Ear we go: Van Persie celebrates in front of the
away fans after netting the winner (below)
Liverpool: Reina, Kelly,
Skrtel, Carragher, Jose Enrique, Spearing (Carroll 90+3), Kuyt,
Henderson, Adam, Downing (Bellamy 88), Suarez.
Subs: Doni, Carroll, Maxi,
Coates, Shelvey, Flanagan, Bellamy.
Goals: Koscielny, og
23.
Arsenal: Szczesny,
Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen,
Gibbs, Arteta (Diaby 52) (Oxlade-Chamberlain 81), Song, Walcott,
Rosicky, Benayoun (Gervinho 74), Van Persie.
Subs: Fabianski, Jenkinson,
Chamakh, Miquel.
Goals: Van Persie 31,
90+2.
Referee: Mark Halsey
(Lancashire)
Robin van Persie proved his worth to Arsenal as one of the
deadliest strikers in world football scored two goals to snatch
victory at Anfield.
Despite being second-best for most of the game the Gunners
strengthened their grip on fourth place - and lessened the chances
of Liverpool catching them - thanks to the prolific Holland
international.
The Arsenal captain had two shots on target and scored
both as he took his record to 25 goals in as many league matches.
Reds manager Kenny Dalglish must wish he had a striker in such form
after watching his side squander a number of
opportunities.
A missed penalty and two shots rebounding off the post -
taking the number of times they have hit the woodwork this season
to 21 - only half the story as another familiar tale unfolded at
Anfield.
Arsenal were lucky to go in level at half-time and so to
come away with a victory will delight Arsene Wenger and infuriate
Dalglish, who suffered his first home defeat of the
campaign.
The Gunners had two chances in the first 45 minutes, with
Theo Walcott testing Jose Reina and Van Persie scoring.
By contrast Liverpool, without injured captain Steven
Gerrard, created enough openings at the other end to have been out
of sight at the interval.
Head boy: Van Persie scores his 30th goal of a stellar
campaign with 31 minutes gone at Anfield
After the visitors' first chance, when Jose Reina denied
Walcott with a good low save after former Everton midfielder Mikel
Arteta's long diagonal ball over the top of left-back Jose Enrique
had put the England winger through, the visitors appeared in danger
of being swamped.
Stewart Downing, so impressive in last weekend's Carling
Cup win at Wembley, fluffed his shot with Wojciech Szczesny caught
10 yards out of his penalty area before Luis Suarez won a penalty
when he was tripped by the goalkeeper.
All smiles: The away fans celebrate Van Persie's late
winner at Anfield
Own goal: Koscielny gives Liverpool the lead after
scoring past Wojciech Szczesny in the first half
Dalglish's side have now missed six penalties, excluding
the two also squandered in last week's Wembley shoot-out, this
season.
The Arsenal goalkeeper was powerless to prevent the
opening goal, however, when Laurent Koscielny, under little
pressure, turned Jordan Henderson's cross into his own
net.
Liverpool should have made it 2-0 moments later when
Henderson's shot was parried by Szczesny to Suarez to drilled the
rebound against the post.
In the stands: After parading the Carling Cup around
Anfield, Gerrard was sidelined for the lunchtime kick-off
But just when it looked as if Arsenal were on the brink of
cracking they equalised with a goal of breathtaking simplicity on
the half-hour.
Bacary Sagna's right-wing cross perfectly picked out Van
Persie who had got in front of Jamie Carragher and the striker made
no mistake with his header.
More Suarez trickery, taking him past the quartet of Alex
Song, Sagna, Koscielny and Vermaelen, saw his low shot brilliantly
turned behind by Szczesny before Kuyt hit the post in added
time.
Early in the second half there was a lengthy stoppage when
Henderson collided with Arteta, who eventually left the field
heavily concussed on a stretcher to be replaced by Abou
Diaby.
Dutch of class: Van Persie celebrates after scoring his
first goal with 31 minutes gone
Thomas Vermaelen was booked for clattering into the back
of Suarez as Liverpool continued to enjoy the upper hand without
really threatening.
When they did create a chance in the 69th minute it fell
to Martin Kelly close in at the far post but he went with his right
foot instead of his left and bundled Kuyt's cross wide. Arsenal
remained a danger on the break and Reina had to be alert to
brilliantly block a Walcott shot with his legs after being
wrong-footed.
Penalty: Suarez goes down under the challenge from the
Arsenal stopper
And the Reds were made to pay for their profligacy as in
the second of eight minutes of added time Van Persie snatched
victory for the Gunners by expertly volleying home Song's cross
from a narrow angle.
Concern: Arteta was taken to hospital after with
concussion after leaving the pitch on a stretcher (below)
