DECEMBER 23
Alonso laments Fabregas serious injury

By Laurent Picard - Setanta Sports

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso laments that his tackle on Cesc Fabregas caused ligament damage to his fellow countryman.

While Arsenal captain Fabregas is out for up to four months, Alonso has revealed being in close contact with his friend during this painful moment.

The Reds’ midfielder was involved in a challenge with Fabregas three minutes before half time on Sunday afternoon, and the Gunner limped off the pitch, visibly in pain after the clash.

Alonso told Marca: “I’m not too happy about what happened, even more annoyed than Fabregas.

“I’m always sad when a team-mate is injured; moreover we are speaking about Cesc, a friend from the national team.

“I came to see him after the game, and for what he told me and for the pain he felt, we both expect something serious.

“But today (Monday) I spoke with him again, and all things considered, he looked in good spirits.”

Alonso has described the dramatic play, and said: “It was another play and I had no bad intentions. It was a corner for us and Cesc won the ball. I strongly went for it to stop his counter attack, and we clashed with the ball in midfield.

“We both went very strongly for the ball. I was maybe more solid in my position, and his leg a bit weak, for that reason his knee got damaged.”

The Spain international has wished his compatriot to get well as soon as possible.

He said: “I wish Cesc a prompt recovery. The most annoying is to come, the recovery, but I’ll be there to motivate him.”

DECEMBER 23
Don’t go and draw
the wrong conclusions now

Comment by Ian Rush - Liverpool Echo

The fact there was a sense of frustration after leaving Arsenal only with a point shows how far Liverpool have come this season.

It was disappointing that we didn’t create more chances after Emmanuel Adebayor had been sent off but what happened was that Arsenal’s players started to work twice as hard.

It isn’t always easy playing a side down to 10 men and so it proved as Arsenal got men behind the ball and made it difficult for Liverpool to get through.

In the end I thought a draw was a fair result and there were a lot of positives to come out of the game for the Reds.

Arsenal had to win more than Liverpool and the onus was on Arsene Wenger’s side to go for it.

That’s the difference with this season compared to last. Last year we went into games like Sunday’s having to win to stay in contention. Now it’s the other way around and others have to beat us to make up ground.

If we had won then it would have been the end of Arsenal’s title hopes and it would have been down to a three-horse race.

A draw means Arsenal are still hanging on in there but it was a much better result for us than for them. The team showed a lot of character to come back from a goal behind again and it was a fantastic strike from Robbie Keane.

I was so made up for Robbie because he was in a position he doesn’t usual play in. He normally likes to play off Fernando Torres in the same way as he played behind Dimitar Berbatov at Spurs.

But at the Emirates he was asked to play the lone striker role and I thought he was fantastic.

He worked so hard for the team and will take a lot of confidence from that goal.

It was also a great reaction after the comments made by Mark Lawrenson last week about Keane’s future.

To come out and say what he did about Keane moving on in January was absolutely stupid – it didn’t help the club or player.

I was also impressed by the professionalism the players showed in the absence of Rafa Benitez.

It would have been strange not having the boss around and it would have been easy for people to switch off, but everyone stuck to their task.

Possibly Liverpool could have been more attacking in the closing stages but Arsenal actually played better with 10 men and a point is a decent return.

Having won at Chelsea, beaten Manchester United at home and now drawn at Arsenal it just shows it’s not the big teams that seem to worry us.

It’s against mediocre sides at home that we really need to raise our game – starting with Bolton on Boxing Day.

Bolton aren’t an easy side to play against and they’ve been in good form recently but having drawn the last three home games against Fulham, West Ham and Hull, we can’t afford another slip-up.

With the Bolton game followed by a trip to Newcastle, we’ve got to be looking to get six points.

We’ve got a good record at Newcastle and I think the fact they like to attack at home will play into our hands.

It’s vital Liverpool see off the likes of Bolton and Newcastle so that when they come around to playing against Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal again they are in control of their own destiny. We want to be in a position where those sides have to really go for it against us.

If we can start 2009 in top spot then history shows we’ll have a fantastic chance of going on to clinch the title.

