JANUARY 11
'Our
season is not over'
By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo
Rafa Benitez today insisted Liverpool's season is alive
and well, despite the record midweek Carling Cup defeat.
Pundits have suggested the cup loss all but ends the club's
hopes of silverware for another year.
Benitez is well used to shrugging off criticism, having
faced similarly testing weeks in each of his first two
trophy laden campaigns in charge.
Defeats to Burnley in January 2005 and Crystal Palace in
last year's Carling Cup prompted the same reaction, only for
Benitez's team to claim silverware in May.
Now the manager is hoping for an emphatic response in
forthcoming Premiership games as he seeks some much needed
perspective.
"I am sure when we play teams like Manchester United,
Chelsea and Arsenal later in the season, it can be a
different result," said Benitez.
"If we have all our players available, and have no more bad
luck with injuries, I know how strong our first team can be.
"People are talking about how strong Arsenal were in the
last two games, so maybe this shows how well we've done to
finish above them in the Premiership last season and to be
third at this stage now.
"Last season I remember Manchester United losing early in
the Champions League and losing to us in the FA Cup. People
were saying things about them, but now they are at the top
of the table. We are sure we can progress from here in a
similar way, and remember we are still fighting in two
competitions."
JANUARY 11
True
support or blind faith?
Sports View with Echo Sports Editor John Thompson
It might be mischief, malice or even fair comment. But
some pundits feel Liverpool fans are in a state of
self-delusion.
They suggest there is a child-like worship of a manager who
nobody dare criticise and is unchallenged. But there is also
a sense these critics revel at times in seeing Liverpool
fail.
So what is the truth?
We know Liverpool have slipped from their domestic pedestal.
For 16 years a title once won regularly has not returned.
And it still hurts expectant supporters.
Kenny Dalglish, who last delivered the prize, cracked under
the strain of the manager's job a year after the
Hillsborough Disaster. Graeme Souness underwent major heart
surgery while in it. Gerrard Houllier collapsed and nearly
died at Anfield.
So when 42,000 supporters turn up on a January night and see
their side thrashed but stay to bellow their backing rather
than tear up season tickets for the cameras, what does it
signal? Maybe it is something more subtle than this alleged
blind faith.
When Houllier was failing in his last season the phone-ins
and letters were so hard-hitting it regularly rattled him.
Yet at Anfield, there was no hint of rebellon, just a
funereal atmosphere which became almost unbearable. He was
duly dismissed.
Therefore, if Rafa Benitez mistakes the Kop's regular
backing as a licence to fail, then he, like others, would be
a fool. And he is not.
Whatever his mistakes - and undoubtedly his loyalty to Jerzy
Dudek was misplaced - his record shows he's one of the most
talented managers in the world. Titles with Valencia, the
European Cup and FA Cup in his first seasons at Anfield,
demolish any other suggestion.
That's why Reds' fans have stuck by him even when
humiliated. And why such decent fair-minded support probably
brings far more pressure than any chorus of boos.
It's not unconditional love. Of course Benitez is being
judged on Merseyside. As are the Anfield board and every
player every week. But it's easy to sneer at passionate yet
patient supporters who appear obsequious to commentators who
don't get the value of togetherness.
Of course, a club with Liverpool's culture has to constantly
beware putting sentimentality before ruthlessness. Bill
Shankly realised that when Watford defeated Liverpool in the
FA Cup in 1969, axing Ron Yeats and Ian St John, his first,
big signings years earlier. He learned painfully that
however much he loved them, their time was up and the fans
dreams' mattered more.
Many critics nowadays also suggest a `Scouse factor' in the
Liverpool side is overly important to supporters. They're
wrong.
Jamie Carragher is in the Liverpool team because he is a top
class, lion-hearted footballer, not because he is from
Bootle. Steven Gerrard would be a worshipped Anfield star
whether born in Huyton or Helsingborg.
