Articles
Press Association match report
As if Liverpool, or any of the title challengers needed telling, Arsenal are not going to give up their crown without a fight.
The game was billed as a culture class between two French expert coaches in Arsene Wenger and Gerard Houllier, but it ended up a classic English-style cracker.
Liverpool announced Michael Owen's new five-year contract ten minutes before the start, and the little striker did his level best to break down the most famous rearguard in the land.
But however hard he tried, with pace, trickery and guts, the openings just would not come against men who can handle the most frightening of strikers.
In the end, Arsenal underlined their character and power with a performance that had "champions" stamped all over it.
Liverpool, maintaining their ultra-attacking policy, needed to show they had genuine credentials. They managed it, but Arsenal made it clear they were still the side to beat...and that is something Liverpool could not manage.
The season has hardly warmed up yet, but Arsenal's display will leave a mark on the minds of Liverpool's finest who know now the extra mile they must travel to reach the class of the men from North London.
Arsenal, without their captain Tony Adams who had been taken ill overnight, were given a heroes' welcome by Liverpool's respectful fans before the game, and then a searching examination from the Anfield men for the opening period of the first half.
But despite the running of Steve McManaman - where he gave the ball away far too often - and the driving inspiration of Paul Ince, Liverpool barely created a chance against Arsenal's famed backline, where Steve Bould slotted in perfectly in Adams' role.
Arsenal had three players booked in the first half, Lee Dixon, Ray Parlour and Emmanuel Petit, with Dixon lucky to get just a severe lecture from referee David Elleray for a second late challenge on Patrick Berger in a matter of minutes.
But the longer the half went on, the more composed and assured Arsenal became. They started to pass their way expertly through Liverpool's midfield, and only the excellence of Phil Babb and Jamie Carragher kept them at bay.
Brad Friedel made excellent reflex saves from Nicolas Anelka, while Liverpool's best efforts came from runs by McManaman and Karlheinz Riedle. But by the break, Liverpool were stretched to contain Arsenal.
Playing two attacking players in midfield like McManaman and Berger means a huge workload on Ince's shoulders. It is a fine line Liverpool seem prepared to tread to make use of so many fluent, attacking players. But against the very best teams, it is a style that needs confidence and nerve.
The second half saw Arsenal start in the same mood, with Petit and Patrick Vieira bossing midfield. But pure willpower forced Liverpool back into the game.
Ince saw a close-range effort from Riedle's headed pass held by a relieved David Seaman, and then Riedle and McManaman failed to take advantage when the England 'keeper could only palm out a Vegard Heggem cross-shot.
Friedel still found himself being tested when Anelka got in a shot under pressure from Babb, but it was very much Liverpool in the driving seat.
Owen went on one stunning run from halfway, through half a dozen defenders before running out of space in the box, and then Owen and McManaman created a chance that saw the ball fired in just inches behind the onrushing Riedle.
It really was a classic contest by now, with Anelka's run and chip just inches adrift and Carragher being forced to clear off the line after Marc Overmars had broken away down the left and slipped his shot under the advancing Friedel.
Jamie Redknapp came on for Berger as Liverpool searched desperately for the breakthrough, with the England man playing his first game for five months following the cartilage injury and operation that wrecked his World Cup dreams.
Arsenal put on their new Argentinian defender Nelson Vivas for Anelka in the closing minutes, as they seemed to settle for the point.
But they finished the stronger with Dennis Bergkamp, who had been very quiet all afternoon, getting a clear shot from 12 yards that Friedel saved at full stretch.
Liverpool: Friedel, McAteer, Staunton, Babb, McManaman, Owen, Riedle, Heggem, Berger (Redknapp 65), Ince, Carragher.
Subs Not Used: James, Kvarme, Harkness, Murphy.
Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Vieira, Bould, Anelka (Vivas 84), Bergkamp, Overmars, Keown, Parlour, Petit.
Subs Not Used: Manninger, Hughes, Grimandi, Boa Morte.
