LIFE’S great certainties are death and taxes but perhaps the time has come to add another constant to that list.
After another fruitless, frustrating trip to the Emirates Stadium, Rafa Benitez must surely be wondering whether the hoodoo Arsene Wenger has over him in London will ever end.
Bursting with determination and pushing themselves to the physical limit to maintain a seven-match unbeaten run, a sense of injustice infuses Liverpool’s squad today and it is easy to see why that is so.
They have arguably never had better prospects of beating Arsenal on enemy territory since Titi Camara’s winner in February 2000 than this but a series of fine details – and a referee’s error – prevented them turning promise into points.
Had David Ngog shown great composure and had Jamie Carragher not tweaked his groin at a vital moment, Liverpool would have been able to protect a one-goal lead; as it was, Ngog missed, Carragher went off and Arsenal took full advantage.
Yet worse of all was the fact Howard Webb refused to point to the spot in the dying seconds when a Steven Gerrard free-kick was handled by Cesc Fabregas; that the Arsenal skipper later admitted he had committed a crime rubbed salt in open wounds.
What a pity. Giving the impression once again that the shoots of recovery are continuing to grow with a dogged display, the Reds deserved so much more; as it is, they must start to build all over again.
If the opening to the Merseyside derby had those spectators who were close to the action wincing, due to the ferocity of certain challenges, the start to this contest was a much more reserved affair, befitting the subdued atmosphere in the stadium.
Highbury, of course, was known as the ‘The Library’ and it appears that nearly four years after moving into this sparkling arena, the locals are still no nearer to creating an intimidating welcome for visitors.
Not that Liverpool complained. Far from it. Anxious to build on their impressive recent run of form, but mindful of the fact they had contested a war of attrition four days earlier, the gentle opening suited them.
Arsenal might have had a couple of half chances in the first 30 minutes – notably when unmarked William Gallas headed a Fabregas corner high and Nicklas Bendtner blazed over – but it was not one way traffic by any means.
Frustratingly, however, Liverpool’s wastefulness in possession meant they were unable to exert real pressure on Arsenal’s defence; time and again moments of promise would come to nothing because of skew-whiff passing.
Such a shame. If Dirk Kuyt had got his angles right or had Emiliano Insua not been so rash in wanting to release the ball, then Steven Gerrard would have been sent rampaging through.
The scowl that Gerrard flashed at both men immediately after they had found a red and white shirt rather than a black and gold one told its own story but, in a curious way, it was encouraging to see the captain so animated.
By his own admission, Gerrard has, for one reason or another, been short of top form this season but in the last 10 days there have been glimpses that he is ready to go through the gears again.
Every time Liverpool moved to within range of Arsenal’s 18-yard box, Gerrard came into view, stalking with menace and pressurising Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen, Emmanuel Eboue and Gael Clichy whenever possible.
Alas, the ball he so desperately craved never arrived and the biggest disappointment of a poor first period was the man who might have been able to help, Alberto Aquilani, was back on Merseyside recovering from a stomach upset.
It was on this ground in a Carling Cup tie, remember, that Aquilani was first introduced to Liverpool supporters and briefly showed himself to have an impressive range of passing.
