop baying for an
opener Liverpool tore into their opponents once again. After just five minutes of the
restart the crowd was on its feet as Fowler went agonisingly close with a low shot on the
turn that Lehman somehow managed to palm away.
A token effort from Thierry Henry forced Jerzy Dudek into a stunning stop almost
immediately but the possession pendulum continued to swing in Liverpool's favour and when
a glancing header from Morientes sailed just past the post you could almost hear the huge
sigh of relief from the visiting Arsenal fans.
With Gerrard heroically driving the Reds on, the surge towards the Gunners goal was
unrelenting and Lehman had to be at his best for the umpteenth occasion when tipping an
acrobatic overhead kick from Kewell around the post.
As time ticked by Djibril Cisse and Garcia were thrown on in a bid to prevent an
unjust draw and when it looked as though time was running out up popped the latter to tuck
away a vital winner.
Didi Hamann let fly with a rasping strike that Lehman could only parry and as
Garcia raced in for the rebound the German keeper was finally beaten.
The Kop exploded with joy and the players ecstatically embraced to celebrate the
completion of a job well done and round off a passionate Valentines date at Anfield.
Teams
Liverpool (4-4-2): Dudek, Riise, Carragher, Hyypia,
Finnan, Kewell, Alonso, Sissoko, Gerrard, Morientes, Fowler. Subs - Carson, Cisse, Garcia,
Hamann, Traore.
Arsenal (4-4-2): Lehmann, Flamini, Toure, Senderos, Eboue, Pires, , Fabregas,
Ljungberg, Adebayor, Henry. Subs - Diaby, Hleb, Almunia, Larsson, Djourou.
Referee: Graham Poll
Conditions: Cold and drizzly
Attendance: 44,065
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Steven Gerrard
Breakdown
20:01 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Arsenal get the game underway attacking the kop
2 mins : Dudek heads the ball clear as Arsenal launch the first long ball forward of the
match
3 mins : Kewell's cross from the left is deflected behind by Eboue for a corner to the
Reds
3 mins : Morientes jumps in the area and heads the ball with Hyypia just behind him
waiting for a free header at goal
6 mins : Kewell curls in a corner from the far side but the referee has seen an
infringement and Arsenal get a free kick
8 mins : Riise's cross from the left finds Fowler's head but the striker guides his effort
wide of the far post
11 mins : Ljungberg lifts the ball over Riise and is brought down as the Gunners win a
free kick on the right
11 mins : Fabregas drifts the free kick to the far post where Toure heads just wide of
Dudek's right hand post
15 mins : Lehmann is out quickly to collect the ball under pressure from Fowler inside the
six yard box
15 mins : The ball falls kindly for Kewell on the right side of the area but his well
struck low volley is wide of target
16 mins : Arsenal create space for Ljungberg inside the box but his low shot is scuffed
wide. Good chance
19 mins : Long range effort from Riise flashes just wide of Lehmann's post. Great shot
from the Norwegian
21 mins : Amazing save from Lehman as Senderos' header looks to be dipping over the goalie
and into his own net
24 mins : Alonso's shot following a well worked corner is deflected over for another
Liverpool corner kick
29 mins : Kewell drives a low cross into the danger zone but Arsenal manage to scramble
the ball clear
30 mins : Henry gets in behind the Liverpool defence but can't get the ball under control
and Dudek collects
32 mins : Lehmann brilliantly saves Gerrard's penalty after Morientes had been sent
tumbling in the area
35 mins : Riise tries again from 30 yards but this time doesn't manage to hit the target
37 mins : Adebayor charges through on goal but is flagged offside by the linesman
38 mins : Fowler chips a good cross into the area but Morientes' header doesn't trouble
Lehmann
45 mins : One extra minute to be played
20:47 GMT : Half Time Reached
21:03 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Liverpool kick off the second period attacking the Kop
46 mins : Senderos needs treatment after clearing the ball upfield from Gerrard's cross
49 mins : Kewell's left footed volley from distance is well held by Lehmann by his near
post
51 mins : Another great save from Lehmann as Fowler latches onto Gerrard's cross and
shoots towards the far post after a brilliant first touch
54 mins : Henry stings Dudek's fingers with a dipping volley after a clever Arsenal move
58 mins : Alonso smashes a volley well over after Gerrard's free kick had been cleared to
the edge of the box
63 mins : Morientes misses the far post by inches with a glancing header from Gerrard's
perfect left wing cross
64 mins : Booking: Freddie Ljungberg:
65 mins : Hyypia flicks the ball goalwards forcing a clearance for another Liverpool
corner as we continue to dominate. We just need to find a goal
67 mins : Henry finds the ball at his feet on the right side of the area but his attempted
volley flies miles wide of the goal
69 mins : Adebayor creates space with a neat turn but drives his 25 yard shot high over
Dudek's goal
72 mins : Substitution: Dietmar Hamann for Xabi Alonso:
74 mins : Kewell's acrobatic overhead kick from Fowler's cross is well palmed away for yet
another corner
79 mins : Substitution: Alexander Hleb for Robert Pires:
80 mins : Substitution: Djibril Cisse for Robbie Fowler:
82 mins : Kewell drives forward down the left again and wins another corner at the Kop end
83 mins : Riise chests the ball down 30 yards from goal and fires into the arms of Lehmann
84 mins : Morientes misses a sitter in front of goal from Gerrard's cross
84 mins : Substitution: Luis Garcia for Momo Sissoko:
87 mins : GOAL! Luis Garcia: Garcia follows up when Lehmann saves from Hamann and smashes
the ball home
21:52 GMT : Match Over
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