Insua's show of strength

I was really impressed by Emiliano Insua’s performance at the Emirates.

I’ve heard people say he’s too short but the young Argentine did nothing wrong against Arsenal.

He was very solid defensively and got forward well to support our attacks.

Left-back is one of those positions that nobody has really nailed down this season.

It’s up for grabs and it was great to see someone come into the side and show they are determined to hang on to their spot.

I believe Insua did enough to keep his place for the game against Bolton on Boxing Day.

He took his chance and now he has to prove he can perform like that on a regular basis.

DECEMBER 23
Arbeloa denies dive talk

By Alex Livie - Setanta Sports

Liverpool full back Alvaro Arbeloa has hit back at Emmanuel Adebayor, insisting he did not exaggerate contact in the challenge which led to the Arsenal man’s dismissal.

Adebayor was sent off for two yellow cards on Sunday, the second of which came following a clash with Arbeloa.

The Togo star was sent off for a high challenge, although plenty was made of Arbeloa’s tumble to the floor following a coming together with Adebayor.

Adebayor suggested Arbeloa had ‘gone down as if knifed’, but the Spaniard has insisted he would never exaggerate a foul.

”Adebayor is player who uses his arms and elbows when playing and that usually means a foul,” Arbeloa is quoted as saying in The Daily Star. “I had nothing to do with the sending off.

”I don’t feel like it was my fault, it was what Adebayor did.

”I am a professional and would never play act to get someone sent off.

”I do not want to get involved in any controversy with Arsenal, but I received a blow in the face and a foul and if the ref then shows a yellow card that is not my problem.”

DECEMBER 22
Insua eyes first team place

By Richard Buxton - Shanklygates

Emiliano Insua is hoping that his performance against Arsenal yesterday will earn him a place in the Liverpool side for the game against Bolton Wanderers.

The Argentine played the full 90 minutes at left back in place of the injured Andrea Dossena and he is hoping that manager Rafael Benitez will reward his efforts with a starting role against the Trotters on Boxing Day.

"The boss gave me an opportunity to show what I can do and maybe I might get another chance to play at Anfield against Bolton," Insua told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"Anfield is always a very special place to play and hopefully I can stay in the first team squad.

"I thought we played well and could have won the game but a point away against a team like Arsenal is a good result.

"I enjoyed the game and tried to do the simple things well and to get forward as much as I could to help the attack.

"Playing at Arsenal is always very difficult as they are a good team but I thought we did well."

Insua is hoping to build on his success in the reserves last season which saw Gary Ablett's men sweep all before them with an impressive treble.

"Last season I played for the reserves which was a fantastic season for us and the boss gave me my first team chance when I played in the final two games of last season, which I really enjoyed," he added.

"This year I have played in the Carling Cup and got my chance against Blackburn and Arsenal in the Premier League.

"The manager has given me a lot of confidence and I will keep training hard in every session and always give my best, because when you get your chance you have to take it.

"There is a lot of competition for places at Liverpool but that is a good thing."

DECEMBER 22
Keane calls for
an end to Lawro rumours

By Ben Blackmore - Setanta Sports

Robbie Keane has aimed a veiled riposte in the direction of Mark Lawrenson, calling for people ‘outside the football club’ to stop making up stories about him.

Keane grabbed the most important goal of his Liverpool career against Arsenal on Sunday, and he declared afterwards that he intends to do more of the same for The Reds until the end of the season.

The £20.3 million forward wants to be judged at the end of the campaign, and he also wants stories about his future to disappear.

Lawrenson claimed Steven Gerrard had told him Keane might leave Anfield in January, something the former defender later retracted, but clearly Keane was disappointed by the comment.

“The only thing that I sometimes get frustrated by is when people outside the football club are talking about things to do with me because they are trying to create something that's not there,” the Liverpool number seven told the club’s official website.

"I've already said that I know I will score goals for this club and I would prefer to be judged at the end of this season, not in December."

DECEMBER 22
Carragher: Reds belong on top

TEAMtalk

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is not surprised the Reds are top of the Premier League table - because he believes they belong there.

