The Liverpool Offside - Arsenal v. Liverpool, 01.30.13Zeppeline, Trinken, & Pink Badeshortshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51345/ltos-fav.png2013-01-30T22:40:44+00:00http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/rss/stream/36924472013-01-30T22:40:44+00:002013-01-30T22:40:44+00:00Recap: Two Points Lost
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<figcaption>Laurence Griffiths</figcaption>
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<p>A poor second half performance and zero response to indicate they thought they could get all three points leaves Liverpool with a draw in a match they led by two goals. </p> <blockquote>
<p><b>Arsenal 2:</b> <i>Giroud 64', Walcott 67'</i><br><b>Liverpool 2:</b> <i>Suarez 5', Henderson 60'</i></p>
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<p>By all accounts, the eleven that Brendan Rodgers selected today is the strongest one available--<span>Jose Enrique's</span> continued fitness woes meant that he wasn't yet ready for a full ninety minutes, and in his stead <span>Glen Johnson</span> once again started at left-back with <span>Andre Wisdom</span> on the right. To the surprise of few, <span>Jamie Carragher</span> partnered <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110183/daniel-agger">Daniel Agger</a> in the middle with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110848/pepe-reina">Pepe Reina</a> back in goal, and the expected front six of Lucas-Gerrard-Henderson through the midfield and Suarez-Sturridge-Downing up top rounded off the starting lineup. </p>
<p>A frenetic opening twenty minutes was interrupted by the opener from <span>Luis Suarez</span>, which came about as a result of some catastrophic Arsenal defending. It looked as though the chance was gone when <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> couldn't score one-on-one with Wojiech Szczesny, but a clever flick wide from <span>Jordan Henderson</span> left Suarez with a shot, and the Uruguayan blasted through (or off) a defender to give Liverpool the early lead.</p>
<p>It was back-and-forth stuff from there for most of the rest of the half, with Pepe Reina making a number of fine saves--first at the near post on <span>Theo Walcott</span>, and then again later from Walcott when the winger tried to curl one around at the far post. For their part Liverpool couldn't take advantage of a number of defensive miscues from the hosts, and while Liverpool looked as though they should have had two or three at the half, they entered the break only one goal up.</p>
<p>The second half promised more of the same, with Arsenal pressing and Liverpool content to soak it up and try to either survive or hit on the break. They were able to do the latter on 60 minutes, with Jordan Henderson jinking through two defenders and out-muscling <span>Andre Santos</span> to get himself a chance. Szczesny saved his first effort, but a fortuitous bounce left him free on goal, and a cool left-footed stab put Liverpool in dreamland.</p>
<p>And then it all went to shit. Sloppy marking by Daniel Agger on a free-kick from <span>Jack Wilshere</span> left <span>Olivier Giroud</span> alone to head in past a helpless Pepe Reina, and that Spanish goalkeeper was left rooted to the spot three minutes later when Walcott arrowed a shot past him from the far side. From two-nil up to level in minutes, and all they could do from there was hang on. They did, thankfully, but offered nothing going forward and wasted the few breaks they had, with a late save by Szczesny to deny Luis Suarez the only chance that offered any threat. </p>
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<p>Considering the first hour or so, this is obviously an exceedingly frustraing result. Credit to Arsenal for not dying off after Henderson's goal, which very well could and should have settled the match. For all their faults this season, Arsenal have shown good fight-back in the second halves of matches, and today was no different. Given the strength of their display over the final forty-five, a point is the least they deserve.</p>
<p>But it also feels like two points dropped in a sheepish manner from Liverpool, who couldn't hold onto their lead and had little to offer in response. It always had an air of inevitability about it, but just when it looked as though Liverpool would finally tie a match up, they bundled it away in a three-minute disaster and couldn't recover. </p>
<p>That the only apparent tactical response came in the form of Jose Enrique for Daniel Sturridge was disappointing; the move only served to isolate Luis Suarez late in the match, and with the left-back somewhere between left-back and winger, the Uruguayan had to rely on Henderson and <span>Stewart Downing</span> for attacking support, something neither provided particularly well. To lump Henderson in with Downing is harsh, especially given how good the midfielder was for much of the match and how completely useless Downing was in nearly every facet of the game. </p>
