Liverpool's away misery continues

By europeanfootballnews.co.uk
November 12 2006

Arsenal have beaten Liverpool (3-0) at the Emirates Stadium today. Mathieu Flamini, Kolo Toure and William Gallas were the unlikely scorers as the Merseysiders' miserable away form continued.

Flamini, only in the side as a replacement for the injured Tomas Rosicky, scored only his second Gunners goal after 41 minutes to break the deadlock.

Toure doubled the lead ten minutes after the break following a enormous run from defence.

Robin van Persie tried an audacious flick but made a mess of it only to keep the ball and feed the Ivory Coast defender who calmly tucked the ball under Jose Reina.

Ten minutes from time, Liverpool went to sleep from a corner and Gallas was all alone in the six yard box. He couldn't fail to head home his second Gunners goal.

The home faithful thought van Persie had given the Gunners a second minute lead but the Dutchman punched the ball past Reina before tapping home and was booked by ref Mark Clattenburg.

Liverpool also had the ball in the net in the opening 15 minutes but Peter Crouch was correctly adjudged to be offside, that coming just after Dirk Kuyt had flicked an effort over the crossbar.

The Reds, who have now scored just one goal away from home in six Premiership games, created few clear cut chances altough Boudewijn Zenden hit a short free-kick over the top and after his side went 2-0 down, headed over the crossbar from close range.

Rafa Benitez' side were very fortunate not to be reduced to ten men on the hour when Jamie Carragher, booked for a first-half foul from behind on Thierry Henry, clattered into van Persie.

Gerrard had a shot which was deflected onto the roof of the net by Toure but the skipper was culpable for the third as Gallas ghosted in front of him.

Benitez had thrown on Jermaine Pennant and Craig Bellamy by that point and their miserable day was compounded when the latter had a late header ruled out for offside.

Indeed the defeat could have been heavier as Emmanuel Adebayor went clear after an error by Carragher but the Togo striker hit his shot straight at Reina's legs.