English football is home to some of the fiercest rivalries on the European continent, and not many in the landscape feature two bigger teams than Arsenal and Liverpool. Boasting an incredible 31 First Division/Premier League titles between them, there have been many thrilling matches between two behemoths of the English game.
Arsenal’s incredible 2-0 win at Anfield in 1989 on the final day of the season that saw them pip the Reds to the title is usually the first game that springs to mind, while Liverpool’s 2-1 triumph over the Gunners in the 2001 FA Cup Final was also a brilliant game of football. Over the years, fixtures between the two clubs have decided the outcome of many titles, and since the turn of the century the rivalry remains as fierce as ever.
Here, in no particular order, are Outside90’s five most thrilling games Arsenal and Liverpool have played out since the turn of the century:
Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal – April 21, 2009
This game will forever be remembered for Andrei Arshavin’s incredible four goal haul which effectively ended Liverpool’s title hopes at Anfield. Both sides started well, with Liverpool having the lions share of the chances, but it was Arsenal who drew first blood, when Arshavin put the Gunners ahead nine minutes before the break. Goals from Torres and Benayoun after the restart turned the game on it’s head, before Arsenal’s diminutive Russian levelled the scores with a blistering strike midway through the second half. The Russian international completed his hat-trick from close range 20 minutes from time and Torres struck again two minutes later to level the game at 3-3. The Gunners then hit Liverpool on the counter in the first minute of stoppage time, a move which resulted in Arshavin firing another rocket past Reina from 25 yards to score his and Arsenal’s fourth of the night. The drama was not over though, as only two minutes later Benayoun bundled home Liverpool’s fourth right at the death to ensure both sides shared the spoils. Truly a game for the ages.
https://youtu.be/upGvYtOVYdA
Arsenal 4-2 Liverpool – April 9, 2004
The 2003-04 season saw an Arsenal side so richly talented that they went an entire season unbeaten, dually winning the Premier League in the process. Thierry Henry’s incredible hat-trick in the Gunner’s 4-2 win at Highbury over Gerard Houllier’s Liverpool remains one of the best moments of Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ season. Liverpool shocked the Gunners after only five minutes when Sami Hyypia gave the Reds the lead, before Thierry Henry restored parity on the half hour mark. Liverpool talisman Michael Owen struck three minutes before half-time to send the visitors into the break with a 2-1 lead, but Arsenal’s French connection clicked into gear after the restart when Robert Pires levelled the scores four minutes after the break. Henry put the Gunners ahead a minute later with a mesmerising solo run and cool finish which left the Reds defence in tatters. The Arsenal hitman then completed his hat-trick in rather fortuitous fashion only 12 minutes from time to ensure the points belonged to Arsene Wenger’s side.
Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal – February 8, 2014
The 2013-14 season saw Liverpool come agonisingly close to clinching their first league title since 1990, and they dually showed their credentials by demolishing Premier League leaders Arsenal at Anfield. Brendan Rodger’s men started the game at breakneck speed, absolutely blowing away the visitors with four goals in the opening 20 minutes thanks to Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling and a double from Martin Skrtel. Liverpool hit the Gunners so hard in the opening 20 minutes you sensed the score could have easily reached double figures before the break. The shell-shocked Londoners struggled to get back into the game, and Sterling added a fifth seven minutes after the half-time. Mikel Arteta pulled a goal back for Arsene Wenger’s men from the penalty spot midway through the second-half, but it was not enough to prevent Arsenal from suffering their heaviest defeat to Liverpool for 50 years. The Uruguayan striking sensation Luis Suarez had a quiet game by his standards, and one wonders how many more goals the Gunners would have shipped had the former Liverpool hitman been on song.
https://youtu.be/6JLa20uNJA0
Liverpool 3-6 Arsenal – January 9, 2007
Real Madrid loanee Julio Baptista netted an incredible four goals to help Arsenal dismantle Liverpool in this nine-goal thriller at Anfield, in a pulsating Carling Cup Quarter-final clash. Rafa Benitez’ Reds were actually the better side, before Jeremie Aliadiere gave Arsenal the lead on 27 minutes, but the hosts levelled soon after thanks to veteran Robbie Fowler. However, a gorgeous free-kick from Baptista put the Gunners back in front, scoring again later in the half, a further goal from Alex Song giving Arsenal an incredible 4-1 lead at the break. Baptista completed his hat-trick on the hour mark, putting the Gunners 5-1 up and leaving the hosts looking suitably embarrassed. The Reds struck twice in the 68th and 80th minute respectively to make the scoreline look somewhat more respectable, but the Brazilian’s fourth goal six minutes from time ultimately capped off a miserable night for Rafa Benitez’ men. The emphatic result saw Arsenal set up a Semi-final date with bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
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Liverpool 4-2 Arsenal – April 8, 2008
In what is surely one of the greatest all-English ties in Champions League history, Liverpool defeated Arsenal 4-2 at Anfield in an incredible match which saw them progress 5-3 on aggregate after the first leg ended 1-1 in London. Arsenal got off to a dream start after only 13 minutes through Abou Diaby, but Sami Hyypia equalised on the half hour mark to send the two sides into the break on level terms. Liverpool were comfortably the better side in the second-half, and they finally took the lead on 69 minutes when Fernando Torres fired the ball past Manuel Almunia, shocking the nervy Gunners into life. Arsenal then stunned Anfield six minutes from time when Theo Walcott’s frighteningly fast 90-yard run left four Liverpool players trailing in his wake, before the England winger teed up Emmanuel Adebayor from close-range who balanced the scores again and gave Arsenal what could have been the decisive away goal. However, the drama was certainly not over, as a Steven Gerrard penalty a minute later swung the tie back in Liverpool’s favour, before Ryan Babel sealed the win in stoppage time. The Reds would go on to meet Chelsea in the Semi-finals in what would turn out to be an equally incredible tie.
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