Of course, all fans have extra pride in local stars but it's
cheap to suggest Liverpool's fans are parochial or
narrow-minded about who plays for them. They've never been.
The celebrated side which did the double in 1986 barely
contained an Englishman, let alone a Liverpool lad.
But whatever pundits think, if anyone doubts managing
Liverpool brings intense pressure and scrutiny from the Kop
they should just ask Dalglish, Souness or Houllier.
Or even in time Rafael Benitez, whose efforts remain
supported by fans who'll let him know in their own manner
and time if they feel he is letting them down.
JANUARY 10
Lose the fans
and it's the end, Rafa
TEAMtalk
TEAMtalk explains why Rafa Benitez's decision to field a
weakened side against Arsenal in the Carling Cup could have
some serious implications.
You're one of the top men in the firm and you want to make
it an attractive a proposition as possible: the buyers are
based in the Middle East and need to be convinced they are
getting a top-notch company that is performing well now, and
not just has the capability to do so some years down the
line.
Of course, you also want them to pay top dollar (or even top
Dubai dirham).
Just days before they are due to make an offer, there is a
chance for your company to pull off a high-profile deal in
one of the smaller markets: it's just you and some City
rivals in with a shout.
Even better - you hear those same City rivals have give
their top wheeler-dealers a post-Christmas break - what a
stroke of luck!
So what do you do? It's a no-brainer: send in your best team
and make sure they clinch the deal. It's not the biggest
deal in the world, but it will grab headlines and make you,
and the firm, look good...
Suffice to say, that Rafa Benitez will not be the top of
many City headhunters' lists of desirable business heads
today.
Instead, Benitez shot himself in the foot by taking a
meaningless gamble, ended up being humiliated, and the
Carling Cup result against Arsenal could even wipe a few
million pounds off the offer.
Of course, Benitez' defenders will claim this is the usual
build 'them-up-and-knock-them-down' mentality so beloved in
British sport, that Liverpool's manager delivered them the
Champions League and now, less than two years on, the knives
are out over a defeat in a tournament which is very much
fourth-rate.
There would be some merit in that argument were it not for
the fact that Dubai International Capital (DIC) are probably
less than a week away from completing due diligence and
making an offer for the club.
The timing of the 6-3 defeat by Arsenal was absolutely
appalling.
It has not only virtually ended Liverpool's hopes of any
silverware this season - having been given a drubbing in the
FA Cup by a full-strength Arsenal side at the weekend - but
it could also have affected the value of the club to DIC.
One can imagine the talk in Dubai: "Wow, that's the worst
defeat at Anfield for 77 years. Things must be bad. Do we
really want to go ahead at that price? Let's take £10million
off our offer."
It was bad timing for Liverpool, and awful for Benitez, who
has had the spotlight shone firmly on the weaknesses of some
of his signings.
League Cup defeats do not usually become a watershed in a
manager's career. Unfortunately for Benitez, this one could
prove the exception.
A perusal of Liverpool fans' message boards is enlightening
in terms of what the supporters now think of their Spanish
manager - at a rough estimate about eight to two are
anti-Benitez, with many heavily critical about his transfer
policy.
You don't have to be an expert in football to know that once
you lose the fans, then the end is nigh.
Liverpool fans pride themselves on their loyalty, but it is
to the team rather than the manager.
Benitez may not have lost the fans completely yet, but it is
an uphill struggle and if Liverpool fail to qualify for the
Champions League again, then it looks like the end of the
road.
JANUARY 10
Dudek saddened by cup disgrace
By Andrew Scurr - Sky Sports
Jerzy Dudek admits he is devastated to have let in six
goals against Arsenal in the Carling Cup.
A youthful Gunners side ran out 6-3 winners at Anfield on
Tuesday, four days after firing three past Dudek in the FA
Cup.
Nine goals conceded is not what Dudek wanted from his two
cup outings, with his chances of further first-team
opportunities at Liverpool likely to be at a minimum.
