Late Van Persie volley secures points at Anfield

Arsenal left it late against Liverpool to secure a 2-1 victory at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime. A van Persie double was enough as Arsenal extended their lead over Chelsea in the table to three points. The Arsenal skipper, who needs no further introduction was once again on top form as he powered home his 24th and 25th strikes of the Premier League campaign. It was a match in which Liverpool dominated and should have come away with the victory but for Wojciech Szczesny who had a brilliant game in goal, saving a penalty and denying the hosts on numerous occasions. Coming off the back of the 5-2 victory against Spurs it was another signal of intention from the Gunners of reaching the Champions League next season. Arsene Wenger named an unchanged side to the team that beat Spurs as Benayoun played against one of his former clubs and Diaby returned from injury and was named amongst the substitutes.

Wojciech Szczesny was on top form in the win against Liverpool

The first chance of the game fell to Arsenal. Mikel Arteta played a long ball forward towards Walcott who got on the end of the of it to fire a shot which was kept out by Reina.

However Liverpool's first chance was to come from the penalty spot and was a key point in the game. Suarez played a one-two with Kuyt before going over under the challenge from Szczesny where contact between the two players looked minimum.

Kuyt took the penalty but Szczesny dived the right way to keep out the shot and then again made a great save to keep out the rebound.

A few minutes after the penalty save from Szczesny, Liverpool took the lead. Henderson whipped in a ball from the right hand side which was sliced into his own net by Laurent Koscielny and the hosts were ahead.

Liverpool then had two chances in quick succession as first Henderson produced a save out of Szczesny which then came out to Suarez whose shot smacked against the post and came back out.

Just after the half hour mark and against the run of play, Robin Van Persie equalised for Arsenal. Sagna found room on the right hand side before sweeping in a great ball into Van Persie who headed home from close range.

Liverpool were then back on the attack as Suarez wriggled through several Arsenal players before firing a shot which again Szczesny was equal to.

Liverpool, who had beaten Cardiff in the Carling Cup Final last weekend, were the more positive team and again hit the post as Adam's ball in was diverted onto the woodwork by Dirk Kuyt.

The score at half time was 1-1.

The first good chance of the second half fell to Suarez as he went through on goal before firing a shot into the side netting.

Liverpool then wasted a great opportunity to give themselves the lead. Kuyt swung in a ball which found Kelly at the back post but he scuffed his shot wide from close range.

Arsenal were finding it hard to create chances and luckily for them Liverpool were wasting theirs as the Gunners first good chance of the half fell to Walcott when his deflected shot almost found the net, but for Reina who made a great save with his feet.

However deep into injury time all of the hosts' wasted chances came back to haunt them as Arsenal took the lead. Song played a great ball over the Liverpool defence into Van Persie to volley the ball home from six yards out.

In the dying moments, Oxlade-Chamberlain came close to making it 3-1 as Van Persie found Chamberlain on the edge of the area but he fired the shot just wide of the goal.

It was Liverpool's first defeat at Anfield all season as the final score finished Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Carragher, Enrique, Downing(88), Adam, Henderson, Spearing(90), Kuyt, Suarez.
Subs: Doni, Flanagan, Coates, Shelvey, Maxi, Carroll(90), Bellamy(88).

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Arteta(53), Rosicky, Walcott, Benayoun(74), Van Persie.
Subs: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Miquel, Diaby(53)(81), Oxlade-Chamberlain(81), Gervinho(74), Chamakh.

My man of the match: Wojciech Szczesny

Referee: Mark Halsey
Attendance: 44,922