Match Report

In a game of two halves Arsenal dominated the first period and should have won at a canter but were pushed back by Liverpool's second-half revival until Cesc Fabergas' stoppage-time finish settled the game.

Arsenal's win virtually assures them of second place and automatic Champions League entry. They are six points ahead of Manchester United with two games to play, and have a superior goal difference.

Their victory means that Liverpool's bitter rivals, Everton, will take England's fourth Champions League place.

Before the game, Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez had said: "We want to play this game like it's a final, like it's a European game."

His side played it 'like a final' only in the second half when they were 2-0 down. Benitez's half-time substitutions galvanised his team as Steven Gerrard and Luis Garcia began to influence the play.

What a difference from Liverpool's first-half performance. It was as if they had left their energy at Anfield after that momentous win over Chelsea.

This was typical of Liverpool's schizophrenic season. They have excelled in the Champions League, yet struggled in the Premiership. Benitez's imports have taken a while to adjust to the physical demands of English football but he believes Liverpool will show their Premiership quality next season.

Arsenal's Arsene Wenger will be delighted with his youngsters. The emergence of Swiss centre-back Philippe Senderos has brought security to a once-vulnerable defence, teenager Cesc Fabregas is a creative talent in the making while Robin van Persie looks a long-term successor to Dennis Bergkamp.

Jose Antonio Reyes, so bruised by the Neville brothers at Manchester, has regained his early season sparkle.

Reyes had the ball in the net in the 12th minute, after Jerzy Dudek palmed out Van Persie's shot but the effort was disallowed for offside.

John Arne Riise had Liverpool's best early chance. He beat the offside trap after a corner and forced a brilliant save from Jens Lehmann but the unmarked Luis Garcia wanted a cross to the far post.

Then Arsenal took over. Fabregas blasted inches wide, Steve Finnan blocked Robert Pires, header and in the 21st minute, Lauren arrived unguarded to hammer Pires' centre. Dudek tipped the ball against the underside of the bar and somehow Liverpool scrambled it away.

Four minutes later, they were breached. Patrick Vieira was fouled on the edge of the box and Pires expertly swept a magnificent free-kick beyond the stranded Dudek.

Reyes hit the second, climaxing a powerful run at Liverpool's right with a diagonal shot that left Dudek clutching air again.

Van Persie then met Ashley Cole's 38th minute cross with a left-foot strike but this time Dudek saved.

Benitez responded by sending on Djibril Cisse and Harry Kewell for the second half. Cisee was quickly involved with a shot wide while Gerrard appealed for a pass.

Gerrard got Liverpool back into the game with a 51st-minute free-kick after Xavi Alonso went down. His shot hit Fabregas on the heel and beat Lehmann.

Liverpool began to press. Cisse fired in two shots and Lehmann saved a bouncing 30-yarder from Gerrard. Luis Garcia drilled wide from 15 yards before Lehmann made an important block from Kewell.

But Fabregas finished off Liverpool. Lauren broke on the right, Bergkamp deftly turned his centre into Fabregas' path and the 18-year-old Catalan, who had a goal disallowed for offside a few minutes earlier, drove a low shot past Dudek.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides