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Arsenal back on top after a draw

FOOTBALL / Liverpool’s Torres and Xabi Alonso injured again

London: Arsenal regained first place in the English Premier League on Sunday thanks to a Cesc Fabregas equaliser in an entertaining 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.

The Gunners trailed to Steven Gerrard’s seventh-minute free kick but the inspirational Fabregas stole the show with 10 minutes remaining to give the visitor a deserved share of the points.

Arsenal has 26 points from 10 matches while champion Manchester United, 4-1 winner at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday, also has 26 from 11 but has scored fewer goals. Liverpool is sixth with 20 points from 10 ties.

Serving up a treat

Liverpool and Arsenal, both undefeated in the league this season, served up a treat in the weekend’s outstanding fixture which was seen as a major test of Arsenal’s credentials.

The home side, looking to hit back from a damaging 2-1 Champions League defeat by Besiktas on Wednesday, made a stirring start with Gerrard forcing a fine early save from goalkeeper Manuel Almunia. A minute later it went ahead through Gerrard’s fierce free kick from the edge of the area.

Gerrard stung Almunia’s fingers with another shot soon after but Arsenal, seeking a 13th consecutive victory in all competitions, hogged possession for the rest of the half with its fluent passing game forcing Liverpool deep.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez sent on Peter Crouch for the injured Fernando Torres after the break and the giant striker forced a great save from Almunia and then missed narrowly with another chance.

Fabregas wasted a glorious chance to equalise after 53 minutes when Emmanuel Eboue’s low shot hit the base of the post and rebounded to him but he fired wide.

He made amends with 10 minutes remaining, however, running on to Alexandr Hleb’s astute pass before toe-poking a shot past Liverpool ’keeper Pepe Reina.

Fabregas then hit the post with a curling effort and William Gallas went close as Arsenal went for the victory in a breathless finish. “They proved they are ready for the challenge and they never give up,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports. “It was a big test today (on Sunday) but we showed tremendous quality.”

Benitez’s gamble of using the Spanish duo of Torres and Xabi Alonso so soon after injury failed with the pair limping off.

Torres suffered a recurrence of his adductor muscle problem, while Alonso was forced off when his metatarsal injury flared up again.

It was bad news for Benitez in a week when Liverpool lost again in Europe to severely dent its chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

“In the end we had too many problems against a good team,” Benitez said.

“But it was a pity to draw this game. We had a goal lead and had two or three more chances and if we had scored then it would have made a big difference,” he said.

“The players did show a lot of commitment and worked very hard against an Arsenal team that is sharp and confident and moves the ball quickly.”

Scholes out

Meanwhile, Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes will be out of action for about three months after the club sources confirmed on Monday that he had damaged knee ligaments.

The results: Liverpool 1 (Gerrard 7) drew with Arsenal 1 (Fabregas 80). — Agencies

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