Three Points: Martin Skrtel the hero as Liverpool earn a late draw vs. Arsenal LIVERPOOL, England -- Martin Skrtels header deep in injury time earned Liverpool a deserved point against Arsenal. Here are three quick observations on Liverpools 2-2 draw with Arsenal in Sundays late Premier League clash ... 1. Skrtel saves the Reds Highlights in Liverpools season have been few and far between, and so the Slovakian defenders 97th-minute header qualified as one. It only rescued a point in a fixture that they had won 5-1 last season, but after trailing and being reduced to 10 men, it nevertheless amounted to a positive response as a draw was secured in emphatic fashion. There is a tradition of late goals in these games -- Dirk Kuyt once scored in the 102nd minute -- and Skrtel created much of the injury time himself, albeit not deliberately, after he required five minutes of treatment when Olivier Giroud trod on his head. FT.: LiverpoolLiverpool 2 ArsenalArsenal 2 Lineups and Stats The Frenchman then did damage to Liverpools immediate prospects, tucking in Santi Cazorlas low cross for what looked like the winner. Instead, Arsenal were denied a sixth victory in seven games. Equally, it is hard to deny that Liverpool deserved at least a point. They dominated the opening stages but Arsenal again demonstrated their powers of recovery. They were dismal for much of the first half, conceded in the 45th minute and still contrived to go in at the break level. Arsenal have a habit of going behind at Anfield and coming back to claim at least a point. Skrtels late goal rescued a point that the Reds genuinely deserved vs. Arsenal. They went from trailing to gaining an advantage, courtesy of two French scorers, and their triumph appeared secure when Fabio Borini marred a bright cameo by collecting two bookings in quickfire succession. Instead Skrtel, culpable for Arsenals equaliser, delivered Liverpools. A look at the broader picture proves that a draw does little for their ambitions while Arsene Wengers side remain better-placed to maintain their record of finishing in the top four every year. Yet Liverpool can depart with relief. It could have been much worse. 2. On-the-ropes Rodgers receives relief Before the game, Brendan Rodgers made the rather strange argument that a foreign manager would receive more praise if he had adopted a 3-4-3 formation. Perhaps, therefore, he believes Steve Bruce should be given more credit for playing with a back three at a time last season when every other Premier League manager opted for a four-man defence. Or that Sam Allardyce should be lauded for his successful use of a midfield diamond this campaign. Or perhaps the Brits arent persecuted at all and Rodgers has instead been criticised because many of his tactical changes this season have brought no reward. Yet Liverpool are undeniably more vibrant after Rodgers rethink. They created a host of chances at Old Trafford last week and many more in the midweek Capital One Cup win at Bournemouth. They were sharper and brighter than Arsenal in a formation that is bringing the best out of their creative players. Rodgers side look brighter in this new formation, one that brings the best out of Markovic. Adam Lallana, who threatened with an early, swerving shot, has more prominence in a central role. Philippe Coutinho was livelier still, adopting a refreshing policy of direct dribbling in the centre of the pitch. The Englishman and the Brazilian are both more inside-forwards than touchline-hugging wingers. With Raheem Sterling bringing perpetual motion in attack, Liverpool are not missing their static specialist striker Rickie Lambert. At times the system veered on a 3-2-4-1, with Lazar Markovic and Jordan Henderson in more advanced positions than Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva. Perhaps that lack of full-backs cost them when the three-man back line was stretched on Girouds goal. The greater problem, and one that has been a constant whichever formation Rodgers has adopted, has been that Liverpool concede too many goals. They are breached too often and too easily. 3. Debuchy good, Flamini bad The assumption was that Mathieu Debuchys appearance at centre-back against Newcastle was a one-off. Instead, even with Calum Chambers available again, the Frenchman carried on in the middle of defence. It was an unorthodox piece of thinking from Wenger. Yet while Debuchy is unaccustomed to the positional elements of the job, his were not normal central-defensive duties simply because Liverpool played without a specialist striker. Instead, with Raheem Sterling manning the attack, the prime requirement for Per Mertesackers partner was pace. The Frenchman possesses it although with Arsenal playing too deep, there was less room behind them for quick players to exploit anyway. Debuchy deserved his goal and cannot feel at fault for those that Arsenal conceded. In the end the problem wasnt Debuchy, but a fellow Frenchman. Arsenals lack of a top-quality defensive midfielder was all too apparent on their previous visit to Anfield, Februarys 5-1 defeat. Mathieu Flamini was outnumbered and outclassed in an area where Lallana and Coutinho roamed. Perhaps Debuchy could have been closer when the Brazilian broke the deadlock but if so, he made amends by cancelling out Liverpools lead with his first Gunners goal. The centre-backs duties involve being sent forward for set-pieces and Debuchy, taking on the role of a modern-day Steve Bould or Tony Adams, headed Arsenal level. His comparative lack of height was no impediment when he was being marked by Skrtel, who has a track record of losing opponents at free kicks and corners.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 19:06:24 +0000
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