EPL: Day 8, Part 1

Posted by Pierre Igot in: Football
October 5th, 2003 • 6:06 pm

Mission accomplished for Arsenal at Anfield, where they beat Liverpool 2-1. In truth, they had a very poor first half, and were rather fortunate to be level 1-1 at half-time — although, in all fairness, the Liverpool goal was the result of a lucky bounce as well. Liverpool still had many more chances during the first half, and should have put more than just one INTO the net.

They paid for it during the second half, where Arsenal were much stronger and more convincing. They took the lead thanks to an amazing goal by Robert Pires, but it was a deserved lead and they probably deserved to increase it with another goal or two. Liverpool looked stunned by the wonder strike and never really looked like they could come back after that. Their passing became less precise, and Michael Owen’s self-inflicted injury didn’t help.

Elsewhere, Manchester faced little opposition at home against Birmingham — but were also fortunate to be awarded a penalty, with the Birmingham goal keeper being sent off. Ruud van Nistelrooy converted easily, as he usually does, and there was no coming back for Birmingham after that.

So things are still as tight as the top as they were before. But if you’d asked Arsenal players whether they would get 7 points out of three consecutive games at home against Newcastle and away at Manchester and at Liverpool, they’d probably have told you that you were being slightly optimistic.

The next big hurdle is Chelsea at Highbury. After such a series of high profile games, we’ll have a better idea of where we stand exactly.


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