Reds outclassed by Arsenal

Brendan Rodgers became the first Liverpool manager since Roy Evans to fail to win any of his opening three League matches yesterday after Liverpool succumbed to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to Arsene Wenger's impressive Arsenal side. Goals from Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla secured the three points that the Gunners' performance deserved.

Loan signing from Real Madrid Nuri Sahin made his debut alongside Joe Allen and Steven Gerrard in midfield, while Raheem Sterling was handed another starting place in the front three after recent promising displays. Meanwhile, Jose Enrique replaced the benched Stewart Downing at left back.

The opening stages were closely contested, with neither side claiming superiority until Podolski's opener on the half hour mark swung the momentum in the visitors' favour. Before that, Borini shot into the hoardings and narrowly over the bar, while strike partner Luis Suarez saw his looped header from Enrique's dinked cross fail to trouble Arsenal's reserve stopper Vito Mannone, who was keeping goal in place of first choice Wojciech Szczesny.

After the game entered a brief lull, a mistake from Steven Gerrard proved fatal as Arsenal rapidly counter-attack to punish the Merseysiders. The skipper's misplaced pass was intercepted and the Gunners broke, the influential Cazorla running at Liverpool's defence ominously before playing in Podolski. The Poland-born Germany international finished clinically past Reina as Glen Johnson, who had been caught out further up the field, desperately slid in a vain attempt to prevent Arsenal breaking the deadlock.

Liverpool responded, almost inevitably through Sterling, as the 17-year old skilfully turned his man in the box before smashing the ball left-footed against the upright. Suarez was then felled in the box but the despised Howard Webb probably made the right decision in not awarding the hosts a spot kick.

The half ended with the away side in the ascendancy, though, as Arsenal really should have doubled their advantage. The Reds afforded the magnificent, Viera-esque Diaby far too much space to stride confidently into and, when he fed Giroud, many expected him to net a second for the Gunners. Fortunately, the French forward, who would be called Mr Sitter if he was a Mr Men character, squandered the opportunity and fired wide.

Early on in the second half Suarez had a stronger penalty appeal turned down by Webb. As the Uruguyuan attempted to reach Gerrard's right wing cross he was pushed to the floor by Mertesacker, yet no spot kick was given. It was probably a case of the boy who cried wolf, as Suarez's undeniable tendency to go to ground easily unfortunately lessens the chance of a penalty being given when he is genuinely fouled in the box.

After Reina made a fine reflex save to prevent Gibbs making it 2-0 with an angled shot, Stewart Downing replaced Borini and made an instant impact. His clever and composed back heel on the edge of the box found Suarez in space. The number seven's shot was then tipped over the bar by the keeper. Downing then linked up with Sterling, as the latter's cross was headed wide by the former at the far post midway through the second period.

Arsenal struck the killer blow on 68 minutes. An excellent free-flowing move culminated in Cazorla's shot ricocheting off Reina and into the net. For all of Arsenal's brilliance in setting up the strike, questions must be asked of Reina, who really should have done better and looks to be struggling at the start of the season.

The performance of substitute Shelvey was one positive to take from the game. The clean-shaven midfielder saw his effort smothered on 86 minutes, before Suarez dinked over from close range, but Liverpool never looked like finding a way back into the contest and Arsenal deservedly extended their five match unbeaten streak at Anfield.

Before kick-off the fact that Arsenal had failed to score so far this season was emphasised by Kopites, while the fact that they'd also kept two clean sheets in two matches was conveniently downplayed. On the day, Arsenal played excellently and scored two good goals, while it was hardly surprising that Liverpool's weak front three failed to breach the Gunners' much improved back four.

Although the Reds claimed 53% of possession, Arsenal's passing football was far superior. A crucial tactical flaw from the home side was their attempt to beat the Gunners at their own game. Instead of getting in their faces and making it difficult for Arsenal to play pretty football, they tried to pass their way through Arsenal and consequently left plenty of space for their opponents to exploit.

The match provided Rodgers' side both a tough lesson and a target to aim for. Those lessons must be learned and improvements made during the international break so that progress can be made when Liverpool travel to Sunderland's Stadium of Light in just under two weeks time.

YNWA