Liverpool FC 1 - Arsenal 1

Steven Gerrard was back to his old self, Torres made a welcome return and the outstanding central defensive partnership of Skrtel and Carragher made this a game to remember for so many reasons.

Glen Johnson was one of Liverpool’s best attacking options down the right as he went close just prior to half-time with a one-two with Dirk Kuyt before unleashing a left-foot shot, which was touched over by Manuel Almunia.
Liverpool were getting closer to a breakthrough when Joe Cole, eager to make an impression on the game, lunged recklessly at Laurent Koscielny in the corner who fell to the ground clutching his shin.
The challenge was not malicious and probably only deserving of a caution but referee Martin Atkinson still saw fit to deliver a career first red card for Cole and leave the home side with a daunting task for the second half.
Undoubtedly galvanized by this injustice, Liverpool’s 10 men came out fighting and just a minute later Ngog had notched up his fourth goal in three games, ably assisted by Mascherano with a fine shot into the top corner from 12 yards out.
Soon after, two almost identical set-piece deliveries from Gerrard on the right exposed Arsenal's defensive weaknesses, although neither Martin Skrtel nor Ngog could direct their headers on target.
Vermaelen headed a Rosicky cross wide, Skrtel bravely blocked Nasri's goalbound effort and Reina, diving full length to his left, turned Walcott's curling free-kick around the post.
The goalkeeper then produced an even better save to paw over a Rosicky effort as Arsenal became increasingly desperate, the visitors aided by Liverpool being temporarily down to nine men when, with all substitutes used, a concussed Daniel Agger required lengthy treatment.
But when the equaliser came, it was completely self-inflicted and, in truth, undeserved. Rosicky crossed from the left, Marouane Chamakh bundled over Reina, the ball struck the post and the goalkeeper, in attempting to retrieve possession, fumbled over the line.
Almunia repelled Gerrard's injury-time free-kick as Liverpool pressed for a winner, but the late dismissal of Koscielny for two bookable offences took the sting out of the closing moments.
Reina has more than earned forgiveness for a mistake or two, mainly due to his stellar performance last season but Cole has not and now has a bit of making up to do with both colleagues and fans.