<p>What makes it all so maddening is that we're once again treated to the best and worst of Liverpool, and it strips them of what could have been a fantastic result. Smart interplay and solid pressing in the first half undermined by an inability to finish, and a sloppy, nervy second half that made it seem as though a loss was the only likely outcome.</p>
<p>It's going to take some time for me to buy into the "I'd have taken a point" mindset after this one, and right now the only way that feels as though it's going to settle in is if they better today's result on Sunday. </p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2013/1/30/3933926/liverpool-arsenal-recap-goals-suarez-henderson-giroud-walcott-Ed-2013-01-30T09:00:02+00:002013-01-30T09:00:02+00:00Matchday: Arsenal v. Liverpool
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<figcaption>Clive Mason</figcaption>
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<p>Three days after their FA Cup exit, Liverpool are in London to take on Arsenal at the Emirates. </p> <p><b>K</b><b>ickoff:</b> 7:45PM GMT/2:45PM EST</p>
<p><b>Ways to Watch:</b> Sky Sports 2 in the UK and Fox Soccer Channel in the US</p>
<p><b>Preview: </b><a target="_blank" href="http://liverpool.theoffside.com/2013/1/29/3928212/match-preview-liverpool-v-arsenal-premier-league-01-30-13">Arsenal v. Liverpool</a><a href="http://liverpool.theoffside.com/2012/11/10/3627064/match-preview-chelsea-v-liverpool-11-11-12-premier-league-team-news" target="_blank"></a></p>
<p><b>Comment:</b> <a href="../../account/setup?community_id=373" target="_blank">Join the conversation on the Liverpool Offside</a></p>
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<p><b>Arsenal:</b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Szczesny<br>Sagna Mertesacker Vermaelen Gibbs<br>Ramsey Wilshere Cazorla<br>Walcott Podolski Giroud</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Bench: Mannone, Koscielny, Jenkinson, Santos, Diaby, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Liverpool:</b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Reina<br>Wisdom Carragher Agger Johnson<br>Gerrard Lucas Henderson<br>Downing Sturridge Suarez</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Bench: Jones, Enrique, Skrtel, Shelvey, Allen, Borini, Sterling</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2013/1/30/3930780/matchday-arsenal-v-liverpool-team-news-lineups-Ed-2013-01-30T01:45:52+00:002013-01-30T01:45:52+00:00Open Thread: Pre-Arsenal Overnight
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<figcaption>Alex Livesey</figcaption>
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<p>Five questions to pass the time as we wait for kickoff from the Emirates.</p> <p>1) Jamie Carragher or Martin Skrtel?</p>
<p>2) Is Jose Enrique fit enough to start? If not, who starts at right- and left-back?</p>
<p>3) Lucas-Gerrard-Henderson or...something else?</p>
<p>4) Pick one from Stewart Downing, Raheem Sterling, and Fabio Borini.</p>
<p>5) If his starting position actually matters, where is Luis Suarez set at kickoff?</p>
<p>Bonus: In what minute does Brendan Rodgers <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-BVqHu-iSs" target="_blank">tell Arsene Wenger to piss off</a>?</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2013/1/30/3930630/liverpool-arsenal-open-thread-premier-league-team-news-Ed-2013-01-29T17:30:06+00:002013-01-29T17:30:06+00:00Preview: Arsenal v. Liverpool
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<figcaption>Laurence Griffiths</figcaption>
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<p>Liverpool face Arsenal at the Emirates, looking to rebound from their abysmal showing on the weekend and draw level on points with the London club.</p> <p>I'm not sure if you've heard, but <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> didn't do so well this weekend and haven't beaten a team in the top half all season. Revelatory stuff, I know, which is probably why you've continued to visit us. Or, if this is your first time, you're probably awe-struck at the depth of insight and breadth of knowledge it takes to reveal such information. And the efficiency with which I seamlessly dispatched two words ending in <i>-th</i> in such quick succession.</p>
<p>But seriously, these are things we know and things we can't escape--Brendan Rodgers' disappointment with his underperforming squad against Oldham has been all anyone's talked about, and the club's failures against teams in the top half are destined to chase them until, you know, they're not failures anymore. So that's a nice couple pieces of narrative to have ahead of the visit to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a>.</p>
