Remembering some classic games between Arsenal and Liverpool
Remembering some classic games between Arsenal and Liverpool
Arsenal travel to Liverpool tomorrow with the Gunners looking to keep up their recent good form.
While
the Reds will arguably be the toughest test Mikel Arteta’s team have had so far
this season, it should be an intriguing game, particularly after their defeat
at West Ham before the international break.
But it
will have to go some to be considered a real classic between these two, with
this fixture having served up some belters in the past.
Here
are four of the best;
Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal, April 2009
Probably
the first game every modern fan thinks of when classic Arsenal-Liverpool
fixtures gets a mention. The celebration of a certain Russian forward holding
up four fingers is iconic to a certain generation of Arsenal fans.
On a
balmy early-summer evening back in April 2009, a ridiculous game took place
almost entirely remembered for a four-goal haul from Andrey Arshavin.
This
was back when both sides were regularly challenging for the title and reaching
the Champions League latter stages.
Although
Arsene Wenger’s team weren’t in the running for the championship by this point
in the season, the draw did damage Liverpool’s hopes.
Arshavin
dragged the visitors into a 4-3 lead, although it didn’t quite end perfectly as
midfielder Yossi Benayoun equalised in the dying seconds to ensure it ended
four each.
It was enough to take the hosts back to the top of the league, but Manchester United ended the season champions, with Arsenal fourth.
Arsenal 4-2 Liverpool, April 2004
A
classic, see-saw win, as a Thierry Henry masterclass took Arsenal to the verge
of securing the Premier League title.
Sami
Hyypia headed Liverpool in front on Easter Friday, before Henry equalised after
31 minutes.
But
this Liverpool team were tricky customers, right in the middle of a race for
the final Champions League place with Newcastle United and Aston Villa, and
they re-took the lead through England striker Michael Owen.
The
champions elect roared back with a virtuoso second-half, Robert Pires equalising
before an Henry wonder-goal gave them the lead, the Frenchman later completing
his hat-trick to end a thriller at Highbury.
It
left the Gunners with seven games still to play on their road to eventual
invincible status.
Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool, November 2013
The
last Arsenal team to truly have a shot at the title? Quite possibly.
Both
sides were pushing to be top of the Premier League table, when Brendan Rodgers'
Liverpool came to the Emirates in early-November of the 2013-14 season.
The
clash of the top two didn’t disappoint, with chances at either end in a classic
pulsating Premier League clash.
In the
end two moments of quality from Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey decided the
game, with current manager Mikel Arteta producing a man-of-the-match
performance. The second from Ramsey was a stunning long-range effort and
eventual goal-of-the-season contender.
The
Emirates rocked at full-time on a night when it felt like the title could be
returning to North London.
However, at the end of the season it was Liverpool who were still in the race, at least until that infamous draw with Crystal Palace, while Arsenal’s challenge fell away badly after Christmas.
Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal, May 1989
It maybe the obvious choice, but how could we leave the 1989 title-decider off this list?
It’s a story well-told. The 89th minute, Lee Dixon’s long pass, Alan Smith’s header, Micky Thomas, ‘it’s up for grabs now,’ you know the rest.
This one game, this one moment, has led to books, films, documentaries and so much more. It is not only a Liverpool-Arsenal classic, but one of the greatest all-time matches in club history.
