Arsenal against Liverpool

Benitez looks a little frustrated on the sidelines, though his side have been very good in the second half.

A Fabregas foul gives Gerrard the chance to send another dangerous cross in to a crowded area. Hyypia rises highest but heads wide.

SUB: Aliadiere on, Reyes off. Fresh legs up front for the home side. Reyes has played well again today; he's always a threat.

As things stand, Everton are just five minutes from Champions League football next season. Who'd have thought that?

Reyes sprints clear down the right channel. He tries to cut back on to his right foot, goes down under a clumsy challenge from Traore, but doesn't earn the penalty decision.

Senderos holds off Garcia in the area to shepherd the ball back to Lehmann. The giant defender has had another good game today; he'll be eyeing a FA Cup place.

Oooh! Reyes takes it short, sliding the ball across the edge of the area to Fabregas, though the youngster's side-foot shot is straight at Dudek.

The game is opening up as the final whistle looms. Lauren breaks down the right and is fouled by Hyypia on the right-edge of the Liverpool penalty area.

The Swiss defender then does well once more, staying on his feet as Cisse attempts to trick him on the right wing.

Senderos shows good pace to stay with Cisse and slide the ball out of play.

Oooh! Fabregas has a goal ruled out for off-side, coming back from an off-side position to collect a loose ball before smashing a shot past Dudek.

The game is shaping up for a good last ten minutes or so, with Liverpool pressing and Arsenal hoping to hit them on the counter-attack.

Fabregas sends a good ball out to Bergkamp, breaking down the right channel. He tries to take the ball on the outside of his right-boot, but fails.

Oooh! Another good chance for Liverpool as Cisse sprints on to a long headed clearance, picks out Garcia on the edge of the area, who shoots high over the bar.

Alonso is starting to find his range of passes. He pings a ball out to Cisse, who beats Cole for pace and clips a good cross to the back post which Lehmann does well to paw clear.

Reyes shows good strength as he runs at Hyypia. The ball falls to Vieira, who tries to play a pass with the outside of his boot towards Bergkamp but he puts too much pace on it.

Kewell does well to hold off Lauren; he breaks in to the area from the left wing, but his cut-back is cleared. The Australian substitute has done okay since he came on.

Kewell goes down in the penalty area but Cole won the ball very cleanly. There were few protests from the Liverpool players, to be fair.

Arsenal gave the Liverpool captain far too much time there; he has proved time and again this season that he is very dangerous from distance.

Oooh! Great low drive from Gerrard, 30 yards out, but Lehmann is down quickly to his right to save brilliantly.

Reyes is hobbling a little after taking a knock to his ankle.

Liverpool's change was more of an attacking one, with Smicer replacing the defensively-minded Hamann. Arsenal will be hoping Bergkamp can pick out some defence-splitting passes on the counter-attack.

SUB: Smicer on, Hamann off. Bergkamp and Edu on, Pires and Van Persi off.

Oooh! A good pass through the middle from Alonso gives Cisse another chance to fire off an early shot, but his right-foot effort flies over the bar.

Gerrard fires a cross in from the right, and Lehmann, under no pressure whatsoever, choses to punch the ball out for a throw-in.

Lauren clips a good ball over the top towards Fabregas, who had made a good run in behind Hyypia, but the ball skips out of play.

Liverpool have been the better side in the second half; they are playing with much more energy and determination.

The pair limp off to the sidelines to receive further treatment from the medical men.

Pires and Alonso collapse in a heap after a strong challenge from both men on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area. Both physios are quick to get on to dish out some sympathy.

Oooh! Cole blocks Garcia's shot inside the penalty area after a superb ball from Gerrard had split the Arsenal defence.

Senderos is back on his feet and takes his position in the Arsenal back-line. Reyes almost dances through Hyypia's challenge on the edge of the box, but he loses the ball at the last moment.

Senderos is caught late by Hamann as the defender tried to clear. The Liverpool midfielder has been booked already, and looks relieved to earn just a stern chat with referee Poll.

