Liverpool 4-1
Arsenal
Peter Crouch's first hat-trick at club level saw Liverpool
leap-frog Arsenal to go third in the Premiership. Crouch turned in
Alvaro Arbeloa's cross to put Liverpool ahead after four minutes,
then headed in from Fabio Aurelio's delivery in the 34th
minute.
Daniel Agger glanced in another brilliant Aurelio cross on the hour
before William Gallas poked in from almost on the line for Arsenal.
Crouch then made it a treble with a neat turn and finish after 80
minutes. Liverpool recalled Crouch, who missed England's two Euro
2008 matches to have an operation on a broken nose. And the giant
striker was the central figure in a first 45 minutes that saw
Liverpool cruise into the lead. He provided the perfect finish to a
delightful Liverpool build-up in the fourth minute, sweeping in at
the near post after Jermaine Pennant's neat flick set up Arbeloa
for the cross.
Arsenal looked lethargic, but threatened briefly when Emmanuel
Adebayor headed just over. But Crouch was in rampant mood, ignoring
the better-placed Steven Gerrard to fire an ambitious shot across
the face of goal after 26 minutes. The unpredictable Julio Baptista
should have drawn Arsenal level five minutes later when he was
played in by Adebayor, but the man who scored four at Anfield in a
Carling Cup tie earlier this season side-footed tamely wide. And it
proved an expensive miss as Liverpool doubled their advantage 11
minutes before half-time.
Xabi Alonso's quick free-kick found Aurelio, and Crouch soared to
meet his perfect cross to send a brilliant header high past the
diving Jens Lehmann. Arsenal's luck was out again after 53 minutes
when Adebayor's low left-foot shot rebounded to safety off the
post.
There was some concern for Liverpool when captain Gerrard went off
two minutes later. He needed to have an ice-pack applied to a thigh
injury - with boss Rafa Benitez hoping he will recover in time for
Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg against PSV
Eindhoven. But the smiles were back on Liverpool faces just on the
hour when a superbly delivered free-kick from Aurelio was glanced
past Lehmann by Agger.
Adebayor was still battling away, but he was cursing again after 63
minutes when his header was turned on to an upright by Liverpool
keeper Pepe Reina.
Arsenal pulled a goal back with 18 minutes left, Gallas turning
home from almost on the line after Kolo Toure touched on substitute
Tomas Rosicky's corner. But any hopes of an unlikely Arsenal
comeback were snuffed out after 80 minutes when Crouch turned Toure
expertly before firing past Lehmann.
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Liverpool striker Peter Crouch:
"It was pleasing for us to get four goals and beat a class side.
The manager let us know beforehand we've had some disappointing
results against Arsenal this season. "You don't care how they come
but it was a nice hat-trick, I'm pleased with it. It is a special
moment."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"We are not certain of being in the top four. "There is not a big
enough gap even if maybe my players felt they had done enough.
"That is not the case. We will have to give our best in every game
now, we must win all our home matches and pick up some away wins
too. "My players are now concerned. They did not produce what was
expected."
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Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Pennant,
Alonso, Mascherano (Riise 82), Gonzalez (Zenden 69), Gerrard (Kuyt
56), Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Fowler.
Booked: Alonso.
Goals: Crouch 4, 35, Agger 60, Crouch 81.
Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue (Hoyte 82), Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Hleb,
Fabregas, Diaby (Rosicky 65), Denilson, Julio Baptista (Ljungberg
65), Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Senderos.
Booked: Diaby, Lehmann, Fabregas.
Goals: Gallas 73.
Att: 43,958.
Ref: S Bennett (Kent).
