Reds gunned down

A second-half goal from Nicklas Bendtner was enough for Arsenal as they beat Liverpool 2-1 in an entertaining game at the Emirates.

The Gunners progress into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup but credit should also be given to Liverpool who battled throughout and played some good football for periods of the game.
 
A great strike from Spanish youngster Fran Merida opened the scoring for Arsenal on 19 minutes - the midfielder let fly from the right edge of the penalty area and the ball flew past the helpless Diego Cavalieri and in off the post.
 
Not to be outdone, Liverpool responded with an equally sublime goal when Emiliano Insua hit a dipping shot on the half volley from way out which flew over Lukasz Fabianski and into the net.
 
It was Bendtner who sealed the win though, the Danish striker capping a fine sweeping move from the Gunners to turn well and surge into the box before slamming the ball into the roof of the net five minutes after the break.
 
As expected, Wenger had shaken things up in the team selection for his 750th game at the helm, naming an entirely different starting XI from the one which let a 2-0 lead slip during the closing stages at West Ham in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday.
 
Mickael Silvestre captained the side at the ripe old age of 32, while French midfielder Samir Nasri made his first appearance of the season after recovering from a fractured leg, while Croatia striker Eduardo was also in the team.
 
Only Dirk Kuyt, the Reds captain for the night, remained from the Liverpool side which had defeated Manchester United - although there was a welcome place on the bench for Alberto Aquilani, who had yet to play following his big-money summer move from Roma.
 
The hosts started well, and Merida - who almost went out on loan to Levante, only for Wenger to pull the plug on the deal at the last minute - fired a low effort just off target. 
 
Liverpool created a decent opening when a clever backheel from David Ngog, on target at Anfield to help sink United, released Philipp Degen on the edge of the penalty area, but the Swiss defender dragged his shot across the face of goal.
 
Craig Eastmond then stole possession on the right, and the ball broke for Merida, who promptly smashed a first-time, left-foot shot in off the post past Diego Cavalieri.
 
Arsenal, though, had their lead only until the 26th minute when Insua netted a fine equaliser. A long ball up field was knocked down by Ryan Babel, and it dropped perfectly for Insua, who drilled a looping shot up over Lukasz Fabianski from 25 yards for the Argentinian defender's first goal in English football.
 
Arsenal were soon back on the offensive, with Eduardo and Ramsey combining to set Merida clear on the left side of the penalty area, and the youngster did well to stay on his feet as Cavalieri charged out of goal.
 
There was another let-off for Liverpool when Cavalieri dropped the ball in a crowded six-yard box, but enough black shirts were around to clear.
 
Arsenal kept up their momentum following the restart, and went ahead again five minutes into the second period. A sweeping move saw Merida feed the ball through to Bendtner on the penalty spot - the Denmark international held off Skrtel before smashing his shot into the roof of the net.
 
To their credit, Liverpool came back strongly and Fabianski had to get down to save a low, 25-yard free-kick from Babel which would have crept inside the keeper's right-hand post.
 
With 17 minutes left, Wenger made a change when 20-year-old Mark Randall and Hackney-born striker Sanchez Watt, 18, replaced Eastmond and Bendtner, while Liverpool sent on Yossi Benayoun for Ngog.
 
Aquilani, the £20million man coming back from knee surgery, also got a long-awaited run-out, Damien Plessis making way.
 
Liverpool almost snatched an equaliser when Kuyt swept the ball across the six-yard box, but Babel, sliding in, just could not make contact.
 
This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the views or position of Liverpool Football Club.