Senderos robs Garcia on the edge of the area after a nice flick from Cisse had worked him some space. Gerrard then sends a great low cross in to the middle, just inches from Cisse's boot.

A hopeful punt up-field by Lauren almost sets Van Persie free, but Finnan is alert to the danger and nods back to Dudek.

Alonso stays down after taking a blow from Vieira. Arsenal are forced to put the ball out of play, much to their disgust, though Alonso is quickly back on his feet.

Cole is forced to intercept a Gerrard pass heading for Garcia, cutting in from the right touchline.

Cisse hits a first-time effort high and wide after collecting a nice pass from Garcia out on the right wing.

Nice combination between Cole and Pires down the right, but the linesman scuppers their plans when he wrongly raises an off-side flag against Pires.

Fabregas sends a superb low cross in to the middle, though Van Persie is caught off-side. Gerrard's goal was the first that Arsenal have conceded in over nine hours.

Liverpool look a different side since the interval, and the atmosphere has picked up too.

Liverpool win a corner when Gerrard pressurises Toure as they chase down Kewell's ball through the middle.

Liverpool back in the match thanks to Gerrard's seventh league goal of the season. That should really perk everyone up for a decent second half.

GOAL! Hamann tees up Gerrard, who smashes a low shot, via a Fabregas deflection, past Lehmann.

Liverpool are playing with a little more purpose and drive at the start of the second half. They win a free-kick on the edge of the Arsenal area when Reyes nudges Alonso.

Hamann wins a throw on the left. The ball is worked to Alonso, but the Spaniard's pass towards Cisse is over-hit.

The set-piece gives Hyypia the chance to get forward, but Gerrard's cross is cleared at the near post by Van Persie.

A nice lay-off from Cisse to Gerrard starts a Liverpool attack, and they win a free-kick near the corner flag when Cole fouls Garcia.

Cisse picks up a loose pass from Lauren, but he drags his right-foot shot well wide form 25 yards. Gerrard isn't happy; he'd made good ground to Cisse's right.

SUBS: Kewell, Cisse on; Riise, Baros off. Like-for-like changes from Benitez, who might be looking to see whether the two subs could make an impact in Istanbul.

HALF-TIME: Arsenal in charge after two quick goals. Liverpool have offered nothing. As things stand, Everton will take fourth place, and Arsenal second.

Gerrard and Alonso combine to set Baros free, but the striker fouls Senderos as he tries to get past him 25 yards out.

Arsenal have won eight and drawn two of their last ten games in the Premiership, so they are in excellent form going in to the FA Cup final in a couple of weeks' time.

Arsenal have looked very comfortable in this half; Liverpool have offered very, very little. A suspect Benitez will be furious at half-time.

Liverpool finally throw some players forward, but Lauren robs Riise when the midfielder was about to cross.

Garcia eventually finds himself some action, but Riise's long diaganal pass towards him is over-hit; a pity, because he had made an excellent run.

Another stunning passing move from Arsenal, including a wonderful flick from Fabregas, results in Lauren crossing high to the back post. Pires does well to head it back in to a dangerous area, but Dudek eventually claims.

Carragher is doing his best to drum up some enthusiasm and passion within his team, but Liverpool look flat.

Another lovely one-touch passing move from the home side, though it ends when Lauren mis-reads Fabregas' pass. They are looking back to their attractive best in recent games.

Cole breaks down the left wing, cuts a low cross back to Van Persie, but the Dutchman's left-foot shot is weak and Dudek makes a comfortable save.

Garcia looks to be getting frustrated that he isn't getting much of the ball out on the right wing. He is continually drifting inside and slapping his thighs when his team-mates ignore him.

Arsenal are playing with a lot of confidence this afternoon; they know that victory here would all-but secure second place in the Premiership.

Baros almost works a shooting chance when faced by Lauren; instead he lays the ball off to Alonso, but the Spanish playmaker is closed down quickly on the edge of the area.

