Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool 1 Arsenal 1: Reds find their old spirit after Joe Cole's card anguish
Roy Hodgson is sure to look back on this frenetic encounter with a deep sense of frustration.[LNB]The late equaliser for Arsenal; the red card that ruined Joe Cole's League debut.[LNB]After Liverpool's new manager suggested last week that his side were a 'long way from being equals' to teams like Arsene Wenger's, a victory here at Anfield yesterday would have amounted to a brilliant start.[LNB] King David: Ngog thumps the ball past Manuel Almunia to open the scoring at Anfield[LNB]But this nevertheless remains a fine summer for Hodgson, and the manner in which his side overcame the loss of Cole moments before half-time reflects as well on him as his success in persuading Steven Gerrard and Fernando[LNB]Torres to stay. If he persuades Javier Mascherano to remain as well, having insisted yesterday that the club have still to receive an offer for him, it will be quite a hat-trick. [LNB]The combative Argentine was superb yesterday, making the crucial interception that led to David Ngog's goal.[LNB]After a difficult final season with Rafa Benitez, there is fresh optimism at Liverpool despite the ongoing chaos off the pitch. [LNB] Seeing red: Joe Cole's league debut ends prematurely - sent off for a lunging tackle on Laurent Koscielny[LNB]Cole might have endured a difficult afternoon but Milan Jovanovic was applauded when he left the field and the sight of Torres replacing Ngog prompted further celebration.[LNB]For Wenger, it was less encouraging, even if this game did demonstrate exactly why Arsenal's manager has fought so hard to keep Cesc Fabregas, absent yesterday because of a chest infection, at the club.[LNB]Without Robin van Persie for 76 minutes, Arsenal also looked short up front, for the most part because of the difficulties Marouane Chamakh experienced during hisfirst taste of English football. [LNB]In the end he played a vital part in the equaliser, beating Pepe Reina to Tomas Rosicky's cross before seeing the ball bounce off the post and then the Liverpool goalkeeper before crossing the line.[LNB] Enlarge Enlarge Shocker: Pepe Reina lets the ball slip out of his hands (L) and hit the back of the net to equalise for Arsenal (R)[LNB]But much like the rest of the Arsenal team, Chamakh failed to put the hosts under real pressure and that might nag at Wenger when he seems so convinced that his playersare champions in the making.[LNB]Laurent Koscielny enjoyed a better League debut - until, that is, he too marked it with a red card after two late yellows for a deliberate handball and an eye-watering kick between Dirk Kuyt's legs.[LNB]Jack Wilshere, meanwhile, continued his education with an excellent hour's work before Wenger replaced him with Rosicky. [LNB]Wenger appears keen to replace Manuel Almunia on a permanent basis, even if he did take the curious step of making him captain yesterday. [LNB]Allowing Ngog to beat him at his near post would have done nothing to endear the Spaniard to his manager. [LNB] Welcome sight: The Anfield faithful were ecstatic to see Fernando Torres back in action [LNB]A move for Manchester City's Shay Given would make sense, however interested Arsenal might be in Fulham's Mark Schwarzer. [LNB]His late error aside, Reina was by far the better goalkeeper here. He excelled in diverting a stinging effort from Thomas Vermaelen to safety in the opening few minutes and would not have been embarrassed by Ngog.[LNB]Nobody, of course, was more embarrassed than Cole. He struggled to make an impact for the 45 minutes he was on the pitch but when he caught Koscielny with a reckless challenge, he left Martin Atkinson with little option but to show him the first red card of his career. [LNB]Replays suggested it was a little harsh, but at full speed it looked pretty awful, even if we can be certain that the England winger is not a malicious player.[LNB] Not me, guv: Chamakh had a tough first afternoon in the Premier League - and couldn't lay claim to the Gunners' goal[LNB]With Liverpool having only 10 men to contest the entire second half, the odds were now stacked very much in Arsenal's favour.[LNB]But Hodgson's side actually stepped up a gear the moment the match restarted and scored inside the first minute after stealing possession deep inside Arsenal'shalf. [LNB]Mascherano won the ball and delivered it into the path of Ngog, who struck with a blistering, albeit stoppable, finish.[LNB]Ngog almost scored again 10 minutes later, meeting a fine ball from the inspirational, not to mention ubiquitous, Steven Gerrard with a header he really should have buried.[LNB]But as Wenger began to unleash more and more firepower from the bench - first with Rosicky and Theo Walcott and then Van Persie - so Arsenal's chances of anequaliser improved.[LNB] Enlarge Solid start: Roy Hodgosn makes his point to his captain Steven Gerrard [LNB]Had it not been for Reina, they would have scored far sooner than they did. The Spaniard did well to tip a free-kick from Walcott round his post and impressed again when he denied Rosicky, who had followed a jinking run with a chipped effort that seemed destined for the back of the Liverpool net.[LNB]Liverpool v Arsenal - teamsLiverpool (4-4-1-1): Reina 6; Johnson 7,Carragher 8, Skrtel 7, Agger 7; Kuyt 7, Gerrard 8, Mascherano 7 (Lucas 78 6),Jovanovic 6 (Rodriguez 65 6); Cole 5; Ngog 7 (Torres 74 6). Booked: Gerrard.Sent off: Cole.Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Almunia 5; Sagna 6,Koscielny 7, Vermaelen 7, Clichy 6; Diaby 6 (Van Persie 76 6), Wilshere 7 (Rosicky 59 7); Eboue 6 (Walcott 59 6), Nasri 6, Arshavin 5; Chamakh 6.Booked: Wilshere, Rosicky, Koscielny.Sent off: Koscielny.[LNB]Man of the match: Steven Gerrard.[LNB]In fairness to Almunia, he had denied Glen Johnson and Gerrard with similarly spectacular saves. But if one goalkeeper was going to cost his team points here yesterday, nobody would have backed Reina to be that man.[LNB]So often Liverpool's saviour and someone Jamie Carragher described as 'the best in the world' after the game, he was crushed by the mistake that prompted Chamakh to dare claim the goal.[LNB]Reina would no doubt let him keep it, but it was an own goal and it belonged to Liverpool's keeper. [LNB]'My feeling was of disappointment,' said Hodgson afterwards. 'But that was a fantastic effort.' [LNB]Indeed it was, with Gerrard and Carragher once again the embodiment of the spirit that had started to die under Benitez but now seems to be back. [LNB]After five weeks in charge, Hodgson should be extremely satisfied.[LNB] Liverpool target £5m PSV Eindhoven forward Ola ToivonenDavid Stockdale ready to replace Arsenal-bound Mark Schwarzer as Fulham No 1 Chelsea chairman Buck aims sly dig at Liverpool - You're just a 'small club'LIVERPOOL FC