The Reds have not won the domestic crown since 1990 but topped the table at the end of the weekend fixtures after a 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

And Carragher is full of optimism for the second half of the season.

He told the club's official website: "People keep talking about us being top of the league, but that's not a surprise to us.

"We are Liverpool Football Club and we are where we should be. It's been too long without the title and hopefully we can change that this season.

"Some of our younger supporters have never seen us win the title and the last time we did it I was an Everton fan!

"All the teams are taking points off each other and it's a lot more competitive this year. I think it makes for a better league.

"There is a long way to go and we will see what happens. The best team wins the league and hopefully that will be us this season."

Carragher acknowledged a sense of disappointment at the failure to capitalise on Emmanuel Adebayor's dismissal at the Emirates.

He added: "We are a bit disappointed not to have won the game because of the fact Arsenal went down to 10 men.

"To be fair when they were down a man they probably looked more dangerous while we looked less dangerous.

"At the start of the second half I really thought we were going to go on and win the game, but sometimes it's more difficult to play against 10 men."

DECEMBER 22
Reds show credentials
to claim the moral victory

Comment by David Prentice - Liverpool Echo

The message rang out loud and clear from assistant-boss Sammy Lee at The Emirates yesterday.

"Rafa was in complete control."

So were Liverpool. Which is why there was just a tinge of regret at a result which would normally be celebrated.

The Reds would usually take a point all day long on Arsenal's own turf, but especially so on an afternoon when they faced up to the loss of their manager, their midfield enforcer and even a matching kit.

But after an unexpectedly one-sided show, they were left bemoaning two points dropped.

Liverpool have taken on all three of their likeliest title rivals now.

And while the winning run came to a halt against Arsenal, the moral victory was all Liverpool's.

Liverpool have already beaten Chelsea and Manchester United this season. So, too, have The Gunners.

This was a clash between the last-two standing.

And it was the home team who staggered across the finish line grateful to hear Howard Webb's final whistle.

Rafa Benitez's enforced watching brief means he will have been treated to a quite remarkable statistic on his TV screen.

After 55 minutes Liverpool had boasted 72 per cent possession.

Arsenal, the team who won't use one pass when five will do, were being passed off the park.

And such was the level of Liverpool's dominance there only looked like being one winner.

The turning point was Howard Webb's decision to dismiss Emmanuel Adebayor.

It was a harsh sending-off.

But it had the opposite effect to what might have been expected.

The Reds struggle against teams whose priority is not to lose.

And Arsenal immediately made it their mission to hold what they had.

They were galvanised, a sedentary atmosphere suddenly became incendiary - all Arsene Wenger needed was a branch to complete an uncanny Basil Fawlty impersonation on the touchline - and Liverpool suddenly found themselves facing a team fuelled by a sense of injustice.

But Pepe Reina was still untested, while the visitors carved out the best two chances.

Daniel Agger launched an exocet which shaved one goalpost and Nabil El Zhar guided a header just as close to the opposite post.

There were other plus points, too.

Whisper it quietly, but the left-back conundrum finally looks like it may have a long-term solution.

Emiliano Insua is a full-back who looks like he can combine the ability to overlap without neglecting his defensive duties. And he was excellent yesterday.

It would be wrong to get too carried away about a polished performance in one match at Arsenal.

Damien Plessis strode onto the scene like a junior Molby in the making last season, but failed to build on that impressive bow.

But Insua has now produced two composed away performances this season and surely deserves more opportunities to impress.

Then there was Robbie Keane.

The under-pressure Irishman finally played as a front-running forward.

All too often throughout his Anfield career he has dropped deep, trying to prove he can be a foil for the usually up top - fitness permitting - Torres.

But yesterday he was a line leader of pace and menace, as well as displaying his usual tenacity and work-rate.

He also did what £20m strikers are expected to do - he scored a stunning goal, racing clear of a trailing defence. Keane was usually so far upfield he was even caught offside a couple of times.

So while Reds fans were reluctantly wrestling yet again with thoughts of what might have been, this was not against West Ham, Fulham or Hull, but a team expected to challenge for the biggest prize of all.

Liverpool underlined their title credentials once again yesterday.

