Baptista revels in Arsenal's extravaganza
By Henry Winter
Last Updated: 12:24am GMT 10/01/2007
Match details
Liverpool 3 Arsenal 6
In a cup-tie of unbelievable drama at Anfield last night, Arsenal
paraded the beauty and the Beast of their game, a succession of
breath-taking attacks, spiced by four goals from Julio 'The Beast"
Baptista, sweeping them into a Carling Cup semi-final against
Tottenham Hotspur.
Jubilant: Baptista scored with each of his four efforts on
goal
For Liverpool, hampered by Rafa Benitez's inexplicable team
selection, this was a grim night, bringing their heaviest home
defeat since 1930.
The extraordinary half-time scoreline of 4-1 to Arsenal reflected
that Wenger's reserves were so much more talented than Benitez's
B-team, who were embarrassed by the Londoners' greater athleticism,
technique and pace. Given the immense pressure on Benitez to
deliver a trophy, it was bizarre to behold his inexperienced
selection, particularly after Saturday's FA Cup defeat to
Arsenal.
Wenger could afford to take a gamble by resting star names. Such
was the callow youth of the visiting party it felt like some had
only just been born when the original tie was fogged off. With
Alexandre Song outstanding in the centre and Baptista and Jeremie
Aliadiere terrific in attack, Arsenal's outfield boasted an average
age of 20 years 11 months.
Robbie Fowler was immediately involved, showing some neat touches,
but the game was held up for six minutes when Mark Gonzalez slid in
on Theo Walcott, suffered a six-inch laceration and severe bruising
of his right tibia. The Chilean winger managed a couple of steps
but then crumpled to the ground, and was carried away on a
stretcher. Fortunately, initial fears of a break proved
unfounded.
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Luis Garcia darted on and for a while Benitez's much-changed team
attacked with promise. Twice Liverpool would have broken through
Arsenal's defence but for the alertness of the outstanding Kolo
Toure, who brilliantly intercepted incoming danger. Dawns do not
come much falser.
Then Arsenal launched a devastating, 27th-minute counter-attack,
the ball swept over the top of Liverpool's defence by Toure.
Aliadiere, making a darting diagonal, was off and running, played
onside by Sami Hyypia, bringing the ball down and racing at Jerzy
Dudek. The Polish keeper stopped the Frenchman's first attempt, but
Aliadiere finished well, stroking the ball in with his left
foot.
Liverpool briefly responded well, equalising just after the
half-hour mark. When Fowler was brought down by Song, Fabio Aurelio
took responsibility. His free-kick brought a sprawling save from
Manuel Almunia, who pushed the ball out to his right. Gonzalez's
replacement, Garcia, was first to re-act, driving the ball across
for Fowler to finish in style, with a near-post flick that gave
Almunia no chance. The artful poacher's 31st League Cup goal was
also the first Arsenal have conceded in this season's
competition.
Parity prevailed for only eight minutes. Dudek endured a period
plucked from a keeper's nightmares, Arsenal rattling in three quick
goals in front of an initially disbelieving, quickly angered Kop.
Baptista fell far too easily for local tastes when challenged by
Gabriel Paletta, and he soon added insult to iniquity.
From 25 yards out, the muscular Brazilian sent a magnificent
free-kick dipping over the wall and in. While there was much to
admire in Baptista's delivery, Dudek was badly at fault, totally
flat-footed, eventually watching the ball fly past him and
in.
The clouds darkened for Dudek and Liverpool. When Cesc Fabregas
curled over a corner, everyone expected Dudek to come and claim,
but he faltered and the ball eventually rebounded in off Song: 3-1.
The first-half agony had not finished. When Baptista collected up
possession down the inside-left channel, Aliadiere made his move.
He should have been flagged offside but his swift break deceived
the linesman, and Liverpool were always struggling after that.
Aliadiere cut the ball back and Baptista stroked Arsenal further
clear: 4-1.
The pain continued after the break. Although Dudek brilliantly
saved Baptista's penalty after Hyypia had brought down Aliadiere,
Arsenal's No 9 soon had his hat-trick. Arsenal were targeting the
space behind Liverpool's young right-back, Lee Peltier.
Aliadiere sprinted down the flank, cut inside and drilled a superb
ball across Liverpool's box that Steven Gerrard failed to cut out.
Baptista controlled and despatched a 20-yard shot past Dudek:
5-1.
In terms of a comeback, Liverpool required Istanbul and snookers.
Gerrard reduced the deficit with a thunderous volley, latching on
to Paletta's knockdown to make it 5-2.
Liverpool refused to give up. Gerrard rattled the crossbar, and
then, thrillingly, they made it 5-3 when Hyypia headed in Paletta's
cross. But back came Arsenal and Baptista made it a tennis score:
6-3.
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