Arsenal 2 – Liverpool FC 1
Liverpool played with a determination and commitment that deserved a better outcome than the 2 - 1 defeat at The Emirates in the 4th round of the Carling Cup on Wednesday.
Rafael Benitez felt his team could take many positives from their performance.
He said: "There were a lot of players showing passion, character and quality."
Benitez changed most of the side that defeated Manchester United on Sunday with Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin and Martin Skrtel getting a start along with youngsters such as midfielder Jay Spearing and striker David Ngog.
Ngog's backheel tricked Philippe Senderos to create the first clear opening, with fullback Philipp Degen racing clear but blasting wide of Lukasz Fabianski's goal.
Nasri looked like bursting through Liverpool's defence before he was brought down by Skrtel on the edge of the area. The Frenchman picked himself up and curled the free-kick wide.
However, they were not made to wait long for the opener. Craig Eastmond won the ball off Damien Plessis and it ran kindly for Merida. The Spaniard was 25 yards out and unleashed a drive that flew off a post and into the top corner.
But Liverpool took just seven minutes to level as Insua hit his first goal in English football. Degen’s long ball was nodded back by Babel and the Argentine took a touch before beating Fabianski with a swerving, dipping volley.
Kieran Gibbs started the move that led to Bendtner's winner at the 50-minute mark.
The left-back collected Mirada’s back heel and swept the ball from left to right, although the move looked like it could break down before Eastmond clipped a pass back out to Merida.
The cross was meant for Aaron Ramsey but Bendtner took control, bursting through Skrtel's challenge and smashing into the roof of Liverpool keeper Diego Cavalieri's net.
Then with 14 minutes left the Liverpool fans got what they wanted and Alberto Aquilani, who had yet to play following his big-money summer move from Roma, came on for Plessis.
Liverpool had a penalty shout turned down at the death when Senderos blocked Aquilani's scissor-kick with his arm but ref Alan Wiley waved play on.
Dirk Kuyt did the captain's job well: not only did he put in the usual mileage but he was constantly looking at getting other players involved. Another player who seems revitalised following Sunday's game which, hopefully, he will be able to take forward after a disappointing start to the season.
The goal against Manchester United clearly did David N'Gog a world of good as he repeatedly took on the Arsenal defence. His movement and overall awareness of the game was encouraging to see and he, more then anyone else looks the ideal candidate to be Fernando Torres' deputy.
The teams:
Arsenal - Fabianski, Gilbert, Senderos, Silvestre, Gibbs,Eastmond (Randall 75), Bendtner (Watt 76), Nasri, Ramsey, Merida (Coquelin 87), Eduardo. Not used: Szczesny, Bartley,Frimpong, Sunu.
Liverpool - Cavalieri, Degen (Eccleston 88), Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Kuyt, Spearing, Plessis (Aquilani 76), Babel, Voronin, Ngog (Benayoun 74). Not used: Reina, Darby, Dossena, Ayala.
Liverpool played with a determination and commitment that deserved a better outcome than the 2 - 1 defeat at The Emirates in the 4th round of the Carling Cup on Wednesday.
Rafael Benitez felt his team could take many positives from their performance.
He said: "There were a lot of players showing passion, character and quality."
Benitez changed most of the side that defeated Manchester United on Sunday with Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin and Martin Skrtel getting a start along with youngsters such as midfielder Jay Spearing and striker David Ngog.
Ngog's backheel tricked Philippe Senderos to create the first clear opening, with fullback Philipp Degen racing clear but blasting wide of Lukasz Fabianski's goal.
Nasri looked like bursting through Liverpool's defence before he was brought down by Skrtel on the edge of the area. The Frenchman picked himself up and curled the free-kick wide.
However, they were not made to wait long for the opener. Craig Eastmond won the ball off Damien Plessis and it ran kindly for Merida. The Spaniard was 25 yards out and unleashed a drive that flew off a post and into the top corner.
But Liverpool took just seven minutes to level as Insua hit his first goal in English football. Degen’s long ball was nodded back by Babel and the Argentine took a touch before beating Fabianski with a swerving, dipping volley.
Kieran Gibbs started the move that led to Bendtner's winner at the 50-minute mark.
The left-back collected Mirada’s back heel and swept the ball from left to right, although the move looked like it could break down before Eastmond clipped a pass back out to Merida.
The cross was meant for Aaron Ramsey but Bendtner took control, bursting through Skrtel's challenge and smashing into the roof of Liverpool keeper Diego Cavalieri's net.
Then with 14 minutes left the Liverpool fans got what they wanted and Alberto Aquilani, who had yet to play following his big-money summer move from Roma, came on for Plessis.
Liverpool had a penalty shout turned down at the death when Senderos blocked Aquilani's scissor-kick with his arm but ref Alan Wiley waved play on.
Dirk Kuyt did the captain's job well: not only did he put in the usual mileage but he was constantly looking at getting other players involved. Another player who seems revitalised following Sunday's game which, hopefully, he will be able to take forward after a disappointing start to the season.
The goal against Manchester United clearly did David N'Gog a world of good as he repeatedly took on the Arsenal defence. His movement and overall awareness of the game was encouraging to see and he, more then anyone else looks the ideal candidate to be Fernando Torres' deputy.
The teams:
Arsenal - Fabianski, Gilbert, Senderos, Silvestre, Gibbs,Eastmond (Randall 75), Bendtner (Watt 76), Nasri, Ramsey, Merida (Coquelin 87), Eduardo. Not used: Szczesny, Bartley,Frimpong, Sunu.
Liverpool - Cavalieri, Degen (Eccleston 88), Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Kuyt, Spearing, Plessis (Aquilani 76), Babel, Voronin, Ngog (Benayoun 74). Not used: Reina, Darby, Dossena, Ayala.