"I am devastated and disappointed. The last time I let in
six goals I was very young," Dudek said.
"I wanted to take my opportunity in these two cup ties and
build some confidence after six or seven months without much
football, then you face a side like Arsenal. It is very
difficult."
In three games, Dudek has conceded a third of Liverpool's
season total and the Polish keeper is mystified as to the
reasons behind the flood of goals.
"We hardly ever concede goals yet in two games we have
conceded nine," he continued. "This is very strange, not
just for the team but for me."
Dudek could well have played his last game for the club,
with his contract due to expire in the summer and the
imminent arrival of Italian youngster Daniele Padelli from
Sampdoria.
The 34-year-old concedes his future at Liverpool looked
bleak from the moment Jose Reina arrived at the start of
last season.
Dudek added: "I do not expect anything in terms of more
games because a goalkeeper was brought in after the
Champions League final and the situation was clear for me.
"It is difficult for a goalkeeper like me to be second
goalkeeper and to wait months for your chance.
"But it looks like I will be here for the rest of the
season."
JANUARY 10
It's
time for us to get real
By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo
Rafa Benitez says Liverpool must learn the lessons of
last night's Carling Cup humiliation, as he urged the club
to match Arsenal's ambition in the recruitment of young
talent.
Benitez, who apologised for the 6-3 defeat, is deeply
frustrated his efforts to create an equally powerful reserve
line-up has been thwarted by lack of funds.
But the boss insists he was right to stand by his team
selection at Anfield, and argued the gulf in class was a
result of Arsenal's ten years of careful planning and
recruitment.
He says Liverpool's prospective new owners must take note if
they want the club to match the Gunners.
"The first thing we must do is say sorry to our supporters.
They were magnificent and deserved better," said Benitez.
"Secondly, although we made mistakes in the game my players
worked hard and I must recognise this.
"But when you analyse the situation, the conclusion which
worries me is Arsenal could pick nine reserves and score six
goals at Anfield. We had seven players of the first team and
could not win.
"There is a lesson in this for the whole of our club. If you
want to compete at the top level, you must be able to spend
a lot of money not only on your first team, but on the young
players and reserves.
"Arsenal spent £4m on Diaby, £4m on Denilson, £8m on Walcott
and Baptista is a £22m player.
"They have been working for ten years to build a strong
squad, and we have been working for two years. My scout
department has done an excellent job, but sometimes we go
too slow as a club to make signings we need, and when we do
there is not a lot of money.
"Today, for example, we are signing a young Italian keeper
on loan with an option for later. We've also been working
for many weeks to sign the young Scottish player James
McCarthy.
"These are the deals we are doing because we want to build a
squad of similar quality in the future, but without spending
big money it's difficult.
"The money we sign is for the first team, and when you look
at the quality of Reina, Sissoko, Alonso, Bellamy and Crouch
it's clear all are worth more now than when we bought them."
Benitez has come under fire for his team selection in the
wake of the latest cup exit, but he's standing firm.
"I used Momo Sissoko in the Carling Cup against Birmingham
and lost him for four months," he said.
"Last night we believe we've lost Luis for the rest of the
season and Gonzalez and Warnock were injured. Steven Gerrard
has a dead leg and Xabi Alonso a tight hamstring.
"What is more important? The Premiership, the Champions
League or the Carling Cup?
"If Arsenal can play nine reserves and score six at Anfield,
people should be asking why is this. It's not because of one
game, it's because of many reasons. I picked a team with
seven players from the first team last night.
Do people expect me to play Finnan every week? He has had to
play in every fixture this season. The players I used were
good players."
JANUARY 10
Rafa
takes wrong turn
By Mark Lawrenson - BBC Sport football expert
Liverpool conceded six goals at home for the first time
in 77 years as Arsenal inflicted a humiliating 6-3 defeat on
Rafael Benitez's side in the Carling Cup quarter-final.
