Liverpool Second Best at Highbury

Liverpool’s performance in their last ever appearance at Highbury reinforced the perception of a well organised, methodical and competitive team whose progress is impeded by the absence of an effective strike force.

There can be no doubt that Arsenal were the more fluent and inventive side and deserved to win. They created sufficient chances to have the game wrapped up by half-time, but their finishing did not match their approach work and if Liverpool had converted the two opportunities which fell to them in the first half, including a feeble header from Crouch when he found himself unmarked in front of goal, they could have grabbed an unlikely lead.

In the end, even an error by referee Steve Bennett, who disregarded a foul on Fabregas which allowed them to equalise in the second half, could not help Liverpool. The wonderful Thierry Henry seized on a dreadful back pass by Reds captain Stevie Gerrard to snatch a deserved winner.