A game of three halves-Liverpool 2 – Arsenal 1

Champions
By George Baker
December 3 2004

Arsenal had a very poor first half with the midfield failing to get to grips with the Liverpool midfield. Gerrard had an excellent first half and was a major threat to the Arsenal defence.

Arsenal's  wing play was ineffective, with Freddy tied down by two defenders, and Pires very quiet in a more central, than a wide role. It was difficult for Henry and Reyes to get into the game, but at least Henry threatened, even if he didn’t get a shot in. Reyes, depleted of confidence, mainly fell over. Indeed the whole team was leaden, perhaps a hangover from the nineman super human effort on Wednesday against PSV. Vieira and Pires were particularly poor.

By half time I could not remember one actual shot that the Gunners had compared to Liverpool’s six. At 41 minutes the inevitable happened and a well built up collection of passes saw Alonso’s shot leave Lehmann with no chance. The first half was clearly Liverpool’s.

The second half saw Arsenal get back into the game, Vieira began to up his game, now it was his turn to dominate. A wonderful series of passes between him, Henry and Pires led to a wonderful Vieira goal.

Now the game became very open with both sides attacking and counterattacking. Arsenal were now having more and more of the game, but couldn’t turn their possession into goals.

The third half only lasted 3 minutes, but it had a nasty sting in the tail. Indeed injury time was almost finished when a Liverpool goal kick reached the Arsenal goal area. Both Campbell and Toure went for the ball, both missed it, unfortunately for them it fell to rookie striker Neil Mellor who accepted his gift with gratitude. Lehmann could only dive with despair.

 It was poor defending, and a cruel way to lose, but rather than a post mortem on the error it might be more productive to discuss why the team was so poor in the first half.

LIVERPOOL

Alonso 41
Mellor 90

ARSENAL

Vieira 57