A last-ditch Dirk Kuyt penalty all but ends Arsenal’s title challenge and prompts a spat on the sidelines between Kenny Dalglish and Arsene Wenger. Following Man United’s FA Cup exit the previous day, the Emirates draw gives Sir Alex Ferguson something to smile about, as United sit six points clear at the top with only six games remaining. Elsewhere, Stoke routed Bolton 5-0 to set up a Wembley date with Man City next month, as Tony Pulis guides the club to their first cup final since 1972 with a win that ensures European football next season. Here’s the notes from yesterday’s crucial matches….
Goal Shy Gunners
Robin Van Persie’s late penalty was only Arsenal’s second goal in the last four games at the Emirates, as The Gunners failed to impress against a resilient Liverpool. Arsenal may have the best away record in the league but will surely come to rue their inability to break down teams in front of their own fans; they have dropped six points at the Emirates in their last three games alone.
Far Too Robin Reliant
In the last five home games Van Persie has started, Arsenal have scored a total of eight goals and the Dutchman has bagged six of them. Wenger’s side are becoming increasingly reliant on him to prove the difference and it’s not difficult to see the players who have under-achieved around Van Persie; Samir Nasri has just one goal this calendar year but, even more damningly, Cesc Fabregas has found the net once since gameweek 13. No surprise, then, that Van Persie has 11 Bonus Points from his last five home games, with his team-mates failing to impress.
Arsene’s Defensive Returns
Arsenal came into yesterday’s game on the back of a run that had seen them chalk up four clean sheets in a row at home, another example of the defensive stance taken by most opposing teams at the Emirates these days. Boosted by the unexpected return to their starting XI of both Wojciech Szczesny and Johan Djourou -the pair replaced Jens Lehman and Sebastien Squillaci respectively- it looked like five on the spin until Kuyt’s late, late penalty changed matters. The goal was just the second Wenger’s side have conceded at home since gameweek 19. Their next home game is a top of the table showdown with Man United, but not before next gameweek’s trip to Bolton.
Kenny’s Back Four Woes
The defensive injuries continued to rack up for Liverpool yesterday; Fabio Aurelio lasted just over 20 minutes before succumbing to a hamstring injury, the Brazilian being replaced by Jack Robinson at left-back. With John Flanagan in at right-back due to injuries to Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly, Dalglish’s full-backs had a combined age of just thirty five. The pair’s performance, though, suggested a bright future lies ahead.
Jamie Carragher was stretchered from the pitch after a sickening clash of heads with Flanagan saw him knocked unconscious and requiring oxygen. The Liverpool skipper declared himself absolutely fine after the game, providing some assurance to Dalglish ahead of the upcoming home games against Birmingham and Newcastle.
Carroll’s Okay
Andy Carroll came into the game in good confidence; not only had he grabbed a double to down Man City last Monday, he had found the net in his last visit to the Emirates while still at Newcastle. However, the January signing drew a blank as Liverpool set out to stifle Arsenal. Stretching for a ball in the opposition box, Carroll landed awkwardly and seemed to have jarred his knee, though according to Dalglish post-match, his withdrawal on 70 minutes was merely a precaution.
Dalglish Hails Team Spirit
Part of the reason Arsenal were unable to play their passing game was down to the performances of Jay Spearing and Lucas in the middle of the park. The pair chased and harried every ball and epitomised the work ethic instilled by Dalglish. Given the way this match had transpired, the Liverpool boss couldn’t contain his delight at his side’s performance yesterday:
”I don’t think there’s another team anywhere that would show the attitude and commitment we showed out there today.They went through a wee bit of adversity, losing Fabio Aurelio early on and putting a 17-year-old boy on at left-back. Losing the captain, having a right-back who’s only 18, losing a centre forward, losing a goal eight minutes into injury-time, and they still didn’t want to accept they were going to get nothing from the game.
I don’t think I can speak any higher than that. Everybody will be sat there tonight proud at having seen their team produce a performance like that with the attitude and commitment.”
So far, that’s wins over Man United, Chelsea, Man City and a draw at Arsenal since Kenny’s return. To counter that, however, there’s the losses at Blackpool, West Ham and West Brom. If Liverpool can find a consistency under Dalglish next term (providing, of course, he get the job as manager) they seem certain to be battling for one of the Champions League positions.
Sturridge a Big Miss
Bolton arrived at Wembley for their FA Cup semi final on the back of a 3-0 win over West Ham last week but it was telling that Daniel Sturridge, their one real form player, was cup-tied and resultantly missed out on the big day. Owen Coyle chose to play Ivan Klasnic in his place alongside Kevin Davies, with Johan Elmander continuing in a midfield role for the Trotters, as Marcos Alonso dropped out to be replaced by Paul Robinson at left-back.
Coyle, Before and After
Prior to the match, the Bolton boss was full of optimism:
”Both teams will be going out to win the match and both have good individual players and, collectively, very good teams. This is the best arena in world football and the players will want to go out an maximise the opportunity.”
Unfortunately for Coyle, only one set of players adhered to those comments.
After the rout, Coyle was determined to make amends and finish the campaign on a high, ahead of a run of fixtures that reads (ARS & ful, bla, SUN, blp, MCY). His words may prove re-assuring to any Fantasy Managers mulling over Bolton players with this week’s double gameweek in mind.
”What we don’t want is to have this impact our season because we’ve been terrific up to this point and they’ve earned their right to be here.We’ve played well below what we’re capable of, but we must pick ourselves up for the final six games of the season.We’re in a good position in the league and we want to finish strongly.”
Pulis’ Wing Wonders
Stoke assistant manager David Kemp said before the semi-final:
“Getting out wide is part of our plan, certainly. It is a big wide open pitch and we will look to use Jermaine Pennant and Matthew Etherington as much as possible.”
This plan proved fruitful, as the pair had a hand in two of Stoke’s first three goals, Etherington scoring the opener and Pennant laying on the third goal before half an hour had been played.
Jonathan Walters
We’d had our eye on him as a tip for Stoke’s forthcoming double gameweek prior to this game anyway, but his two-goal contribution will alert plenty to the merits of Jon Walters. His partnership with Kenwyne Jones has been flourishing of late and Walters has been the main beneficiary, returning two goals, two assists and 5 Bonus Points over his last three games for a total of 27 Fantasy Premier League points. Best part is he’s classified as a midfielder, comes in at just £5.5m and is owned by just 0.2% of Fantasy Managers. With a double gameweek (avl, WOL) up next before a trip to Blackpool the following week, expect that percentage to increase.
Robert Huth
The big centre-half continued his remarkable goalscoring season, grabbing his eighth goal in all competitions to put Stoke two nil up early on. Huth is the fourth-highest owned defender in FPL, featuring in 19% of all teams. The goal will surely see him flash on many a radar and his acquisition before the afore-mentioned double gameweek will surely be part of many Fantasy plans, despite Stoke chalking up just one clean sheet in their last ten games.
