FA CUP. LIVERPOOL 1 ARSENAL 3

Team of the day..
Dudek, Riise, Carragher, Agger, Finnan, Garcia, Gerrard MBE (captain), Alonso, Pennant, Crouch, Kuyt.
Subs - Reina, Hyypia, Gonzalez, Aurelio, Bellamy

liverpoolfc.tv reports..

There was little to choose between the sides on the night, but the Reds crashed out after Rosicky's double gave Arsenal an unassailable lead and then Henry's strike stopped a brilliant Liverpool fight back that had seen Dirk Kuyt score and make it 2-1.



The game got underway amidst a moving tribute and call for 'the truth' for the 96 Liverpool fans that died at Hillsborough in 1989. And so powerful was it that the game didn't seem to start properly until the sixth minute had been reached and the mosaic had come down.

In fact we'd seen eleven minutes elapse before the first real attempt on goal was made by Steven Gerrard's long range shot that went harmlessly wide. This was first of two meetings between the sides in just four days so perhaps it was of no surprise that both appeared to take time to size each other up.

It was Liverpool though who were showing the greater attacking intent and they will feel unlucky not to have been awarded a 24th minute penalty when Gilberto appeared to bring down Xabi Alonso in the area. The fact that referee Steve Bennett booked Alonso for diving will only have compounded their disappointment.

Arsenal showed that they would be a danger on the break when it took a good block from Riise to stop Hleb's goalbound effort in 28th minute. But Liverpool still remained in control and Crouch's smart control and instant shot flashed just yards over Almunia's crossbar.

The Reds were looking comfortable, but they were rocked in the 37th minute when Arsenal broke away and took the lead with a goal from Tomas Rosicky. There seemed little danger as Hleb rolled the ball into the Czech midfielder, but he beat Dudek with a superb dipping shot from 18 yards.

It was a goal somewhat against the run of play, but it was to get far worse for the Reds because Rosicky struck again in the 45th minute to double Arsenal's advantage. And like the first goal, it was another fine strike from Rosicky to beat Dudek from the edge of the penalty area.

Liverpool had it all to do and as you'd expect, Arsenal didn't make it easy for them. The second half saw Liverpool launch attack after attack, but Arsenal sat deep and made it difficult. And with the pace of Henry and Van Persie in attack, they were always capable of exposing the gaps that Liverpool left.

It took a great tackle from Carragher on Van Persie to stop them doing just that in 63rd minute, but the Reds got themselves deservedly back into the game when Dirk Kuyt latched onto Crouch's header to score and reduce the deficit in the 71st minute.



It was cue for a Liverpool onslaught and they came desperately close to turning it around when Aurelio's far post volley flashed narrowly wide with Almunia beaten. Liverpool deserved an equalizer, but instead they saw all their hard work undone when Henry restored his side's two goal advantage in the 84th minute.

The Reds must now look towards Tuesday's rematch in the Carling Cup to redress the balance with the Gunners.



Rafa's Comments..

The Liverpool manager felt the Reds started the game well but added he was disappointed with the errors.

"It was a bad day for all our supporters and for us and we have to be disappointed because we made some mistakes which cost us," admitted Benitez.

"We controlled the game for the first 35 minutes but we then made two mistakes and we found ourselves 2-0 down at half-time. We then got back into the game but made another mistake but with us going forward and trying to get another goal that was always a risk.

"It was a close game but when you make a mistake you normally get punished. Xabi Alonso thought he could have had a penalty but I haven't seen the replay again and you can't change these things now. I don't think he should have been given a yellow card though."


louis' comments..

The third round of FA Cup and we are out. The holders are being knocked out by Arsenal at Anfield this morning. Definitely disappointed and i could say that this was not the best liverpool performance.

We controlled the ball very well for the majority of first half, however, we didn't use this possession and create clear cut chances to even threaten the goal. Arsenal's attack is always fast and their 1-2 passing is well trained. Our defence would need to be on red alert for the full game. Unfortunately, we didn't. We allowed Rosicky to score 2 goals within 10 minutes? 2-0 down at half time and it's always so hard to come back from 2-0 against a strong team.

All of us know that Rosicky has the ability to strike the ball really well and yet, we gave him space to punish us. The first goal, to me, it's the goalkeeper error. Dudek was way off the goal-line, hence, Rosicky was able to lob the ball over him. When I saw the team sheet and saw Jerzy Dudek's name on it, i was getting worried. Looks like i was not wrong in getting worried.

The gap between our defence and mifield is way too big. It gave so much space to the likes of Henry, VanPersie, Helb, Rosicky to roam about. The second goal was pure ball watching. So many red shirts was with Rosicky and we allowed him to shoot the second time. I just couldn't understand. WHY DO WE ALLOW HIM TO SHOOT?



We tried really hard to get something back in the second half. Liverpool will never give up. Jermaine Pennant, Dirk Kuyt, Xabi Alonso are the players whom i thought worked really hard for the team and we managed to nick one back. A Kuyt header. A corner from Pennant and Crouch flicked towards the goal and Kuyt just head straight to the goal. 2-1 now. That's still hope and so much to play for.

Still, we didn't managed to create much clear cut chances to threaten Arsenal's lead. Instead, we conceeded one more. Thiery Henry. Jamie Carragher and Henry was chasing the ball at the left flank, knowing that Henry's pace is terrifying, Carragher should have clear the ball. But, he didn't. He tried to a smart alex and controlled the ball. Then, he fell and the ball is all Henry's. He dribbled past Agger and shot past Dudek for Arsenal 3rd goal. It's painful to see that, it just totally killed off Liverpool's game.



Jamie Carragher, for all these seasons, have been performing well for us, just couldn't mark Theiry Henry. For past seasons, Henry is always given the chance to score by dribbling past him and to be frank, Carragher has difficulties stopping him. That's something i don't understand. Carragher can stop any strikers, but just not Henry.

FA Cup is gone and there's a Carling Cup coming up on this wednesday. It would real good to get something back from Arsenal and go on to win the cup. The fans were awesome. I could understand how they feel when your team is 3-1 down at home. But, they still sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" in the 89th minute of the game.

I'm really proud being a Liverpool fan.

you'll never walk alone.

cheers.