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Arsenal v Liverpool: Five classic Premier League meetings

Thierry Henry of Arsenal holds off Steven Gerrard of Liverpool during the FA Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium in 2001

Arsenal versus Liverpool is a fixture steeped in history and their Monday Night Football meeting promises to be another game to remember...

The 1989 title decider at Anfield, which saw Michael Thomas snatch the crown for Arsenal in injury time, is perhaps the most famous meeting of all but there have been plenty of eventful matches in recent seasons.

Here, we pick out five classics from the Premier League era…

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Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal - February 2014

Arsenal arrived at Anfield as Premier League leaders but were blown away in 20 minutes by a Martin Skrtel double and efforts from Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge. Sterling added his second of the match after the break before Mikel Arteta restored some pride for the shell-shocked visitors from the penalty spot.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08:  Raheem Sterling of Liverpool scores the third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsena
Image: Raheem Sterling scored Liverpool's third goal in a 5-1 win in February 2014

Arsene Wenger said his side had “a lot of answers to find” after the hammering, which allowed Chelsea to knock them off the top of the table. However, despite exacting revenge with an FA Cup win over Liverpool a week later, Arsenal slipped off the pace and eventually finished fourth, while Brendan Rodgers’ men went on to win their next 10 league games and just missed out on the title.

Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool – August 2011

Liverpool’s only Premier League win at Arsenal in the last 15 years was masterminded by Reds boss Kenny Dalglish as substitutes Luis Suarez and Raul Meireles combined to secure a late victory at the Emirates Stadium. Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, was left bemoaning his team’s luck following the early loss of Laurent Koscielny to injury as well as the sending off of Emmanuel Frimpong with 20 minutes remaining.

Liverpool's Uruguayan player Luis Suarez jumps over a challenge from Arsenal's French midfielder Abou Diaby during the Premier League match in August 2011
Image: Luis Suarez helped turn the game in Liverpool's favour in 2011

Frimpong’s exit turned the game with substitute Ignasi Miquel seeing a clearance deflect off team-mate Aaron Ramsey soon after and loop into the Arsenal net. In the final moments, Suarez applied the finish from a Meireles pass to put the seal on Liverpool’s victory. For Arsenal, it was a worrying result that hinted at what was to come – an 8-2 defeat at Manchester United in their next Premier League outing.

Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal - April 2009

Andrey Arshavin joined Arsenal in January 2009 tipped to do great things. While the Russian’s stay in north London was hardly a roaring success, he showed how destructive he can be in this eight-goal thriller. Despite netting just twice since signing for Wenger’s side, Arshavin bagged all four at Anfield in April 2009.

LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 21:  Andrey Arshavin of Arsenal  celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the Barclays Premier League match betwe
Image: Andrey Arshavin made a big impact when the teams met in 2009

Fernando Torres responded to his opener before Yossi Benayoun put the Reds ahead but two in three second-half minutes from Arshavin swung the momentum Arsenal’s way. Torres then levelled again before Benayoun cancelled out Arshavin’s own injury-time effort at the death to share the spoils. The result moved Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League but Manchester United overhauled their rivals by winning their two games in hand to take the title and deny Rafael Benitez’s men.

Arsenal 4-2 Liverpool – April 2004

Arsenal were threatening to be the all-conquering team that season – unbeaten in the Premier League and with a chance of an historic treble just a week earlier. But after losing an FA Cup tie to Manchester United, the Gunners then found themselves dumped out of the Champions League by Claudio Ranieri’s Chelsea. So when Liverpool led 2-1 at half-time at Highbury on Good Friday, Arsenal’s season was threatening to implode. Thierry Henry had other ideas.

Arsenal's Thierry Henry (L) puts the ball beyond Liverpool's Jerzy Dudek  for his second goal of the day during the 4-2 win at Highbury in April 2004
Image: Henry scored a hat-trick for Arsenal against Liverpool in 2004

With the score tied at two-apiece and Henry already on the scoresheet, he put the Gunners ahead with a wonderful solo goal before completing his hat-trick to seal a big three points and regain much-needed momentum for his team. “Thierry Henry's second goal was amazing,” said Wenger. “It doesn't get any worse than losing a Champions League game the way we did, but I felt the way they responded was absolutely magnificent.” A little over a month later, Arsenal beat Leicester to become the Invincibles.

Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal – October 2003

Liverpool had also tested Arsenal at Anfield earlier that season. The Gunners went into the game without the injured Patrick Vieira and were under the cosh from the first whistle. Harry Kewell deservedly put the hosts ahead on 13 minutes before he and Michael Owen spurned chances to double the lead. Liverpool paid for that wastefulness as Arsenal fortuitously got back on level terms when Robert Pires’ free-kick deflected in off Sami Hyypia. The visitors improved after the break and went ahead through a fine Pires effort in the second-half and held on to clinch all three points – and stay on track for an unbeaten season.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 4:  Thierry Henry of Arsenal celebrates after Robert Pires scores the second goal during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match
Image: Arsenal overcame an Anfield challenge on their way to the title in 2003/04

With Arsenal’s incredible feat only in its infancy in October 2003, however, headlines focused on a second-half injury to Owen, which ruled him out of England’s final Euro 2004 qualifier in Turkey. Wayne Rooney stepped in for the Liverpool man and helped his country book their spot at the Portugal showpiece the following summer – when Arsenal fans were basking in the glory of the Invincibles’ achievement.

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