Arsenal vs. Liverpool: Half-Time Update
- By A.D. Winn on April 17, 2011 15:50 GMT
There is nothing to separate Liverpool and Arsenal going into half-time; despite both sides having decent chances, the game at the Emirates remains 0-0.
Arsene Wenger’s team are pushing to stay in contention for the Premier League title and are unbeaten in the league for 14 games, however with six of those being draws, they’ve fallen seven points behind Manchester United with today’s game in hand.
Liverpool are hoping to end the season better than they started it, however they know that a win against the London club today would push their bitter rivals United one step closer to their 19th League trophy – overtaking the Merseyside club by one.
After an even start, including chances for Arsenal’s Diaby and Liverpool’s Carroll, the first effort that got the fans holding their breath came from Arsenal’s Theo Walcott, who’s shot from outside the area swerved in mid air, causing Reina to parry the shot instead of holding it.
The pressure remained on Liverpool, as Laurent Koscielny met an Arsenal corner five minutes later with a fierce header that bounced against the crossbar.
Liverpool suffered an injury blow after 20 minutes, when left back Fabio Aurelio pulled up with an injury, meaning 17-year-old Jack Robinson was required to come on. He joins fellow teenage academy graduate John Flanagan in the Liverpool defence.
Robin van Persie, making his 150th Premier League appearance had the ball in the back of the net after 25 minutes, however he moved too soon before the pass, and the assistant correctly flagged for offside. The Dutchman looks best placed to score for the Gunners, netting 20 goals in his last 21 league starts.
Liverpool have scored in 14 successive Premier League matches. They have attacking options remaining on the bench should they wish to push for three points later in the game.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Eboue, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Diaby, Wilshere, Walcott, Fabregas, Nasri, van Persie
Substitutes: Lehmann, Song, Squillaci, Arshavin, Gibbs, Chamakh, Bendtner
Liverpool: Reina, Flanagan, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio (Robinson 20), Kuyt, Spearing, Lucas, Meireles, Suarez, Carroll
Substitutes: Gulacsi, Cole, Kyrgiakos, Maxi, Ngog, Shelvey