Booked: Parlour, Dixon, Petit.
Copyright - Press Association
The game was billed as a culture class between two French expert coaches in Arsene Wenger and Gerard Houllier, but it ended up a classic English-style cracker.
Liverpool announced Michael Owen's new five-year contract ten minutes before the start, and the little striker did his level best to break down the most famous rearguard in the land.
But however hard he tried, with pace, trickery and guts, the openings just would not come against men who can handle the most frightening of strikers.
In the end, Arsenal underlined their character and power with a performance that had "champions" stamped all over it.
Liverpool, maintaining their ultra-attacking policy, needed to show they had genuine credentials. They managed it, but Arsenal made it clear they were still the side to beat...and that is something Liverpool could not manage.
The season has hardly warmed up yet, but Arsenal's display will leave a mark on the minds of Liverpool's finest who know now the extra mile they must travel to reach the class of the men from North London.
Arsenal, without their captain Tony Adams who had been taken ill overnight, were given a heroes' welcome by Liverpool's respectful fans before the game, and then a searching examination from the Anfield men for the opening period of the first half.
But despite the running of Steve McManaman - where he gave the ball away far too often - and the driving inspiration of Paul Ince, Liverpool barely created a chance against Arsenal's famed backline, where Steve Bould slotted in perfectly in Adams' role.
Arsenal had three players booked in the first half, Lee Dixon, Ray Parlour and Emmanuel Petit, with Dixon lucky to get just a severe lecture from referee David Elleray for a second late challenge on Patrick Berger in a matter of minutes.
But the longer the half went on, the more composed and assured Arsenal became. They started to pass their way expertly through Liverpool's midfield, and only the excellence of Phil Babb and Jamie Carragher kept them at bay.
Brad Friedel made excellent reflex saves from Nicolas Anelka, while Liverpool's best efforts came from runs by McManaman and Karlheinz Riedle. But by the break, Liverpool were stretched to contain Arsenal.
Playing two attacking players in midfield like McManaman and Berger means a huge workload on Ince's shoulders. It is a fine line Liverpool seem prepared to tread to make use of so many fluent, attacking players. But against the very best teams, it is a style that needs confidence and nerve.
The second half saw Arsenal start in the same mood, with Petit and Patrick Vieira bossing midfield. But pure willpower forced Liverpool back into the game.
Ince saw a close-range effort from Riedle's headed pass held by a relieved David Seaman, and then Riedle and McManaman failed to take advantage when the England 'keeper could only palm out a Vegard Heggem cross-shot.
Friedel still found himself being tested when Anelka got in a shot under pressure from Babb, but it was very much Liverpool in the driving seat.
Owen went on one stunning run from halfway, through half a dozen defenders before running out of space in the box, and then Owen and McManaman created a chance that saw the ball fired in just inches behind the onrushing Riedle.
It really was a classic contest by now, with Anelka's run and chip just inches adrift and Carragher being forced to clear off the line after Marc Overmars had broken away down the left and slipped his shot under the advancing Friedel.
Jamie Redknapp came on for Berger as Liverpool searched desperately for the breakthrough, with the England man playing his first game for five months following the cartilage injury and operation that wrecked his World Cup dreams.
Arsenal put on their new Argentinian defender Nelson Vivas for Anelka in the closing minutes, as they seemed to settle for the point.
But they finished the stronger with Dennis Bergkamp, who had been very quiet all afternoon, getting a clear shot from 12 yards that Friedel saved at full stretch.
Liverpool: Friedel, McAteer, Staunton, Babb, McManaman, Owen, Riedle, Heggem, Berger (Redknapp 65), Ince, Carragher.
Subs Not Used: James, Kvarme, Harkness, Murphy.
Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Vieira, Bould, Anelka (Vivas 84), Bergkamp, Overmars, Keown, Parlour, Petit.
Subs Not Used: Manninger, Hughes, Grimandi, Boa Morte.
Booked: Parlour, Dixon, Petit.
Copyright - Press Association
