Arsenal:
Lehmann
Lauren Toure Senderos Cole
Fabregas Vieira Gilberto Pires (Edu 68)
Reyes (Aliadiere 86) van Persie (Bergkamp 68)

On 10 minutes van Persie took the ball to the edge of the box and did well to step inside a defender and get a shot in. Dudek saved well but it came to Reyes to the right of goal. He got the ball in the net but offside was given.

Liverpool were still on top though. On 13 Senderos made a good interception when a cross came in from their left. they took the resulting corner short, it came central and was lobbed back into the box towards where the corner had come from, finding Riise who'd beaten the offside trap. Fortunately his shot flew past the far post.

A minute later Fabregas hit a great snap shot from outside the box which which went just wide of the post. Within a minute Baros had the ball in the net up the other end, from a quick break. It was ruled out and it wasn't clear why - it turned out that he'd handled the ball in getting past Senderos on the edge of the box.

Van Persie used his ball skills deep on the left. He sold his marker 2 dummies before chipping the ball beyond the far post where Pires stooped to head it down and goalwards only to see Finnan make a good block.

Arsenal came into it more and more as the half went on, until by the 20th minute they were clearly dominant. A great move ended with a cross from left to right by Pires, met by Lauren's head at the end of a terrific late run into the box. He headed it goalwards forcing Dudek into a fantastic save - pushing the ball up onto the bar. It came down near Lauren but he just couldn't reach the bouncing ball before soemone cleared it from the goalmouth.

Pires shot just wide from the edge of the box after a slip by Hyypia. Then a minute later on 24, Hamman was booked for bringing Vieira down a couple of yards outside the box, just a bit to left of centre, as the Arsenal skipper threatened to burst into the box. Pires took the free kick and curled it delightfully over the wall and high just inside the top left hand corner.

5 minutes later, Fabregas started a move in the centre circle, running across the middle of the pitch and feeding Pires wide on the left. Bobby passed forward to Reyes further down that wing and he made for the box. Fabregas had continued his run in a similar direction, which helped make space for his countryman to run into. He took it deep to the left of the 6 yard box and when Dudek came towards him Reyes slipped the ball beyond him, low inside the far post for 2-0.

Another great move was started by Cesc, playing the ball to Cole whose cut back from the goal line found van Persie in the D, but he didn't get hold of it properly and only managed to scuff his shot through to Dudek.

In injury time Liverpool had a half chance when Gerrard played a nice pass for Baros' run. Senderos did brilliantly to get in front of him (it may have been obstruction but the ref didn't think so) and then Baros collided with Lehmann when the keeper came to claim it.

Liverpool, needing a win to have a chance of catching Everton in 4th spot, responded to the first half by bringing on Cisse and Kewell for Riise and Baros. It may be a good thing they didn't start this way. Cisse was far more effective than Baros, and Kewell gave them an added attacking dimension, causing Lauren a whole load of problems.

Again, they started more brightly. And only 5 minutes after the restart they'd pulled a goal back. First Pires fouled Cisse on the left wing and Gerrard played it high into the box. Vieira's header clear was falling to Alonzo when Reyes bumped into him. Gerrard took this free kick too, driving it in thanks to a big deflection off the man on the right side of the wall (Cesc, I think).

Arsenal were on the back foot for much of the rest of the game. Senderos made a great tackle on Gerrard as he broke past the halfway line, but the ball broke straight to Cisse who passed forward again for Gerrard who made for goal. Cole and Toure converged on him and there was a moment of doubt as to whether they'd leave the job for each other, before Toure made his mind up and got it out for a corner.

Vieira's error gave the ball to Gerrard whose pass found Garcia, but Cole got across to shepherd him wide before making a great sliding tackle to clear the danger.

Halfway through the secodn half Smicer came on for Hamman, giving them another attacking option, and then Bergkamp and Edu came on for Pires and van Persie. Bergkamp seemed, unusually, a bit off the pace of the game.

Lehmann made a good save from Gerrard's 30 yarder, and then from Garcia's follow-up. Then Cisse beat Cole on the wing and hit a dangerous cross which beat Lehmann at the near post and was missed by everyone at the far post. Moments later Cisse fed Garcia whose shot just missed the top corner.

Up the other end Reyes had the ball in the net again after some strong battling play, but was given offside again.

Hyypia fouled Lauren outside the box on the right. The free kick came to Cesc in the D but his side-footed shot through the crowded box was soft and easy for Dudek.

There was a heartstopping moment as Kewell ran onto a ball into the box with Senderos trying to get in front of him and shepherd it through to Lehmann, but for some reason Lehmann didn't come for it. It was all a bit close for Senderos to try a back pass, but Kewell got a foot round the defender to poke it goalwards and then when Lehmann picked it up the Liverpool man tried to claim a back pass.

Edu played a beautiful diagonal ball forward from left to right for Reyes. But when he might have tried an early shot Reyes instead delayed, cut inside, and fell over. Soon after, he was replaced by Aliadiere.

Gerrard took another free kick from the wing and Hyypia jumped to get a free header on it only to place it wide.

With 2 minutes to go Dennis hit a sweet pass for Aliadiere but Dudek came out quick to deny him. It went straight up the other end where Toure had to be at his best to deny Kewell a shooting chance.

Gilberto played a nice pass for Bergkamp and continued his run for the return ball, taking it deep to the right of goal before choosing to blast for goal from a narrow angle, a wasted opportunity.

In injury time Cisse had a shot deflected nicely through for Lehmann, and then with the last attack of the game Arsenal made it 3-1. Lauren took the ball up the right wing and crossed to the edge of the box where Bergkamp came up with a classic flick through for Cesc who slipped through the defence in Freddie style for a an easy finish.

It's always been nice to beat Liverpool by 2 goals, especially since 1989, and it's great to have the new defensive solidity of the team confirmed again. We were on the back foot for long periods. The win gives us second place for sure, and gives 4th place to Everton.