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With the fussy Graham Barber in charge, his poncy hair ruined by rain, Arsenal opened with some good early passes but after a brief early flurry Liverpool then bossed the half. Kewell was partnering Owen up front and they looked good in combo. A sharp Owen shot along the slick surface was finger-tipped round by Lehmann and Edu brought it away from the corner. A good shot by Smicer was also saved. Liverpool pressure mounted and on a slick wet surface an Edu deflection off another Arsenal man landed close enough to Kewell, on the right, for him to plant a well controlled strike past Lehmann into the far corner of the net. A well-taken goal by the new boy, his first for Pool at Anfield. Thirteen minutes gone, 1-0 Liverpool, having taken the lead their pressure increased.
We were both rocky and lucky not to go further behind as the red Scousers mounted a succession of attacks. Riise broke well and Kewell blasted over. Henry had a shot on the turn tipped round the post by Dudek while Diao was down injured following an Aliadiere tackle. Edu found Toure from the corner but Kolo blasted over. Owen was then put through by a flicked Kewell header, the England striker lobbed Lehmann but also, thankfully, the bar. Campbell and Toure were in the thick of the action while Cole was having a good tussle with Diouf who likes to spend a lot of time on the floor. Liverpool pressure continued when Owen headed over from a free kick, our marking for this one being pretty well non-existent. A rare spell of Arsenal passing saw Parlour win a debatable free kick, but then again Barber was making joke decisions against both teams. Pires took the kick and Edu headed the ball down off the shin of Hyypia into the net. Thirty minutes gone 1-1 and we hadn't really been in it up until this point.
Aliadiere was putting himself about and giving his all. Cole was stopping Diouf any way he could and on one such occasion the exaggerated rolling around on the floor was enough for Cole to earn a yellow card. The match was competitive but not dirty. Kolo cleared again. Parlour chopped Gerrard to earn a yellow card. Cole fouled Diouf again and Edu headed the free kick clear, Campbell headed away, Lehmann conceded a corner, Campbell headed away, a great cross was cleared by Campbell and then another. It was one way traffic at this point, with just an occasional break as when Pires fed Parlour for a powerful drive wide of the post. While Diouf was rolling around the turf once more Smicer was really hurt and replaced by Le Tallec a nineteen-year-old.
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An Owen cross for a Diouf header but Kewell shoved Cole over as he went to clear. A decent Owen header from a fine Finnan cross went over. Toure fouled Kewell and Gerrard fired well over from an ambitious 35 yards out. Arsenal broke with Henry but Liverpool came straight back. Kewell and Diouf were both overdoing the theatrics as the match went form end to end. Good shot from Parlour was saved despite the deflection. Parlour then won a corner as we battled our way back into the match, it was hard work but we were gradually getting there. Pires did well, Kolo stopped an Owen break, and then a good Arsenal move ended with a poor Lauren cross. A shame that because we had plenty of players forward for once.
Henry axed by Biscan for a yellow, which should have been his second. Henry then hit one on the turn but it lacked power. Owen blocked a Cole clearance but landed badly, Cole knew he was badly hurt immediately. Another Arsenal break precedes Owen's return but he's clearly not going to last. A good Cole cross follows fine stuff from Henry. Our possession is improving as the game progresses and we're beginning to look the part. Aliadiere chases down well, gets the ball to Edu who goes forward but is driven wide. He laid it back to Pires coming in from the left who cut inside and shot. The shot from 28 yards out was hit with power and a tremendous curve starting well outside the far post but bending back perfectly to end just inside the far post. A brilliant goal, 1-2 Arsenal and with sixty-eight minutes played this could well be the start of Bob' s season. His play was much improved after this fine confidence booster. At long last Arsenal looked the part.
The match was still fairly open in the closing stages but the travelling Gooners sung 'We shall not be moved' and they were right. Kewell had a shot that lacked power and Gerrard put a good ball in, but Liverpool lacked their earlier conviction while Arsenal now looked in control. Heskey replaced the injured Owen while Wiltord came on for Aliadiere with eighteen to play. A good break ended with a Henry cross. It was still anyone's game as Wiltord shot at one end Cole cleared from Kewell at the other. Arsenal were trying to retain possession now and mostly succeeded. A goal-line clearance from one of Pires, Cole or Toure followed some ping-pong in a packed area when Lehmann was unable to reach the ball with conviction.
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Meanwhile back at the game we were keeping the play in their half and bossing the match. Henry, Pires, Parlour and Wiltord were all working hard and keeping control. Gerrard did get to force his way into our box but the cover was good. Three minutes added time saw Lauren head calmly back to Lehmann under pressure. Wiltord and Henry worked away at the other end as we played down the clock. Final score 1-2 to Arsenal.
This was a hard fought win where we had an uphill struggle to get into the match. Had Liverpool finished more effectively in the first half things might have been very different. But as Sol said after the match 'We dug in'. Indeed we did, and very effectively too. Pires' winner was superb and with any luck it will turn his season around.