Liverpool v. Arsenal [R]

I just turned the match on. Looks like Arsenal isn't attacking. Has it been like this for the whole match?

 

Gerrard taken out by Parlour after doing beautifully to get away from him.

Diao, Finnan, Diouf fouled by Cole. 30 yards out on the right. Arse clear for a throw.

Riise hoofs but Jens screws up and concedes a corner.

Cleared but LFC still threaten and Kewell wins another corner.

Cleared for a throw. Passed al the way back to Dudek.

Arse break with some nice movement but Parlour puts the shot well wide.

40 mins. 1-1

 

Gerrard fouled by Edu at midfield.

Jens wasting time. Diouf moves to the left and is fouled. Smicer may have picked up an injury. TLT warming up.

 

TLT, who just turned 19, coming on for Smicer.

42 mins. 1-1

 

Kewell strips Cole, gets it to Owen, but Diouf's shot is weak and Jens grabs it.

44 mins. 1-1.

Henry flops horribly. No call.

 

Henry does his magic and Biscan concedes a corner.

2 mins of stopparge time added.

Arse plays the corner short. Toure heads wide.

 

Diouf gets in the box and wins a corner, which is grabbed by Lehmann. Finnan gets clocked in the jaw.

Halftime. 1-1

 

Some excellent play by LFC in that half, and poor marking does them in again.

Stats courtesy of ESPN Soccernet GameCast:

Shots (on goal):
LFC 7(4)
Arse 6 (3)

Fouls:
LFC 5
Arse 16

Corner
LFC 6
Arse 2

Offside
LFC 5 (2 were bogus)
AFC 1

Poss. (not true at all)
LFC 43%
Arse 57%

Yellow
LFC 0
Arse 2

Reds
LFC 0
Arse 0 (Yet)

Saves
LFC 3
Arse 6

 

I'm loving the way we're playing right now, this is really entertaining stuff. A few defensive errors, yes, but it can be sorted out. The important thing is to keep up the attacking, because it's forcing Arsenal to get very desperate (they're fouling all over the place).

Kewell is playing the best I've ever seen him.

 

OK, we're back. LFC attacking the Kop.

 

Gerrard's third long ball finds Owen, who gets a cross in but Kewell fouls.

 

LFC pick up where they left off with good attacking play and Arse keep making mistakes.

Finnan sends in a lefty cross and Owen heads just high!

 

Cole concedes a corner rather than let Diouf get the cross in.

Played short and cleared. LFC retain.

Good low cross by Finnan. TLT tries a bicycle kick but misses.

50 mins. 1-1

Kewell fouled by Toure.

 

Free kick to LFC 35 yards out. Stevie to take.

He puts it high.

Gerrard runs into the box but he fouls Campbell.

 

Very entertaining up and back play by both teams but not exceptionally fluid soccer.

 

Gerrard's fourth long ball cut out by Toure, but barely.

Parlour shoots from distance but Dudek has it well.

 

Better play from Arsenal wins a throw deep. Cole eventually kicks it out for a goal kick.

56 mins. 1-1

 

Riise is forced to concede a corner.

Gilberto puts the header wide. They should not be getting to these.

Pires finally pulls his head out of his ass and wins the ball. Good possession by Arse, regaining their confidence.

Lauren gets a cross in but it's over the line.

59 mins. 1-1

 

Biscan fouls Henry, and is booked for his efforts.

 

Henry shoots but it's saved by Dudek.

Owen down after deflecting Cole's hoof. His ankle turned.

 

Henry and Cole helping him up. Very nice to see. He's limping and will continue treatment on the sidelines. Houllier going to see for himself.

 

Owen seems to be OK, and will be returning. England breathes a sigh of relief.

But Liverpool are out under a bit of pressure only to be saved by the linesman's flag. He probably got that one right, though.

Owen returns to the field.

 

Diao fouls Gilberto.

LFC playing more cautiously this half, and it's not working.

 

Nice break leads to a cross by Riise, which is grabbed by Lehmann.

A mistake by Gerrard gives it to Pires, who fires beautifully past Dudek.

2-1.

Crap.