They have passed all their biggest challenges so far. It's just the minor challenges they have to get to grips with.

Roll on Bolton and Newcastle . . .

DECEMBER 22
Keane proves it was
business as usual

Comment by Nick Smith - Liverpool Daily Post

Would Rafael Benitez have as much influence from the sofa as he would from the dugout? Well, Robbie Keane was taken off before the end so there’s your answer.

As Sammy Lee said, his presence would be missed. But as his assistant also said, it would be business as usual.

Unfortunately for Keane, that’s exactly what it was.

Maybe goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero’s phone ran out of battery (perfectly conceivable given the amount of time he spent on it) and Lee took a wild guess at what his manager would be thinking with nine minutes left to play against 10 men in a game there to be won.

Or maybe Benitez had left to put the kettle on in time for his half-time brew and missed a rare glimpse of what Keane is really capable of.

Because in that moment, he showed his true worth – and showed why he needed to be on the field for the duration of the contest.

Keane proved he has the ability to sniff on scraps like a hungry rat and gobble them up with just as much ferocity.

And in times when there’s no Fernando Torres to call on, that is an invaluable weapon to have at any stage of a football game.

Especially, you would think, in the final 10 minutes of a finely-balanced encounter.

Before the equaliser, Liverpool were a bit like the hoof forward by Daniel Agger that set the goal up – heading nowhere and hoping for the best.

But it was the best possible response from Keane, who watched all (count them) two of its bounces all the way on to his right foot and the half-volley was unstoppable.

So why is he not capable of producing something like that in the later stages? Why would he not, particularly with the confidence coursing through him on making such a stunning impact on his return to north London, be able to compose himself and execute such skill during a late chase for a winner?

The type of questions that Benitez was able to avoid yesterday. He would have been only too happy to face them if he had been there, of course, and would have had his considered replies and responses at the ready.

And to be fair to him, has Keane’s replacement Nabil El-Zhar’s glancing header crept in, that would have been the most emphatic answer of all.

But after deciding that his £20million signing wasn’t good enough to be one of his three substitutions in the search for a winner against Hull, the willing soldier was once again been excluded from the final battle yesterday.

And there will be disbelief that Keane spent part of the afternoon cupping his hands to his ears and revelling in the silence, yet ended it with an over-riding feeling of disappointment.

Not just over his personal experience, of course, but over the fact that Liverpool missed another great chance.

Not the one Steven Gerrard slid in to fire wildly wide not long after Keane made it 1-1, but the one that means they have again failed to ease further away from the chasing pack.

Adding a point to the lead may be an outcome that was seen as acceptable before the game because away to Arsenal is still a tough ask, despite the somewhat limited squad currently under Wenger’s guidance.

But that extended lead will be wiped out completely if Chelsea record their 12th successive victory on the road tonight. Rarely have Everton, especially in modern times, had such universal support across Merseyside.

But that’s what it’s come to. Hoping they can get a first win for eight years against Chelsea and hoping that David Moyes can lift his threadbare squad to a result he has never achieved against them.

It is possible of course, but wouldn’t have been necessary if Liverpool had made the most of their chance to guarantee being top over Christmas.

If they had really gone for broke when Emanuel Adebayor’s rash second booking reduced Arsenal to 10 men. If they had put more men in front of the ball and not acted as if the Gunners, without their main target man, were somehow more of a threat.

If Keane had been allowed to complete a game, maybe?

“Nothing,” was Arsene Wenger’s response when asked what a point means in the title race. And he has a point too.

But it will certainly have meaning if Chelsea break the pattern of this most unpredictable of Premier League seasons and actually pounce on a rival’s slip-up.

Then this will be another occasion when Liverpool pay the price for a game in which more points are dropped than are gained.

And that definitely can’t be dismissed as meaning “nothing”.

DECEMBER 22
Ade hits out at Arbeloa

By Alex Livie - Setanta Sports

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has accused Alvaro Arbeloa of theatrics in the aftermath of the African’s dismissal on Sunday.

Adebayor appeared to be dismissed for going over the top of the ball in a bid to win possession, but it did not help that Arbeloa fell to the floor clutching his face after brushing with the African.