The result sent shockwaves around Anfield, with Benitez
coming in for fierce criticism for fielding an
under-strength side that was outclassed by Arsenal's own
shadow squad.
It completed a devastating double blow inflicted on
Liverpool by Arsenal after Arsene Wenger's side sent them
out of the FA Cup third round, also at Anfield, on Saturday.
What was behind Liverpool's crushing defeat? And what are
the ramifications for Liverpool's season and under-fire boss
Benitez?
Here, Mark Lawrenson delivers his verdict on Liverpool's
Anfield nightmare.
RAFAEL BENITEZ'S TEAM SELECTION
Benitez got it wrong. Pure and simple. The team he put out
was just too weak.
I would not have any problem resting one or two younger
players but the more youngsters you play the more difficult
it is to improve.
It is a similar situation to when England make six changes
at half-time in a friendly. How can you bed in these
players?
Liverpool lost in the FA Cup on Saturday, so they needed a
good run in the Carling Cup.
I would have made the spine strong. I would have chosen two
from Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger in
central defence and paired Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso in
midfield.
The two strikers, Robbie Fowler and Craig Bellamy, had
plenty of experience but I might have had Dirk Kuyt on the
bench as an insurance policy.
I would have blooded a couple of inexperienced players in
wide areas but there were just too many in the side and that
heaped even more pressure on the likes of Gerrard.
The consequences were dire. Keeper Jerzy Dudek and the
central defenders Gabriel Paletta and Hyypia were all over
the place.
Some of the defending had to be seen to be 'disbelieved' and
they were cut apart by an Arsenal team that is fantastic on
the counter-attack.
LIVERPOOL'S BIG PICTURE
I can understand Benitez looking down the road to matches
against Chelsea, Barcelona and Manchester United - but I
just do not buy into the theory of resting players with
future games in mind.
I do not go with the suggestion that the players are tired.
I just don't understand it.
If you are playing 60 games a season, it probably means you
are playing in a successful team and when you are winning
you are not tired.
I would not want the manager tapping me on the shoulder and
telling me to take a rest when we are winning.
Liverpool had Jamie Carragher and Alonso stripped and ready
on the bench and I reckon their mindset would have been:
"I'm stripped. I might as well play."
The object was defeated anyway because they both ended up
playing and Luis Garcia came on as a sub and then ended up
going off with what looks like a serious injury.
If players are tired, why not give them more time off in the
week? Tell them to go and put their feet up for a few days -
they are super-fit anyway.
LIVERPOOL'S REACTION TO HUMILIATION
I do not think this will be a problem. They will field a
different team at Watford on Saturday.
Pepe Reina will return in goal, Steve Finnan and John Arne
Riise will be back, there will be an experienced central
defensive pairing and Alonso and Gerrard will start in
midfield. Kuyt will be back up front, so this will be a
different team.
Disappointing as the result was, this is not a crisis. I
still fully expect them to finish in the qualifying places
to reach the Champions League and they still have the
opportunity to have a run in Europe's elite competition this
season.
All is not lost, despite a severe beating at the hands of
Arsenal.
LIVERPOOL FANS' REACTION TO HUMILIATION
Liverpool fans were huffing and puffing as they left Anfield
after this - seeing their side concede six goals will be a
once-in-a-lifetime nightmare for them.
They won't be happy about going out of two cup competitions
in the space of days. And don't tell them the Carling Cup
doesn't mean much - it was good enough for Manchester United
to win last season.
And they will wonder what they are protecting them for
because their record against Manchester United, Chelsea - in
league combat anyway - and Arsenal is awful anyway.
They will be disappointed, desperately, but I think they
still have faith in Benitez.
I don't believe they accept the idea of players resting
either.
PRESSURE MOUNTING ON RAFAEL BENITEZ?
Benitez is absolutely fine. He will be under no pressure and
I can see what he is trying to do with the bigger picture at
Liverpool.
