Arsenal 3-0 Liverpool

[Karl]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=629 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3><DIV class=mxb><DIV class=sh>Arsenal 3-0 Liverpool </DIV></DIV></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=416><DIV class=mvb><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=416 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=bottom><DIV class=mvb><SPAN class=byl>By Phil McNulty </SPAN></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><DIV> <DIV class=cap>Kolo Toure (second from left) scored his first goal of the season</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Arsenal brushed aside Liverpool in clinical fashion to keep in touch with the Premiership pace-setters.

Mathieu Flamini put Arsenal ahead from close range five minutes before the end of an evenly contested first half.

But Arsenal moved into top gear after the interval, Kolo Toure racing on to Robin van Persie's clever pass to slide home a cool finish after 56 minutes.

William Gallas was then left completely unmarked to head in Van Persie's corner to seal the win with 10 minutes left.

<DIV class=avinline>Liverpool's title hopes were slim before kick-off but they are now surely non-existent as they remain without an away win in the Premiership this season. </DIV>

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had a throat infection, which allowed Manuel Almunia to make a rare start.

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Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez persisted with Steven Gerrard in a right-wing role, despite the absence of injured Momo Sissoko, so Bolo Zenden played in central midfield alongside Xabi Alonso.

It was to prove a questionable decision, with Gerrard very much a peripheral figure as Arsenal ran out comfortable winners.

Arsenal had the ball in the net inside 90 seconds but Van Persie handled the ball to deflect it past Pepe Reina and picked up a yellow card.

But Liverpool settled quickly and Dirk Kuyt was just off target with an ambitious lob.

Liverpool thought they had taken the lead after 13 minutes when Peter Crouch turned home Alonso's cross, but he had strayed offside.

The visitors had enjoyed more than their fair share of possession and territory in the first half but just as frustration was growing inside the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal took the lead with a trademark goal after 41 minutes.

Alexander Hleb played in Cesc Fabregas and his pass was met by the onrushing Flamini, who got the vital final touch ahead of Jamie Carragher.

Liverpool needed to make a statement of intent after the break but it was Arsenal who doubled their lead.

There was a hint of good fortune about the build-up, with Van Persie first failing with an attempted flick but then recovering to play in Toure at the second attempt to finish in style.

Liverpool needed to make a change and it came on the hour when Jermaine Pennant replaced the ineffective Mark Gonzalez.

Gerrard moved into the middle to at least provide a hint of menace with a deflected shot from 30 yards that dipped just over the bar.

But Arsenal ended any debate about the destination of the points when Gallas headed home Van Persie's corner.

It prompted a heated exchange between Gerrard and team-mate John Arne Riise over the lack of marking, summing up a desperately disappointing display by Liverpool.

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Arsenal: Almunia, Eboue, Toure, Gallas, Cli

[Karl]

RE: Arsenal 3-0 Liverpool

<H1>Arsenal 3 Liverpool 0: Unlikely lads help Arsenal pile on misery for Benitez <SPAN class=starrating></SPAN></H1><H3>By Glenn Moore </H3><H4>Published:13 November 2006 </H4><DIV class=bodyCopy><DIV class=articleButton><DIV class=ad id=articlebutton></DIV></DIV><DIV id=bodyCopyContent style="DISPLAY: none">

Fourteen points, and counting. That is how far Liverpool are adrift of Manchester United this morning with the season not yet a third run. With Chelsea also 11 points distant, the club which once cruised to championships as if by right are again reduced to playing for the cups and a Champions' League placing.

Arsenal, by virtue of this facile victory, can still hope to be in contention. They have moved up to third, still 10 and seven points respectively behind the leading two, but with a game in hand. "If we keep going like we did this afternoon then I think we can win this Premiership," said Kolo Touré, who, along with Mathieu Flamini and William Gallas, were the Gunners' improbable scorers as Liverpool suffered their fifth successive Premiership away defeat.

Once again, Rafael Benitez exiled Steven Gerrard to the right flank, at least until the game was beyond his team. Given the absence through injury of Mohamed Sissoko this must have come as a major disappointment to the club captain. He cut a peripheral figure and, after the third goal was conceded, conducted a furious on-pitch argument with John Arne Riise. Benitez, as is his wont, dodged the issue when questioned but effectively admitted he was wrong to prefer Boudewijn Zenden in the

centre when, an hour in, he moved both men. "Steven was playing in the middle for part of the second half and we didn't create many chances," said the manager. "We need to improve as a team and not think about one or two players."

Liverpool did hold their own for 40 minutes, working hard to deny Arsenal space and making two chances. Dirk Kuyt chipped wide on 10 minutes after Pepe Reina's long kick had fallen to him. Zenden drove over in the 27th-minute following a cleverly worked free-kick. That one chance was a set-piece, and the other a "route one" move, was, however, instructive. Liverpool have only scored once on their League travels this season, from the penalty spot against Sheffield United on the opening day, and it was not hard to understand why.

Thus, as has become the pattern at the Emirates, it became a case of whether Arsenal could pierce a blanket defence before conceding a sucker punch. Unlike against Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, and Everton, they could. Five minutes before the break, Alex Hleb dribbled in from the right flank for the umpteenth time. This time his reverse pass found Cesc Fabregas sneaking behind the cover and Flamini got in front of Jamie Carragher to turn in the Spaniard's cross.

Ten minutes after the resumption it was game over. Thierry Henry and Fabregas combined to feed Robin van Persie. He got the ball stuck between his feet but Liverpool reacted so slowly he was still able to release Touré who had run, untracked, for 40 yards. The Ivorian slid the ball between Reina's legs like a consummate striker.

Belatedly, Benitez withdrew the anonymous Mark Gonzalez, switched Zenden to the left, moved Gerrard into the centre, and introduced Jermaine Pennant. It made little difference. Although Gerrard was able to get into a shooting position, having one effort deflected just over, any chance of a comeback was extinguished when shambolic marking allowed Gallas a free header from Van Persie's corner. As Gallas celebrated with the imaginary cigar routine, Gerrard and Riise, who had both been marking Henry, argued vehemently, Gerrard throwing his sweatband to the floor. A sign of passion? Or disenchantment?

Liverpool were unfortunate not to have given the scoreline a greater respectability when Bellamy headed in from Gerrard's cross-shot late on following good work by Pennant. The linesman, not appreciating Gaël Clichy was playing him onside, flagged Bellamy. But it could have been worse for, with

[Baddaz]

RE: Arsenal 3-0 Liverpool

liverpool just needs better quality up front and in the back... crouch seems to have hit his peak and is only going down...

[Gamma]

RE: Arsenal 3-0 Liverpool

kuyt is quality....as is crouch...they just happened to run into the juggernaut known as ...........BIG SIDEEE...

q on suicide watch to rahtid...any mention of any word derived from the root word "tri" (meaning 3) and he sinks into deep depression!!! i understand that his family never realised how dependent they were on the number 3 and it's derivatives and it i just a struggle to avoid saying it around the house. demcyant even seh "mek ah try do this or that".... WORRIES!!!!

[Assasin]

RE: Arsenal 3-0 Liverpool

Benitez made it so much easier. He needed to have Gerrard in the middle of the park. Crouch and Kuryt was getting no service whatsoever. What happen to the liverpool defense of last year?

Arsenal playing some quality ball. I am happy for Gallas he seems to be enjoying himself.