Gerrard is flying around just behind Baros; he looks furious that his side are again playing so poorly in the Premiership after a huge performance in Europe mid-week.

Arsenal defend the corner well, a thumping near-post header sending the ball clear.

Liverpool win a corner when Traore chases down Alonso's pass down the left wing and Lauren's tackle sends the ball out of play.

That was really poor defending from Liverpool; Hyypia should really have been a lot quicker to get across and close down Reyes; instead, he allowed him to get to within eight yards of Dudek's goal.

GOAL! Reyes beats two or three people as he cuts in from the right before he plants a left-foot shot past Dudek.

Liverpool aren't really defending with the confidence and organisation that has got them so far this season.

Toure fouls Baros in midfield. Alonso puts a high ball in to the area, where Lehmann comes a long way to punch. Hyypia sends the ball back in to a crowded penalty area but Senderos clears.

Nothing less than the home side deserved. They have been on top in the opening stages of this match.

GOAL! Pires curls the free-kick in to the top corner. Dudek didn't move. A great set-piece from the Arsenal midfielder.

Vieira needs treatment following the challenge, but he's soon back on his feet. The free-kick is around 25 yards out, and Pires stands over it.

Hamann is booked for sliding in on Vieira as the Arsenal player cut in from the left wing and closed down on the penalty area.

Oooh! Liverpool are under the cosh a little at the moment. Pires sees a right-foot shot curl narrowly wide of the far post with Dudek beaten.

Oooh! A great passing move involving Fabregas, Reyes and Pires. The French winger clips a superb cross towards Lauren, who had sneaked in behind Hyypia undetected. The right-back scuffs his shot from six yards badly, and Liverpool scramble clear.

Traore cracks a low shot from 30 yards straight at Lehmann. The keeper does well to collect, as the shot swerved wickedly in the air.

Arsenal are playing with patience, and they need to; Liverpool are getting plenty players back behind the ball and are well organised in defence.

More good defending from Senderos, staying strong inside the Arsenal penalty area as Baros ran at him following an excellent Gerrard header.

Good skill from Van Persie down the left-hand side of the penalty area. He tricks Traore before sending a high cross to the far post, where Pires heads against Finnan and out for a corner.

After ten minutes of drab, tame nonsence, the two teams have exploded in to life.

Oooh! This has been an incredible five minutes. Baros then has a goal disallowed for a deliberate handball as he beats Senderos and puts a low shot past Lehmann. The Liverpool striker is booked for the offence.

Oooh! Suddenly, the game has burst in to life. Fabregas blasts a shot from 20 yards just inches outside the post.

Oooh! Hamann lofts a ball over the top of the Arsenal defence to Riise, who was in yards of space just six yards out. From a tight angle, he tries to place the ball past Lehmann, who deflects wide. Gerrard is furious that Riise didn't cut the ball back to him.

Good play from Gerrard as he runs at the Arsenal defence before laying the ball in to the path of Riise. His cross in towards Garcia is cut out by Senderos.

Replays show that Reyes was a yard off-side when Van Persie had his shot from the edge of the area; it was the correct decision from the linesman.

Oooh! Reyes has a goal disallowed. He slides home from four yards after Van Persie's weak shot was palmed in to his path by Dudek.

A very strange start to the match; there's been no attacking action of any description so far.

Liverpool are defending deep, perhaps a little wary of the pace in the Arsenal front line. And it's working so far; I don't think either goalkeeper has had a single touch as yet.

Carragher stays very strong to rob Pires down in the corner. Finnan also gets back to help his team-mate defuse the danger.

Alonso pounces on a loose ball but Gerrard mis-reads his pass and Arsenal have possession back.

Lauren is a little late in a challenge on Alonso. Gerrard takes the free-kick short to Hamann, who then clips the ball towards Garcia, though the Spaniard had drifted a couple of yards off-side.

Reyes and Van Persie are all hitting good spells of form, but Carragher and Hyypia are also. It should be a good battle between the four of them this afternoon.

