Dirk Kuyt puts Liverpool in sight of semis

By Henry Winter from the Telegraph.co.uk with editions from Albertus Lim

Advantage to Liverpool. This is a side that shows a real European experience, Rafa Benitez's side absorbed everything that Arsenal threw at them here last night, and will believe they can reach the semi-finals at an impassioned Anfield next week Tuesday. Myself was stuck in a mamak called the Al-Meerasa at the old Paramount Theater now converted to a Giant Supermarket. And of all peoples, I watched it with a gooner (Yes! Callen, if your'e reading this! HA! HA!)

The game was billed as a very English affair, this first leg was shaped by goals from a Togo international, Emmanuel Adebayor, and a Dutchman, Dirk Kuyt, who equalised. Arguably the most impressive performer was the Argentinian, Javier Mascherano, who delivered a determined 90-minute shift of ball-winning and simple distribution.


	Quick reply: Dirk Kuyt levels for Liverpool within three minutes of Arsenal's opener

At half time, I managed to meet some Liverpool fans sitting nearby. Sean, Anand and Lowell, good to have met your acquaintance and I hope to see you in our MyRAWK events. I hope I got your names right though. By the way, with all the trash talking we got from the gooners, this is sweet tasting revenge.

Next stop, same stop. They reconvene here in the Premier League on Saturday, when surely changes will be made by Wenger and Benitez to keep their stars fresh for Tuesday's resumption of Champions League combat. Liverpool have the belief, and the away goal, although they had to come from behind last night.

It was little surprise that it had required a set-piece to break the deadlock. As crowded as a Tube carriage in rush hour, midfield provided no room to breathe, let alone move. Ken Livingstone could have extended his Congestion Charge to this green swathe off the Holloway Road and made a fortune. With both sides deploying lone strikers, space was at a premium in the centre.

Steven Gerrard was hounded into surrendering possession by Emmanuel Eboue, who promptly lost it to another tackle from Mascherano. With Cesc Fabregas increasingly prominent, Arsenal hinted at being the first to impose their undoubted skill, to find a path out of the midfield maze.

It took Adebayor's 23rd-minute goal from a corner to open the game up, to throw down the gauntlet that Liverpool immediately seized with an almost instant equaliser. Fabregas and Robin van Persie looked to orchestrate a corner on Arsenal's right, the presence of such deft feet, left and right, instilling doubt in Liverpool's defence, allowing Adebayor his split-second of fruitful freedom.

It was the left foot of Van Persie that connected first with the ball, tapping it to Fabregas, who immediately laid it back. Van Persie, whose intelligent use of possession has been much missed this season, curled it into the box with just enough trajectory to keep it away from Pepe Reina.

Liverpool's keeper watched in frustration as Adebayor eluded Sami Hyypia and headed firmly in. Jamie Carragher threw his hands up in anger at conceding such a soft goal to Adebayor. He ran behind Reina's goal, beating his right hand against the club crest on his shirt as supporters celebrated his 24th goal of the season. The relief at scoring appeared to relax Arsenal momentarily, and Liverpool took advantage within three minutes.

The move began slowly, Liverpool parading the Continental trick of knowing when to race through the gears. Ryan Babel dragged the ball down the left and suddenly flicked it inside to Gerrard, who in turn found Fernando Torres. They now have such an understanding that Gerrard was already off and running, knowing that Torres would work the ball back to him.

When it came, Gerrard's response was superb, the midfielder embarking on the kind of left-footed dribble that John Barnes was admired for. Eboue raced across to close Gerrard down, but Liverpool's captain simply guided the ball expertly around him.

As Gerrard's burning ambition threatened to harm Arsenal, Kolo Toure rushed across like a panicky fire-man. He, too, was beaten by Gerrard, who again neatly manoeuvred the ball around a red shirt. Mathieu Flamini dived in to block Gerrard's cross, but he was too late. The ball was speeding inexorably into the middle where Kuyt, making light of Gael Clichy's presence, turned the ball in.

And as Mark Lee's text message said it, "Back At You!", we were in for a joyride. I call it a big relief as this is what Liverpool playing in Europe is all about.

The game swung back Arsenal's way, Wenger's men enjoying 61 per cent of first-half possession. Liverpool had to show their defensive zeal. Fabio Aurelio slid in with a magnificent challenge on Adebayor. Hyypia showed all his experience in timing his tackle to thwart the onrushing Toure.

Wenger unleashed Walcott, who immediately sprinted down the left after winning the ball off Martin Skrtel and then firing in a fierce shot that Reina just tipped away. The incident happened so quickly that the otherwise excellent referee, Pieter Vink, missed Reina's touch and awarded a goalkick.

Liverpool were increasingly penned back, troubled by Walcott's electric pace. He made another purposeful run into the box, soon cutting the ball across to Eboue. He struck it well enough, but Skrtel was on the line to clear.

Having impressed for an hour, allowing two Premier League sides to play their game, the Dutch referee then made a bad mistake. Alexander Hleb, hitherto quiet, darted into the back, getting goalside of Kuyt, who panicked. Vink bizarrely overlooked Kuyt's clear tug back on Hleb, his left-arm movement more suitable to an amateur tango class. Hleb, dragged down, could not believe Vink's reaction, pointing to a corner.

Wenger then introduced Nicklas Bendtner, removing Eboue, switching Walcott to the right and realigning in 4-4-2 fashion. Exposed to such high-speed movement, Liverpool's legs began to tire. No one had run more than Xabi Alonso, who had clocked up six miles when taken off with 18 minutes remaining. On came Lucas to charge around midfield.

Mascherano continued to impress, putting in tackle after tackle. Liverpool were fighting for their lives, desperate to protect a scoreline that gives them every chance of progressing.

There was almost a sting in the tail. When Adebayor crossed from the right, Fabregas reached the ball first but his header failed to trouble Almunia. Liverpool stood firm. The mood of Arsenal lifted only with news of Chelsea's first-leg demise at Fenerbahce.

As Mark easily puts it. "Phew!" We live to fight another day, and that day is at Anfield next week on Wednesday morning.

___________________________________________________
Goals:
Adebayor (23') , Kuyt (26')

Arsenal:
(4-4-2)
Manuel Almunia, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Eboue (Nicklas Bendtner , 67 ), William Gallas, Philippe Senderos, Kolo Toure, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, Alex Hleb, Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin van Persie (Theo Walcott , 45 )

Liverpool :
(4-2-3-1)
Jose Manuel Reina, Fabio Aurelio, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Martin Skrtel, Xabi Alonso (Lucas Leiva , 77 ), Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, Ryan Babel (Yossi Benayoun , 58 ), Dirk Kuyt, Fernando Torres (Andriy Voronin , 86 )

Referee:
Pieter Vink

Venue:
Emirates Stadium

Attendance:
60,041

Man of the match:
Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool)

Corners:
Arsenal - 6
Liverpool - 3

Goal Attempts:
Arsenal - 11
Liverpool - 4

On Target:
Arsenal - 5
Liverpool - 4

Booked:
Arsenal: -
Liverpool: -

Arsenal v Liverpool
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