My only problem with him is the resting of players and
playing a weakened team. He has won the Champions League and
the FA Cup after all.
The players coming through from the academy are not ready
yet and he is now trying to buy young players from around
the world.
This is what Arsene Wenger has been doing but he has been
doing it for 10 years.
Benitez is trying to do that and has only just started but
he also needs five or six real quality players to come in,
hopefully something the proposed Dubai takeover will help to
achieve.
JANUARY 10
Benitez must take
blame for Anfield shambles
By Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo
Humiliation. Shambles. Embarrassment. Just three words
that spring to mind after the debacle at Anfield last night.
It was a result against a bunch of Arsenal youngsters that
underlined three major points:
1. Liverpool's squad still lacks the quality and strength in
depth that has been lacking over the years.
2. The gulf between the Reds and their major rivals remains
as wide as ever.
3. Rafa Benitez got his team selection hopelessly wrong in
the light of their FA Cup exit.
Defeat four days ago against a very good Arsenal side was
hard to take, but the Carling Cup hammering undermined the
Reds' credibility as a soccer force.
Benitez has obviously been frustrated by lack of funds when
it comes to trying to complete major deals, but this
rotation system he adopts is simply crazy.
He should have fielded his strongest line-up, knowing as we
all did that the Gunners would field a shadow team, in a bid
to remain in a cup competition we could have won.
Now, there is just the Champions League to go for, and the
prospect of facing Barcelona is a daunting one.
You live or die by your mistakes - and the Anfield boss must
accept blame for the mauling his side received.
Jerzy Dudek, at fault with two of the goals on Saturday, was
responsible for at least two more last night. Why was he
playing?
Saying that he promised the keeper he would play in cup
games is not good enough. His penalty save only papered over
a few of the cracks.
Others, like Gabriel Paletta, looked out of their depth as
the Gunners threatened to score with every attack.
But it wasn't just the result. It was the manner of defeat.
In what was a thoroughly entertaining game - I would have
preferred a boring 0-0 and a win on penalties! - but the
Arsenal second string gave the Reds a thorough lesson in
passing, movement and ball control.
Their young stars looked head and shoulders better than
ours. I have been frustrated with the likes of Luis Garcia
over the years for the way in which he loses the ball so
easily. He was guilty of that again on so many occasions
before his injury. But he was not alone.
So many Liverpool passes went astray - and it wasn't just
their younger players at fault.
Steven Gerrard, however, must be praised for his non-stop
efforts to salvage some pride in defeat. He worked his socks
off, ran everywhere, was always looking for the telling
balls, and scored an absolute cracker.
Sadly, there were few other positives from last night, and
the injuries simply added insult to injury!
Arsenal were superb. Liverpool were also rans. If this game
proves a watershed for some of the players, and Benitez's
approach to team selection, then so be it.
The Champions League is our only route to success now. But
what will be the long term toll on confidence after the past
four days?
JANUARY 10
Rafa: I'm very sorry, Anfield
ITV Football
Rafael Benitez could only hold his hands up and apologise
to fans after Arsenal demolished Liverpool 6-3 at Anfield.
Benitez opted to leave out senior men Peter Crouch, Xabi
Alonso, Jose Reina, Luis Garcia, Dirk Kuyt and Steve Finnan
from his starting line-up in a Carling Cup tie Liverpool had
to win to keep alive their most realistic chance of a
trophy.
But the Reds boss defended his actions and also refused to
blame second-choice goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, who has now
conceded nine goals in two games over four days against the
Gunners.
He said: "We did use a lot of players from the first-team
squad, but they also changed many players. The problem was
conceding goals like we did.
"I do not put any blame on Jerzy Dudek, we win together and
we lose together.
"We used senior players and young players, I do not point
the finger at anyone. We tried to do our best, but we
conceded goals and you cannot change the result now. All I
can say is 'sorry' to our supporters."