Gunners chief Arsene Wenger felt the decision cost his side victory and Adebayor was not happy with the way Liverpool’s Spanish full back conducted himself.

”I cannot say he cheated, but what he did wasn't fair play at all,” said Adebayor.

"The defender threw himself on the floor as if I put a knife in him."

Adebayor has called on referee Howard Webb to review the incident which led to his dismissal.

He added: "I hope when the referee gets home and watches it on TV he will see it was a foul but that I didn't deserve a [second yellow] card," said Adebayor. "It was a mistake from him.

"He said it was for the leg [rather than the arm] but if I don't put my body in there I would never score a goal in this league."

DECEMBER 21
Lee: Rafa was in complete control

By Jimmy Rice at the Emirates - LFC Official Website

Sammy Lee revealed how Rafa Benitez was in constant contact during Liverpool's 1-1 draw at the Emirates - and rang to congratulate his players after the final whistle.

Benitez, who stayed on Merseyside to recover from his kidney stone operation, was reportedly delighted with his team after Robbie Keane cancelled out Robin van Persie's opener with a sweet half-volley.

Lee joked: "His phone bill will be quite big! Technology meant it was never going to be a problem. It's testament to his professionalism because he was in a lot of pain.

"Our hope now is that he can settle down for a while and get himself 100 per cent right so that he's ready for the really busy schedule that's coming up."

Asked how Benitez had responded to the result, Lee added: "He was pleased. He wanted the lads to know what a good point it was against a very good football team."

Lee admitted there was a tinge of disappointment among the players themselves after failing to capitalise on Emmanuel Adebayor's 62nd minute dismissal.

He explained: "There's all kinds of clichés but we'd have settled for a point before the game. The lads are a bit disappointed but great credit should be given to Arsenal for the way they fought when they went a man down.

"Once they went a man down they organised themselves right and made sure they kept shape and kept tight. We worked hard to use a numerical advantage but we don't feel we did that - that's maybe why there's a bit of disappointment among the lads.

"Great credit should also be given to our lads because we felt we took control of the game after going a goal down. We got ourselves back into it.

"We would have been happy to come here and come away with a point beforehand, but being Liverpool Football Club means we never settle for a draw. We always go out to try to win the game.

"So, to that extent we are a little bit disappointed."

Lee was quizzed on whether Keane's goal would boost his confidence after missing out on a starting place in recent weeks.

The assistant boss said: "Ask anyone - goals always give you confidence. But I'm being honest when I say Robbie hasn't been lacking in confidence.

"We pick a team for any given team and any given match and opposition. We're fully aware of the programme we've got ahead of us and we're going to have to use all our players. If sometimes certain players don't get picked, it's because it's a long, arduous season. We have to make sure we have everyone ready.

"I think he looked superb today. And if you saw him out there, he certainly wasn't lacking in any confidence."

On whether Arsenal were now out of the title race following another home draw, Lee added: "I have got far too much respect for Arsenal Football Club to say that and I don't know of anything that's won in December. There's no way they're out of the title."

DECEMBER 21
Wenger fuming
after Adebayor's red

By Deniz Vehbi - Sport.co.uk

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was fuming after his side drew 1-1 with Liverpool.

Robin van Persie gave Arsenal the lead before Robbie Keane equalised but Emmanuel Adebayor saw red with 30 minutes to go. Wenger reckons referee Howard Webb made the wrong decision and said Arsenal would have won if it wasn't for the dismissal.

Adebayor's innocuous challenge on Alvaro Arbeloa was deemed to be a second bookable offence by Webb, but Wenger disagrees.

He told Sky Sports: "I think it was a wrong decision. If we had 11 men we would have won the game. We played much better in the second half and was in a better position.

"We would have won in the final 30 minutes if it wasn't for the sending off."

Wenger was furious with Liverpool's physical approach and hinted his side deserved more protection.

"I think Robbie Keane should have been sent off in the first minute for his foul on Gael Clichy. Liverpool committed foul after foul, I don't agree with their attitude," he added.

"I would like to see referees like that when we get kicked off the park."