A great turn from Baros 30 yards out buys himself some space, but his pass catches Garcia off-guard on the right wing and the ball rolls out for a throw.

Cole gives the ball away inside his own half, but a heavy touch from Baros allows Senderos to get back and deny him a shooting chance.

It's quite a quiet start to the match. The atmosphere is slightly muted; though this would usually be a massive match, there isn't too much riding on it today.

Arsenal line-up 4-4-2, with Reyes and Van Persie floating around up front. Liverpool go 4-4-1-1, with Gerratd playing just behind Baros.

Liverpool kick off, playing in their yellow away strip. It's a nice, sunny, warm day in North London; ideal, perhaps, for a walk in the park with a loved one.

There are a few Liverpool fans sporting red Fez hats, in preparation for the Champions League final in Istanbul.

Arsenal have not conceded a goal in over eight-and-a-half hours of football. Crazy talk.

Liverpool bring back Xavi Alonso in to their midfield, knowing that only a victory at Highbury will see them playing in the Champions League next season.

Reyes shows good strength as he runs at Hyypia. The ball falls to Vieira, who tries to play a pass with the outside of his boot towards Bergkamp but he puts too much pace on it.

Kewell does well to hold off Lauren; he breaks in to the area from the left wing, but his cut-back is cleared. The Australian substitute has done okay since he came on.

Kewell goes down in the penalty area but Cole won the ball very cleanly. There were few protests from the Liverpool players, to be fair.

Arsenal gave the Liverpool captain far too much time there; he has proved time and again this season that he is very dangerous from distance.

Oooh! Great low drive from Gerrard, 30 yards out, but Lehmann is down quickly to his right to save brilliantly.

Reyes is hobbling a little after taking a knock to his ankle.

Liverpool's change was more of an attacking one, with Smicer replacing the defensively-minded Hamann. Arsenal will be hoping Bergkamp can pick out some defence-splitting passes on the counter-attack.

SUB: Smicer on, Hamann off. Bergkamp and Edu on, Pires and Van Persi off.

Oooh! A good pass through the middle from Alonso gives Cisse another chance to fire off an early shot, but his right-foot effort flies over the bar.

Gerrard fires a cross in from the right, and Lehmann, under no pressure whatsoever, choses to punch the ball out for a throw-in.

Lauren clips a good ball over the top towards Fabregas, who had made a good run in behind Hyypia, but the ball skips out of play.

Liverpool have been the better side in the second half; they are playing with much more energy and determination.

The pair limp off to the sidelines to receive further treatment from the medical men.

Pires and Alonso collapse in a heap after a strong challenge from both men on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area. Both physios are quick to get on to dish out some sympathy.

Oooh! Cole blocks Garcia's shot inside the penalty area after a superb ball from Gerrard had split the Arsenal defence.

Senderos is back on his feet and takes his position in the Arsenal back-line. Reyes almost dances through Hyypia's challenge on the edge of the box, but he loses the ball at the last moment.

Senderos is caught late by Hamann as the defender tried to clear. The Liverpool midfielder has been booked already, and looks relieved to earn just a stern chat with referee Poll.

Senderos robs Garcia on the edge of the area after a nice flick from Cisse had worked him some space. Gerrard then sends a great low cross in to the middle, just inches from Cisse's boot.

A hopeful punt up-field by Lauren almost sets Van Persie free, but Finnan is alert to the danger and nods back to Dudek.

Alonso stays down after taking a blow from Vieira. Arsenal are forced to put the ball out of play, much to their disgust, though Alonso is quickly back on his feet.

Cole is forced to intercept a Gerrard pass heading for Garcia, cutting in from the right touchline.

Cisse hits a first-time effort high and wide after collecting a nice pass from Garcia out on the right wing.

Nice combination between Cole and Pires down the right, but the linesman scuppers their plans when he wrongly raises an off-side flag against Pires.

Fabregas sends a superb low cross in to the middle, though Van Persie is caught off-side. Gerrard's goal was the first that Arsenal have conceded in over nine hours.

