Arsenal 0 v Liverpool 2
Emirates Stadium
20 August 2011, KO: 12:45 Attendance: 60,090
Luis Suarez was on target as Liverpool claimed their first win on Arsenal soil in more than 10 years.
The 24-year-old came off the bench to make it 2-0 following an unfortunate Aaron Ramsey own goal.
All this after a second-half dismissal for Emmanuel Frimpong for a horrible tackle on Lucas Leiva.
The result sends Liverpool joint top of the league ahead of the remaining weekend programme and brings an end to a 14-game sequence without a win at either Highbury or the Emirates since Titi Camara fired a winner in February 2000.
Kenny Dalglish surprised a few by naming Copa America winner Suarez on the bench for the lunch-time kick-off. Dirk Kuyt took the Uruguayan's place while Jon Flanagan made way for Martin Kelly at right-back.
The Emirates patrons were in downbeat mood as they mingled on the concourse prior to kick-off, the blow of seeing their skipper leave for Barcelona compounded today by a clutch of injuries and suspensions.
Cesc Fabregas may have been watching from 700 miles away but one man who did start was Samir Nasri despite speculation about an imminent move to the Etihad Stadium.
The early to and fro saw Thomas Vermaelen head over from a corner while tempers flared in midfield, the lively Frimpong earning a yellow card for squaring up to Jordan Henderson.
But the fate of a temperamental midfielder was the least of Arsene Wenger's problems after a quarter of an hour as Laurent Koscielny hobbled down the tunnel with what appeared to be a serious injury, adding to the makeshift appearance of the Gunners backline.
Carroll was first in a bid to capitalise after connecting with a Jose Enrique cross, but the No.9 saw his header well saved by the consonant-heavy Wojciech Szczesny.The Arsenal goalkeeper was soon busy again as Henderson tried and failed to nod Kuyt's dinked centre into the net.
Next Charlie Adam, often labelled 'the Scottish Alonso', tried to emulate the Spaniard by scoring from the centre circle. His effort looped narrowly over the crossbar.
Arsenal had yet to click into gear, though Pepe Reina needed to be aware to tip a Frimpong whack wide of the post on 30 minutes. And the home fans were on their feet again as Nasri slalomed through the Liverpool midfield before launching a shot into the hoardings - a trick copied at the other end by Stewart Downing as half-time approached.
Liverpool created the first chance of note in the second period as the rain carpeted north London, Kelly powering Carroll's pass against the post at the North Bank end.
But as the game wore on, Arsenal began to dominate and it took an excellent positional clearance from Jamie Carragher to stop a Theo Walcott cross reaching new Gunners captain Robin van Persie. Not to be outdone, Adam thwarted Nasri with a perfectly timed tackle on the edge of the box.
It was midway through the second half when Liverpool's defence was opened up completely by the skill and persistence of Andrey Arshavin. The Russian found van Persie but his snapshot was saved brilliantly by Reina.
Then the inevitable happened: a reckless challenge from Frimpong earning a second yellow card. Lucas was floored and Martin Atkinson could easily have produced a straight red.The hosts now had to survive 20 minutes with 10 men and they were immediately tasked with stifling a new strike-force: Suarez and Raul Meireles replacing Kuyt and Carroll.
It was Downing who threatened next, however, with a blast which Szczesny did well to palm away.
Liverpool were now on the front foot and the goal arrived on 77 minutes when Henderson played Suarez through before Ignasi Miquel's clearance ricocheted off Ramsey and wrong-footed the goalkeeper.Meireles might have made it 2-0 but couldn't keep his shot down with minutes to spare.
Instead it was Suarez who did the honours on 90 minutes, sidefooting into the net after a triangle of passes involving Lucas and Meireles.
Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Stewart Downing.
Author: Jimmy Rice at the Emirates
Author: Paul Hassall
Credit: Liverpool (www.liverpoolfc.tv)
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