JANUARY 10
Liverpool's worst home defeats
TEAMtalk
TEAMtalk has rummaged through the Anfield archives to
find Liverpool's 10 worst home defeats, following Tuesday's
6-3 Carling Cup defeat.
Liverpool's 6-3 thrashing by Arsenal in Tuesday night's
Carling Cup quarter-final was only the fourth time in the
club's history the Reds have conceded six at Anfield - and
the first time in 77 years.
Here TEAMtalk looks at Liverpool's 10 worst home
humblings.
Liverpool 0 Sunderland 6 (First Division - April 19, 1930)
Liverpool 1 Manchester City 6 (First Division - October 26,
1929)
Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 6 (First Division - November 28,
1914)
Liverpool 3 Arsenal 6 (Carling Cup - January 9, 2007)
Liverpool 0 Everton 5 (First Division - October 3, 1914)
Liverpool 0 Manchester City 5 (First Division - March 26,
1937)
Liverpool 1 Derby 5 (FA Cup - March 2, 1898)
Liverpool 1 Newcastle 5 (First Division - December 14, 1907)
Liverpool 1 Wolves 5 (First Division - December 7, 1946)
Liverpool 1 Arsenal 5 (First Division - November 15, 1952)
JANUARY 10
Wenger: Reds 'gambled' on team
TEAMtalk
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitted he was surprised by
the line-up Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez fielded in
Wednesday's Carling Cup tie.
An amazing clash at Anfield saw the Gunners reach the
semi-finals with an emphatic 6-3 victory.
Benitez opted to leave out senior men Peter Crouch, Xabi
Alonso, Jose Reina, Luis Garcia, Dirk Kuyt and Steve Finnan
from his starting line-up in a game Liverpool had to win to
keep alive their last realistic chance a trophy this term.
And Wenger claimed that Liverpool would have fielded a
full-strength side when this tie was postponed before
Christmas due to fog.
Wenger said: "At the start, I was surprised by Liverpool's
team. When we were here for the game that was fogged off,
Liverpool named their normal side.
"But maybe because of the postponement and the heavy
schedule after Christmas, they decided to rest some players.
"But they used senior men like Luis Garcia (who came off the
bench) and (Mark) Gonzalez and they were both injured, so it
is a real gamble."
Benitez defended his actions and also refused to blame
second-choice goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, who has now conceded
nine goals in two games over four days against the Gunners.
He said: "We did use a lot of players from the first-team
squad, but they also changed many players. The problem was
conceding goals like we did.
"I do not put any blame on Jerzy Dudek, we win together and
we lose together.
"We used senior players and young players, I do not point
the finger at anyone. We tried to do our best, but we
conceded goals and you cannot change the result now. All I
can say is 'sorry' to our supporters."
Wenger hailed his young brigade after their stunning
six-goal bonanza, in which Julio Baptista scored four to set
up a semi-final showdown with Tottenham.
Wenger said: "I did not expect to score six goals but I am
very pleased with the way we tackled the game, with the
fluency of our game and the way we kept calm when Liverpool
came back to 1-1.
"We just continued to go forward and play attacking
football. These lads have worked very hard to integrate and
to do what we want them to do.
"Sometimes the most important thing is not only to be
talented but to transfer that into competitive games and
they did that with the way we want to play football.
"But they have shown great mental strength. I am highly
tempted to play many of them in the semi-final against
Spurs. They have won in this competition at Everton and now
at Liverpool, and they also won at West Brom."
He added: "They have earned the right maybe to play in the
next round. It is a very satisfying night. I feel there is a
continuity inside the club, and we feel we have worked very,
very hard.
"The future of the club is very promising. We aim to keep
these players together and keep the spirit right. Then we
have a great chance for the future."
JANUARY 9
Young Gunners hit Reds for six
By Paul Higham - Sky Sports
Arsenal completed a cup double over Liverpool with an
astonishing 6-3 Carling Cup victory at Anfield with Julio
Baptista grabbing four goals.
