Football Focus Highlight

"The season starts today", said Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez earlier this week.

It might need to wait until tomorrow after Liverpool lost at home to rivals Arsenal in the fight for the English Premier League top four, leaving the Reds reflecting on yet another costly defeat.

The result means that Arsenal keep their title hopes alive, and Liverpool now can surely only aim to stay in the top four and European contention for next year.

Arsenal scored twice in the second half to keep the pressure on Chelsea and Manchester United.

The Gunners trailed to a 41st-minute goal by Dirk Kuyt but Liverpool defender Glen Johnson levelled the scores five minutes into the second half with an own goal.

Russian Andrei Arshavin was again the mastermind behind Liverpool's downfall, firing home the winner eight minutes later with a shot from the edge of the area that left goalkeeper Pepe Reina stranded.

Victory lifted Arsenal to 31 points, three fewer than defending champions United and six fewer than leaders Chelsea. But the top two sides have played one game more.

Wenger's words obviously had some effect as Arsenal started playing more narrowly in the second period and pressured the home midfield, resulting in possession being split more evenly.




The equaliser arrived after Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas played a pass to Samir Nasri out on the right.

Jamie Carragher failed to clear the Frenchman's cross and the ball took a slight deflection off him before hitting Johnson and rolling into the back of the net.

Arshavin, who scored four goals at Anfield last season to earn his team a 4-4 draw, then collected the ball on the edge of the area.

A defender shielded him closely and seemingly blocked his way to goal, but the Russia international took one touch, turned and hit a shot between his opponent's legs.

Reina did not even have time to move his feet as the ball flew past him and into the net, off his right-hand post.

Arsenal's win was especially valuable after United lost 1-0 at home to Aston Villa on Saturday, when leaders Chelsea were held to a 3-3 draw by Everton.

The Gunners have a real chance of winning the title for the first time since 2004, although Arshavin limped off in injury time and may join fellow forwards Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendnter injured on the sidelines.

For Liverpool however, the way forward looks increasingly pressured.

Source:http://english.aljazeera.net/sport/2009/12/20091213133646659133.html