Liverpool look a different side since the interval, and the atmosphere has picked up too.

Liverpool win a corner when Gerrard pressurises Toure as they chase down Kewell's ball through the middle.

Liverpool back in the match thanks to Gerrard's seventh league goal of the season. That should really perk everyone up for a decent second half.

GOAL! Hamann tees up Gerrard, who smashes a low shot, via a Fabregas deflection, past Lehmann.

Liverpool are playing with a little more purpose and drive at the start of the second half. They win a free-kick on the edge of the Arsenal area when Reyes nudges Alonso.

Hamann wins a throw on the left. The ball is worked to Alonso, but the Spaniard's pass towards Cisse is over-hit.

The set-piece gives Hyypia the chance to get forward, but Gerrard's cross is cleared at the near post by Van Persie.

A nice lay-off from Cisse to Gerrard starts a Liverpool attack, and they win a free-kick near the corner flag when Cole fouls Garcia.

Cisse picks up a loose pass from Lauren, but he drags his right-foot shot well wide form 25 yards. Gerrard isn't happy; he'd made good ground to Cisse's right.

SUBS: Kewell, Cisse on; Riise, Baros off. Like-for-like changes from Benitez, who might be looking to see whether the two subs could make an impact in Istanbul.

HALF-TIME: Arsenal in charge after two quick goals. Liverpool have offered nothing. As things stand, Everton will take fourth place, and Arsenal second.

Gerrard and Alonso combine to set Baros free, but the striker fouls Senderos as he tries to get past him 25 yards out.

Arsenal have won eight and drawn two of their last ten games in the Premiership, so they are in excellent form going in to the FA Cup final in a couple of weeks' time.

Arsenal have looked very comfortable in this half; Liverpool have offered very, very little. A suspect Benitez will be furious at half-time.

Liverpool finally throw some players forward, but Lauren robs Riise when the midfielder was about to cross.

Garcia eventually finds himself some action, but Riise's long diaganal pass towards him is over-hit; a pity, because he had made an excellent run.

Another stunning passing move from Arsenal, including a wonderful flick from Fabregas, results in Lauren crossing high to the back post. Pires does well to head it back in to a dangerous area, but Dudek eventually claims.

Carragher is doing his best to drum up some enthusiasm and passion within his team, but Liverpool look flat.

Another lovely one-touch passing move from the home side, though it ends when Lauren mis-reads Fabregas' pass. They are looking back to their attractive best in recent games.

Cole breaks down the left wing, cuts a low cross back to Van Persie, but the Dutchman's left-foot shot is weak and Dudek makes a comfortable save.

Garcia looks to be getting frustrated that he isn't getting much of the ball out on the right wing. He is continually drifting inside and slapping his thighs when his team-mates ignore him.

Arsenal are playing with a lot of confidence this afternoon; they know that victory here would all-but secure second place in the Premiership.

Baros almost works a shooting chance when faced by Lauren; instead he lays the ball off to Alonso, but the Spanish playmaker is closed down quickly on the edge of the area.

Gerrard is flying around just behind Baros; he looks furious that his side are again playing so poorly in the Premiership after a huge performance in Europe mid-week.

Arsenal defend the corner well, a thumping near-post header sending the ball clear.

Liverpool win a corner when Traore chases down Alonso's pass down the left wing and Lauren's tackle sends the ball out of play.

That was really poor defending from Liverpool; Hyypia should really have been a lot quicker to get across and close down Reyes; instead, he allowed him to get to within eight yards of Dudek's goal.

GOAL! Reyes beats two or three people as he cuts in from the right before he plants a left-foot shot past Dudek.

Liverpool aren't really defending with the confidence and organisation that has got them so far this season.

Toure fouls Baros in midfield. Alonso puts a high ball in to the area, where Lehmann comes a long way to punch. Hyypia sends the ball back in to a crowded penalty area but Senderos clears.

Nothing less than the home side deserved. They have been on top in the opening stages of this match.

GOAL! Pires curls the free-kick in to the top corner. Dudek didn't move. A great set-piece from the Arsenal midfielder.

