Arsenal 1 - 1 Liverpool
Arsenal Get Draw After Adebayor is Sent-Off
The result was Arsenal 1 - 1 Liverpool but the game promised more goals before Adebayor got a straight red card for elbowing a Liverpool defender. Neither manager will be happy with the Arsenal 1 - 1 Liverpool score line: Benitez will have wanted more than a draw to guarantee them the top spot at Christmas, Wenger will have wanted more than a draw to lessen the 8 point gap between Arsenal and Liverpool.
Both teams had good chances to score from the start. The Arsenal defence stood still before Robbie Keane chested a long-ball to Gerrard just outside the Arsenal penalty area, but the Liverpool captain shot straight at Almunia. Adebayor managed to get his head onto a cross in the Liverpool six-yard box but could only head at Reina.
Goal van Persie: Arsenal 1 - 0 Liverpool
Suddenly a brilliant long pass from Nasri found van Persie in the Liverpool area. The Dutchman chested the ball down superbly, created some space for himself then blasted the ball with his right-foot past Reina. It was Arsenal 1 - 0 Liverpool and it was van Persie's first goal against Liverpool.
Goal Keane: Arsenal 1 - 1 Liverpool
But it wasn't long before Liverpool were back in the game. A long clearance from the Liverpool defence found the Arsenal defence wide open again and this time Keane made no mistake. He let the ball bounce once before rifling the ball into the top of the Arsenal net. It was Arsenal 1 - 1 Liverpool and the game was wide open again.
Half-time: Arsenal 1 - 1 Liverpool
Liverpool finished the first-half with a great chance: a superb cross by Kuyt in the dying seconds meant any decent contact by the sliding Gerrard would have given Liverpool the lead, but his touch took the ball high and wide. In the opening minutes of the second-half Almunia did well to save a long range shot from midfielder Lucas.
Red Card: Adebayor
As the game intensified the tackles started flying in, with both teams wanting more than a draw. As the ball went loose outside the Liverpool area Adebayor went in with a strong challenge and elbowed a Liverpool defender in the face. The referee produced a straight red card and Arsene Wenger was furious.
Full-time: Arsenal 1 - 1 Liverpool
Despite some more chances for Liverpool, Arsenal held on to make the result Arsenal 1 - 1 Liverpool. Keane will hope his goal will have silenced some of his critics and get him more starts in the future. Wenger will no doubt feel his team would have done better than the Arsenal 1 - 1 Liverpool result had Adebayor not been sent-off.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Djourou, Gallas, Clichy, Denilson, Fabregas (Diaby), Nasri (Eboue), Song, van Persie, Adebayor
Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Agger, Carragher, Arbeloa, Reira (Babel), Lucas (Ngog), Alonso, Gerrard, Kuyt, Keane (El Zhar)
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