Reds exact Gunners revenge
Peter Crouch bagged an impressive hat-trick as Liverpool exacted
revenge on Arsenal with a fine 4-1 success over The Gunners at
Anfield.
Rafa Benitez's charges were on the front foot from the off with
Crouch's well-taken double no more than the home side deserved for
their first half endeavours.
Daniel Agger added to Liverpool's lead after half time and while
William Gallas pulled one back late on there was still time for
Crouch to complete his hat-trick from close range.
The win, which lifts Liverpool ahead of Arsenal into third in the
Premiership, was sweet revenge for the club's fans who had seen
their side lose three times to The Gunners this season.
Liverpool started the contest positively although Steven Gerrard's
speculative long-range shot inside the first minute was well wide
of Jens Lehmann's goal.
However, the effort set the tone and The Reds forged ahead in the
fourth minute when Alvaro Arbeloa played a neat one-two with
Jermaine Pennant before crossing for Crouch to net.
Crouch made a superb run to the near post to guide home a
first-time shot past the helpless Lehmann for a crucial early lead
at Anfield.
Arsenal, to their credit, responded positively, but despite
controlling possession they never gave Jose Reina anything to worry
about in Liverpool's goal.
Emmanuel Adebayor headed over the visitors' first attempt on goal
while Crouch's flick was easy for Lehmann after Arsenal failed to
clear a free-kick.
Gallas nearly fired into his own net after sliding at full stretch
to block Mark Gonzalez's cross with Crouch ready to pounce behind
the French defender.
Arsenal's best chance of the half arrived just after the half hour
mark when Adebayor fed Baptista only for the on-loan Brazilian to
scuff his effort well wide of Reina's goal.
The miss proved costly as minutes later Fabio Aurelio's cross from
the left was superbly headed home by Crouch in the middle for his
eighth league goal of the season.
A quickly-taken free-kick left Aurelio in acres of space and he
played in a pin-point ball for Crouch, who out-jumped Diaby, to
guide home from six-yards to give the home side a commanding
half-time lead.
Gerrard had the first attempt of the second half with a first-time
left-footed effort from Gonzalez's cross, although his shot was
straight at the scrambling Lehmann.
Arsenal nearly got back into the game seconds later when Adebayor's
neat turn and shot beat Reina, but the low drive struck the inside
of the post and rebounded to safety.
The contest was effectively over on the hour mark when Aurelio's
dangerous free-kick was guided into the far post by Agger to give
Liverpool an unassailable lead.
Arsenal would have pulled a goal back within minutes, but for
Reina's superb finger-tip save. Adebayor's header from Baptista's
cross looked destined for the net before the Spaniard palmed the
shot onto the post.
The visitors did eventually find the back of the net on 73 minutes
when Gallas was well-placed at the far post to tap home after Kolo
Toure helped on Cesc Fabregas' corner.
Liverpool then weathered a few nervy moments before Crouch capped a
fine individual display by completing his hat-trick on 81
minutes.
The England international turned smartly in the area before
smashing home with his left-foot leaving Lehmann no chance of a
save.
Liverpool nearly added a fifth with only an outstretched hand from
Lehmann keeping out Aurelio's drilled effort that looked destined
to nestle in the far post.
