| KEANE KEEPS REDS TOP WITH EMIRATES DRAW A fantastic goal from Robbie Keane earned Liverpool a 1-1 draw at the Emirates in the absence of ailing boss Rafa Benitez. Keane's sweet half-volley levelled Robin van Persie's opener on the stroke of half time, while the Gunners had to play the last 30 minutes with 10 men following the harsh dismissal of Emmanuel Adebayor.
The result means Liverpool will spend Christmas top of the league for the first time since 1996 should Chelsea fail to win at Everton on Monday night.
All the pre-match talk centred on those absent from the Liverpool camp. Benitez stayed on Merseyside to continue his recovery from last week's kidney stone operation, while Javier Mascherano failed to shake off a bout of flu. Andrea Dossena, Fabio Aurelio and, most crucially, Fernando Torres completed the sick list.
All this meant Lee sent out a side including Lucas, 19-year-old left-back Emiliano Insua and the recalled Keane.
Arsenal were first to threaten on eight minutes when Bacary Sagna crossed to the back post, where Adebayor initially seemed to get the better of Pepe Reina. But, as the ball trickled towards goal, a linesman's flag indicated something untoward. Television replays showed a blatant handball; think Maradona on Peter Shilton circa 1986.
Sagna and Adebayor again combined on 14 minutes only for the latter's glancing header to be gathered well by Reina.
At the other end, Keane, booed from the off thanks to his Spurs connection, managed to steal a 10-yard march on Arsenal's bewildered offside trap before laying back to Gerrard, whose powerful drive was too close to Manuel Almunia.
Despite this, it was Arsenal who looked the more dangerous, and their drive reaped rewards on 24 minutes when a long ball from the returning Samir Nasri was controlled by van Persie, who turned Jamie Carragher before firing past Reina's dive from 15 yards.
Liverpool would now have to live up to their reputation as comeback kings to guarantee Christmas number one status, though memories of an overturned deficit against another big four side, Man Utd, earlier in the season kept the travelling Kop optimistic.
Down on the away bench, goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero listened intently on a mobile phone, doubtless relaying instructions from his boss watching back home.
If 'bang a hopeful ball to Keane and leave him to do the rest' were Benitez's orders, it wasn't long before they were duly carried out.
There were 43 minutes on the clock when the recalled Daniel Agger lofted a 60-yard pass beyond Johan Djourou and the rest of the Gunners backline. The timing of Keane's run was perfect, and the Irishman smashed an unstoppable half volley into the top corner. The silence from Arsenal's faithful, and the critics who've documented Keane's Liverpool career so far, was deafening.
Minutes later Gerrard skewed a wonderful opportunity to turn the game on its head after Dirk Kuyt's low cross into the six-yard box, and there was still time for Kuyt to force a fingertip save from Almunia before Howard Webb blew for half-time.
News that the injured Cesc Fabregas would be replaced by Abou Diaby for the second half gave the visitors a further boost, and it was Liverpool who started most brightly after the restart.
Two minutes in, Lucas forced Almunia into a diving save with a well-struck effort from inside the box. Next, Insua broke down the left before finding Keane in the box. Again the Arsenal goalkeeper was made to work, though his save needn't have been so dramatic.
Liverpool were beginning to purr, and Arsenal's cause was about to be dealt another serious blow, this time by referee Webb. Replays proved harsh his decision to display a second yellow on 62 minutes to Adebayor for a flailing arm near Alvaro Arbeloa.
There were more yellow cards than serious chances as a fiery encounter entered its closing stages.
A left-foot rocket from Agger flew just wide as injury time loomed, while substitute Nabil El Zhar's downward header from an Insua cross had Arsenal hearts in mouths.
