Tuesday, April 21st
The Premiership (EPL):
What it is: England’s topflight, domestic, club football (soccer) league.
Arsenal v. Liverpool: Goals Galore
If any of you enjoy lots of goals in football matches, as I do, then you’d have loved Tuesday’s clash between Liverpool and Arsenal. It was a terrific game, a real cracker.
After Andre Arshavin’s lone first half goal in the 36th minute put Arsenal ahead, things settled down with Liverpool having several close but unsuccessful first half opportunities.
It was in the second half, however, when the two teams exploded for a combined seven goals. Liverpool scored on a sweet header from Spanish wunderkind, Fernando Torres, in the 49th minute and an outstanding hustle goal by, Israeli, Yossi Benayoun in the 56th putting Liverpool up 2-1.
Miscommunication and sloppy play between Liverpool defenders Jamie Carragher and Alvaro Arbeloa gifted Arshavin another opportunity in the 67th, and the talented Russian made Liverpool pay. Score: 2-2.
More sloppy defensive play from Liverpool in the 70th minute saw Arshavin score his third goal after Arbeloa played a left-wing cross straight to Arshavin 10 yards from goal. The Russian made his hat-trick as he drilled the shot under Liverpool keeper, Pepe Reina. Arsenal leads 3-2.
Remarkably, Liverpool was level again two minutes later when Torres fired a low shot past Arsenal keeper, Fabianski. Score: 3-3.
Most thought Arsenal surely secured the game when Theo Walcott’s pace on the counterattack played Arshavin in for his fourth goal. You read that correctly: four goals. Remarkable! Arshavin 4, Liverpool 3.
Astonishingly, Benayoun pushed in an equalizer at the death to salvage the tie for Liverpool. Final score: 4-4.
Commentary:
Several things stand out in this game, most notably Arshavin’s four goals, an impressive scoring display by the young Russian. Unfortunately, Arshavin is cup tied and unavailable to play for Arsenal as they move into the semifinals of the Champions League, the competition between the best teams from each of Europe’s top domestic leagues.
Liverpool scores at least four goals for the seventh time this year, including four goals in six of their last nine games. Liverpool currently leads the Premier League with 63 goals scored this season. It’s nice to see The Reds scoring goals in bunches for a change.
Liverpool’s slim chances of overtaking Manchester United as the Premiership’s top dog became even more stretched following the tie with Arsenal. While the single point from the tie with Arsenal puts Liverpool top of the table by one point, this perch should be short-lived. United is a single point behind Liverpool with two games in hand. Barring a surprising collapse from United, the domestic league championship is now United’s to lose.