<p>Arsene Wenger's side have, in some ways, experienced similar pains as Liverpool over the past few seasons. They haven't quite plumbed the depths of the table that Liverpool have, but mixed results in the transfer market and shaky form in league have many asking questions about the best way forward. Their last two times out have been successes, at least with a hard-fought win at Brighton over the weekend in the FA Cup, and a breakaway 5-1 win over West Ham that was settled in a four-goal, ten-minute period just after the second half started.</p>
<p><span>Theo Walcott's</span> contract renewal and <span>Mikel Arteta's</span> absence have been the biggest pieces of squad news out of the Emirates; the former finally settled his future and committed to the club, while the latter is ruled out with a calf strain. <span>Thomas Vermaelen</span> looked to have been a doubt as well, but his ankle knock doesn't appear serious, and he should be available to captain the squad.</p>
<p>As with many of the other sides nearer the top of the table, you're likely familiar enough with who'll be involved, and from a Liverpool perspective, there's notable personnel throughout the squad--<span>Abou Diaby</span> could start and has caused problems for Liverpool in the past, and <span>Santi Cazorla</span> and <span>Jack Wilshere</span> are likely to feature, both of whom have the potential to give the visitors fits. Most have already picked <span>Per Mertesacker</span> out for Vermaelen's partner in central defense, and if that's the case, it'll be interesting (and hopefully enjoyable) to see what <span>Luis Suarez</span> and <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> can do. Although, we were excited about that earlier this season, too, and Arsenal's speed on the break proved to be the difference rather than their purported shortcomings at the back.</p>
<p>For Liverpool:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Reina<br>Johnson Carragher Agger Enrique<br>Gerrard Lucas<br>Henderson<br><span style="line-height: 9px;">Downing Sturridge Suarez</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Yesterday's good news on the injury front means that <span>Martin Kelly</span> is the only first-team player out injured--<span>Jose Enrique</span> is maybe the biggest doubt of the three that Brendan Rodgers discussed, but <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110848/pepe-reina">Pepe Reina</a> should be back in goal and <span>Glen Johnson</span> ready to resume his his work as one of the best fullbacks going.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">As for their impact on the defense, I'd assume at least two--Reina and Johnson--are nailed-on starters, with Enrique more of a question. If he's not yet ready, then we'll get Johnson left and <span>Andre Wisdom</span> right, which has produced mostly decent results even with Wisdom in the relative infancy of his career at fullback. Longshot that <span>Jordan Henderson</span> plays at right-back with Johnson left, but I don't see Rodgers taking that gamble tomorrow. Martin Skrtel's rapid descent out of the eleven likely continues, with <span>Jamie Carragher</span> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110183/daniel-agger">Daniel Agger</a> the probable pairing in central defense.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Lucas, <span>Steven Gerrard</span>, and Jordan Henderson absolutely need to start in the midfield tomorrow, and there's not really any argument to the contrary (unless Henderson does a job at right-back, in which case...bleh). Henderson started leftish against Norwich and still did everything we've enjoyed over the past few months, and Lucas and Gerrard were able to control the match from deeper. No chance they get the time and space that Norwich afforded at Anfield, but this is still the best three going right now, and that's what Rodgers has to go with.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">We know that Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge will start, whether it's with Suarez left or just behind, leaving the uncertainty as to who joins them. Rodgers' preference for <span>Stewart Downing</span> seems to be enough for him to get the start, which would leave <span>Raheem Sterling</span> and <span>Fabio Borini</span> on the bench as substitutes. I think that's fine given Sterling's form, but there's potential for Borini to have an impact across the front with his smart movement and well-timed runs.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Kickoff tomorrow is set for 7:45PM GMT/2:45PM EST, with Sky Sports 2 airing the match live in the UK and Fox Soccer Channel carrying coverage in the US. The open thread and matchday post will run as normal, but given that the transfer window's rapidly coming to a close, we might end up messing around a bit with the formatting to get parallel coverage of anything that breaks. Closer to the start time it's unlikely anything else will get in the way, though, and we'll have team sheets published an hour or so before kickoff.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Hope to see you around.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2013/1/29/3928212/match-preview-liverpool-v-arsenal-premier-league-01-30-13-Ed-