It wasn't to be, but a point will be considered a valuable return from one of the season's toughest fixtures. Teams Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa, Riera, Alonso, Leiva, Kuyt, Gerrard (captain), Keane. Subs - Hyypia, El Zhar, Babel, Ngog, Cavalieri, Plessis, Benayoun
Arsenal: Almunia, Clichy, Gallas, Djourou, Sagna, Nasri, Fabregas, , Song, van Persie, Adebayor. Subs - Eboue, Wilshere, Silvestre, Ramsey, Vela, Diaby, Fabianski
Referee: Howard Webb
Conditions: Fine
Attendance: 60,094
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Emiliano Insua
Breakdown 16:01 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Liverpool kick off wearing their away kit
2 mins : Arsenal keeping the ball in the early stages
3 mins : Reina is out quickly to gather a floated free kick into his area
7 mins : Cliche launches a long ball forward which is well defended by Agger
8 mins : Liverpool building well down the left and forcing a throw-in off Gallas
9 mins : First chance of the game falls to Gerrard and the skipper brings a smart stop from Almunia with a long range drive
12 mins : The home side work the ball well down the left but Cliche over-hits the cross
17 mins : Arsenal corner on the left comes to nothing as Carra heads clear
19 mins : First Booking: Robbie Keane:
23 mins : GOAL! Robin van Persie: Van Persie pulls away from Carragher and smashes the opening goal past Reina
31 mins : Liverpool win a free kick in a good area - can we get back onto level terms?
32 mins : Gerrard bends a free kick goalwards but Almunia holds comfortably
35 mins : Gerrard is caught offside after making a powerful run forward
37 mins : First Booking: Emmanuel Adebayor:
41 mins : Arsenal drive a free kick into the box which Liverpool scramble away before Kuyt blasts the ball clear upfield
42 mins : GOAL! Robbie Keane: Stunning strike from Keane as he latches onto a long ball forward to drive past Almunia. Great finish
44 mins : Kuyt crosses for Gerrard who turns the ball over from close range. What a great chance
45 mins : Good stop from Almunia to turn the ball behind from a Kuyt shot. We're finishing the half well
16:49 GMT : Half Time Reached
46 mins : Substitution: Abou Diaby for Francesc Fabregas:
17:05 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Arsenal get the second half underway at the Emirates
47 mins : Gerrard free kick is well defended and then Lucas sees a shot saved by Almunia. Good start to the second period
50 mins : Adebayor goes down on the edge of the box but appeals for a free kick are waved away
52 mins : Insua gets the cross in from the left towards Keane but he can't get enough contact on the ball
56 mins : Kuyt wins a corner in front of the travelling Liverpool fans
57 mins : Alonso delivers the corner which is headed behind by Agger
58 mins : Quickly taken free kick by Gerrard into Keane but the Irishman is flagged offside
61 mins : Sending Off: Emmanuel Adebayor: Adebayor sent off for a second bookable offence after late challenge on Arbeloa
63 mins : Denilson drives a ball low across the face of goal after breaking into the area
65 mins : First Booking: Robin van Persie:
68 mins : First Booking: Bacary Sagna:
69 mins : Substitution: Ryan Babel for Albert Riera:
71 mins : First Booking: Jamie Carragher:
74 mins : Arsenal seeing a lot of the ball but Liverpool standing firm and looking dangerous on the break
77 mins : Nasri nut-megs Carragher but doesn't win the free kick
79 mins : Nasri charges forward and goes for goal with a long range strike which is well over Reina's goal
79 mins : First Booking: Lucas Leiva:
79 mins : Substitution: Nabil El Zhar for Robbie Keane:
81 mins : Van Persie curls in a corner which is over-hit and rolls out of play
84 mins : Gerrard's clever pass into the area almost breaks for Kuyt but Almunia clears
85 mins : Agger goes close from long range, missing the far post by inches
85 mins : Substitution: David Ngog for Lucas Leiva:
90 mins : Insua crosses from the left and El Zhar glances a header wide. Good chance to win it
90 mins : Substitution: Emmanuel Eboue for Samir Nasri:
17:54 GMT : Match Over |
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