Vieira needs treatment following the challenge, but he's soon back on his feet. The free-kick is around 25 yards out, and Pires stands over it.

Hamann is booked for sliding in on Vieira as the Arsenal player cut in from the left wing and closed down on the penalty area.

Oooh! Liverpool are under the cosh a little at the moment. Pires sees a right-foot shot curl narrowly wide of the far post with Dudek beaten.

Oooh! A great passing move involving Fabregas, Reyes and Pires. The French winger clips a superb cross towards Lauren, who had sneaked in behind Hyypia undetected. The right-back scuffs his shot from six yards badly, and Liverpool scramble clear.

Traore cracks a low shot from 30 yards straight at Lehmann. The keeper does well to collect, as the shot swerved wickedly in the air.

Arsenal are playing with patience, and they need to; Liverpool are getting plenty players back behind the ball and are well organised in defence.

More good defending from Senderos, staying strong inside the Arsenal penalty area as Baros ran at him following an excellent Gerrard header.

Good skill from Van Persie down the left-hand side of the penalty area. He tricks Traore before sending a high cross to the far post, where Pires heads against Finnan and out for a corner.

After ten minutes of drab, tame nonsence, the two teams have exploded in to life.

Oooh! This has been an incredible five minutes. Baros then has a goal disallowed for a deliberate handball as he beats Senderos and puts a low shot past Lehmann. The Liverpool striker is booked for the offence.

Oooh! Suddenly, the game has burst in to life. Fabregas blasts a shot from 20 yards just inches outside the post.

Oooh! Hamann lofts a ball over the top of the Arsenal defence to Riise, who was in yards of space just six yards out. From a tight angle, he tries to place the ball past Lehmann, who deflects wide. Gerrard is furious that Riise didn't cut the ball back to him.

Good play from Gerrard as he runs at the Arsenal defence before laying the ball in to the path of Riise. His cross in towards Garcia is cut out by Senderos.

Replays show that Reyes was a yard off-side when Van Persie had his shot from the edge of the area; it was the correct decision from the linesman.

Oooh! Reyes has a goal disallowed. He slides home from four yards after Van Persie's weak shot was palmed in to his path by Dudek.

A very strange start to the match; there's been no attacking action of any description so far.

Liverpool are defending deep, perhaps a little wary of the pace in the Arsenal front line. And it's working so far; I don't think either goalkeeper has had a single touch as yet.

Carragher stays very strong to rob Pires down in the corner. Finnan also gets back to help his team-mate defuse the danger.

Alonso pounces on a loose ball but Gerrard mis-reads his pass and Arsenal have possession back.

Lauren is a little late in a challenge on Alonso. Gerrard takes the free-kick short to Hamann, who then clips the ball towards Garcia, though the Spaniard had drifted a couple of yards off-side.

Reyes and Van Persie are all hitting good spells of form, but Carragher and Hyypia are also. It should be a good battle between the four of them this afternoon.

A great turn from Baros 30 yards out buys himself some space, but his pass catches Garcia off-guard on the right wing and the ball rolls out for a throw.

Cole gives the ball away inside his own half, but a heavy touch from Baros allows Senderos to get back and deny him a shooting chance.

It's quite a quiet start to the match. The atmosphere is slightly muted; though this would usually be a massive match, there isn't too much riding on it today.

Arsenal line-up 4-4-2, with Reyes and Van Persie floating around up front. Liverpool go 4-4-1-1, with Gerratd playing just behind Baros.

Liverpool kick off, playing in their yellow away strip. It's a nice, sunny, warm day in North London; ideal, perhaps, for a walk in the park with a loved one.

There are a few Liverpool fans sporting red Fez hats, in preparation for the Champions League final in Istanbul.

Arsenal have not conceded a goal in over eight-and-a-half hours of football. Crazy talk.

Liverpool bring back Xavi Alonso in to their midfield, knowing that only a victory at Highbury will see them playing in the Champions League next season.