DECEMBER 21
Reds miss chance
as hosts hold on

TEAMtalk

Premier League leaders Liverpool failed to capitalise on Emmanuel Adebayor's sending-off as Arsenal held on for a 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium.

Adebayor was sent off just after the hour mark for a second bookable offence but Liverpool, who had been in the ascendency, could not find a winner after Robbie Keane had earlier cancelled out Robin van Persie's strike in the first half.

Arsene Wenger's men went into the match eight points off the pace, and perhaps more significantly they were - and remain - out of the top four following Aston Villa's win at West Ham.

Despite taking the lead through a fine strike from van Persie after 24 minutes, it proved a false dawn as the Reds levelled before the break when Keane latched onto a long ball up-field and lashed in a thunderous shot.

Referee Howard Webb showed Adebayor his second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Alvaro Arbeloa with just under 30 minutes remaining but Liverpool could not make the most of the extra man.

The visitors were without Rafael Benitez, who was back on Merseyside recovering from an operation on his troublesome kidney stones.

His side could yet be knocked off top spot before Christmas by Chelsea, who play Everton at Goodison Park on Monday night - but for the Gunners, the New Year looks set to be a hard battle to prove they have the stomach to somehow claw themselves back into contention.

Arsenal have beaten both United and Chelsea this season, but a failure to see off supposedly lesser sides has proved costly and resulted in them being overtaken by a resurgent Villa.

The leaders were, of course, set to present a stern test of Arsenal's credentials and there was a cagey opening to the game.

The first decent chance came in the ninth minute.

A long ball was knocked back by Keane from the edge of the Arsenal penalty area into the path of Reds captain Steven Gerrard, whose 20-yard effort was straight at Manuel Almunia.

Arsenal responded and a clipped ball in from Bacary Sagna on the right floated through to Adebayor, but his glanced, diving header just lacked the power to beat Jose Reina.

Arsenal then snatched the lead through van Persie after 24 minutes.

Samir Nasri, fit again after an ankle problem, chipped a high ball through from just inside his own half towards the edge of the Liverpool penalty area.

The Dutchman collected it on his chest before turning two defenders and spinning to fire a right-footed shot into the net.

Liverpool, whose form has dipped in recent weeks, were clearly rattled after having looked quite comfortable.

However, slowly they found some composure and were level three minutes before the break.

The ball was pumped from deep inside the Liverpool half by Daniel Agger and bounced over centre-half Johan Djourou into the path of Keane.

The former Tottenham striker - barracked by sections of the home crowd - let the ball bounce again on into the Arsenal penalty area before blasting it past Almunia, wheeling away in delight at having silenced the jeers.

The Reds almost got another ahead of half-time, but Gerrard was just unable to convert Dirk Kuyt's low ball across goal when he arrived at the far post.

Almunia then produced a finger-tip save to deny the Dutchman and keep things level at the break.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas had sustained what looked like a knee problem in a tackle with Spanish compatriot Xabi Alonso at the end of the first half, and was unable to continue, with Abou Diaby coming on.

Liverpool started strongly, as Almunia was forced to beat away a snap-shot from Lucas.

The tempo of the match increased as the hour approached, but it was the visitors who remained in the ascendancy as Agger headed wide following a corner.

Referee Webb then caused a storm when he reduced Arsenal to 10 men after Adebayor was shown a second yellow card for a hefty challenge on Arbeloa, who fell to the ground clutching his face.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was incensed, but replays suggested the Togo striker had indeed gone in with a raised boot, rather than a flaying arm, and as such probably merited a caution.

The atmosphere in the Emirates was highly charged, and van Persie was another in the book when he fouled Agger.

To their credit, the Gunners responded by pressing Diaby further forwards as they looked to get back in front.

Tempers, though, were never far from boiling point as Sagna became the third Arsenal man into the book when he tripped Albert Riera.

Nasri sent a 25-yard effort wide before a deep corner was whipped across the Liverpool goal from the right.

Almunia saved bravely at the feet of Kuyt as the visitors pressed for a winner.

Agger fired a 25-yard strike just over as both teams had to settle for a point.
 

Thor Zakariassen ©