Death knell: Arshavin's four goal haul surely put
paid to Liverpool's title hopes
Andrey Arshavin lit up Anfield with a stunning four-goal
display last night and then admitted: ‘We have played into
Manchester
United’s hands.’
A clinical show of finishing from Arsenal’s £11million signing
looked to have kept alive Arsenal’s
slender title hopes until Yossi Benayoun forced home a Liverpool
equaliser deep into injury time to leave the teams locked at
4-4.
The point was enough to lift Liverpool above defending Barclays
Premier League champions Manchester United and into top place on
goal difference.
But, with United having two games in hand on Liverpool, one of
the most thrilling spectacles of the season had succeeded only in
strengthening United’s hold on the crown.
Anfield boss Rafa Benitez admitted: ‘It’s a big chance gone for
us.’ But, with Arsenal still to play United and Chelsea,
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger vowed to revive Liverpool’s sagging
title challenge.
Benitez fumes at the basic errors that cost his
side dear
Wenger said: ‘Liverpool should not worry too much,
because we will be heading to Old Trafford full of confidence. It
is still very open because we will go into that game with every
intention of winning it.
‘We are half-happy at scoring four goals but half-unhappy at
conceding four. Arshavin is a great player, and great players can
play anywhere. He has such a short backlift when he shoots.’
Short backlift: Arshavin (left) strikes
Benitez could hardly conceal his huge disappointment at
his side’s defensive deficiencies. He said: ‘I can’t explain why we
made so many errors at the back. Many of them were
so basic, and they cost us goals. It was not like us, and I don’t
know whether it was a case of nerves creeping in and affecting
us.
‘It was frustrating to make so many mistakes but there were a
lot of positives. We showed character and that helped us to come
back so strongly at the end and salvage a point. That was enough to
put us in top place, so that is another positive. United may be in
the driving seat, but there was a lot about our performance that
should encourage us.’
Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett were in the
directors’ box after
apparently holding meetings with financial institutions over loans
that are still outstanding.
Injured Steven Gerrard said: ‘There should always be a good
togetherness at the club, it is one of our strengths. It was a good
sign to see the two owners together. Hopefully, they will sort
their differences out.’
Arshavin's: silencing Anfield