Only two players from each side that started the FA Cup tie
started in the Carling Cup battle, but the same team went
through after The Gunners pulled out a barely believable
result at Anfield.
Jeremie Aliadiere tormented the Liverpool defence and gave
the visitors the lead against the run of play after 27
minutes, but Robbie Fowler levelled up five minutes later
with a trademark classy finish.
Baptista curled in a free kick and slotted in a second
either side of Alexandre Song bundling home after a Jerzy
Dudek error to send Arsenal in 4-1 ahead at half time
despite a largely even contest.
Baptista had a penalty saved by Dudek but completed his
hat-trick soon after but a superb Steven Gerrard volley and
a Sami Hyypia header gave Liverpool some hope by making it
5-3 with ten minutes left.
Baptista added a fourth though and an Arsenal sixth six
minute from time after more poor Liverpool defending to make
it a mind-boggling 6-3 - and Rafa Benitez's evening was made
even worse as Mark Gonzalez and Luis Garcia looked to have
picked up serious injuries.
The game started badly for Liverpool who lost Mark Gonzalez
after just five minutes when he was stretchered off in agony
after receiving lengthy treatment following what looked an
innocuous challenge.
Liverpool started the better were bossing the game with
Steven Gerrard's long-ranger well saved by Manuel Almunia
while Craig Bellamy only just failed to fine Fowler with his
cut back.
Arsenal took the lead though in simple fashion after 27
minutes as Aliadiere was allowed to run in onto a straight
long ball from the back and he poked the ball home at the
second attempt after Dudek partially blocked his first
attempt.
The lead only lasted five minutes as Liverpool hit back with
a sublime Fowler finish, with the veteran flicking in at the
near post after Luis Garcia scuffed a miss-hit shot on the
rebound from Fabio Aurelio's free kick.
Arsenal regained the lead five minutes before half time when
Baptista, who had won a questionable free kick, curled his
effort low over the wall and in with Dudek disappointingly
not moving a muscle as he watched the ball ripple the back
of the net.
The Gunners hit a third on 45 minutes thanks to a Dudek
howler as the Polish keeper came but completely missed a
corner and the ball hit Sami Hyypia's knee, and then Song's
arm before bouncing over the line.
With six minutes of stoppage time due to the Gonzalez
injury, there was still time for Arsenal to amazingly make
it 4-1 on the stroke of half time.
Aliadiere looked offside when he was slipped in but the flag
stayed down and he had time to square for Baptista to tap in
his second and Arsenal's fourth in an amazing first half.
The second half started as the first had ended and Arsenal
were awarded a 58th minute penalty after Hyypia had brought
down Aliadiere inside the box. Dudek though produced a
superb save to deny Baptista his hat-trick.
The big Brazilian would not be denied though, and just a
minute later Baptista rifled a low shot past Dudek from 20
yards to incredibly make it 5-1 and have the Anfield crowd
in complete bemusement.
The Kop did get a goal to celebrate and it came in some
style as Gerrard fired a screamer past Almunia when he
managed to control a high volley at the edge of the box
which rocketed into the net.
More misery came for Benitez though on 74 minutes as Garcia
followed Gonzalez in being stretchered off as he looked to
have injured his knee.
Liverpool kept going though and Almunia did brilliantly to
tip Gerrard's free kick onto the bar, with the follow up
headed away for a corner.
The Reds did make it 5-3 with ten minutes left when Gabriel
Paletta crossed for his fellow centre half Hyypia to power
in a header and give the home crowd just a glimmer of hope.
All hope was snuffed out six minutes from time though as
Aliadiere got the better of Paletta yet again before handing
Baptista his fourth and Arsenal's sixth in an astonishing
match.
There was still time for Liverpool to have a fourth goal
chalked off for offside, while Almunia denied substitute
Jamie Carragher with a fine tip-off as the curtain finally
came down on a spell binding encounter.
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