Liverpool vs. Arsenal: 7 Classic Matches Between the Premier League Giants

Liverpool and Arsenal do battle in the Premier League this weekend as England's top flight continues its kickoff with a whole host of top clashes early on in the season.

Matches between the two rivals have often provided plenty of goals, exhilaration and late drama and, given the relative success of the two clubs over the past decade or so, these have often been in big matches not restricted to the Premier League.

Here are seven classic matches between the Reds and the Gunners.

Neil Mellor Wins It in Injury Time

Great game, great goals—first from Xabi Alonso and then from Patrick Vieira—and decided by the most fantastic hit of all Neil Mellor's Liverpool career.

Last minute, Kop end, match winner.

Unbeatable feeling.

Thierry Henry at His Finest

Right around the time Thierry Henry was at his most fearsome and unstoppable best, the Frenchman here hit a hat trick to help Arsenal come from behind twice and to eventually run out 4-2 winners over Liverpool.

All looked well at half time for the away team as Sami Hyypia's goal was cancelled out by Henry's first, but Michael Owen tucked away a fine finish for 2-1 Liverpool.

Robert Pires equalized though, before one of the finest goals of Henry's Arsenal career ensued.

Picking the ball up midway inside the Liverpool, half the forward left Didi Hamann for dead and turned Jamie Carragher inside out, who ended up with Igor Biscan falling on top of him, before Henry calmly side-footed his trademark finish inside Jerzy Dudek's far post.

A lucky ricochet completed the treble, and Arsenal took all three points in style.

Champions League Drama at Anfield

A cracking European night at Anfield, which was filled with drama, end-to-end action and some of the finest individual goals of the season.

The Reds won 4-2 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate, but the result was in doubt right the way up until the final minutes of the game.

Abou Diaby and Sami Hyypia traded goals for the Reds in the first half, and midway through the second half, a magnificent piece of control, turn and shot by Fernando Torres found the top corner to put Liverpool ahead.

With just five minutes left on the clock, Theo Walcott embarked on a magical, fast-paced dribble to leave five or six Reds defenders for dead, before squaring for an easy Emmanuel Adebayor finish, which looked to be sending Arsenal through.

Back came Liverpool though with a penalty from Steven Gerrard just two minutes later, at which point the Reds led again, but a late Arsenal goal would have sent the Gunners through on away goals.

Anfield exploded with delight, as Ryan Babel raced through to smash home the final goal in the final minute, as the Reds marched on to the semifinals of the Champions League.

The Michael Owen FA Cup Final

A game that Arsenal fans are probably still wondering how they lost.

The Gunners dominated the 2001 FA Cup final for long stretches but simply couldn't find a way past Liverpool goalkeeper Stephane Henchoz—err, sorry, Sander Westerveld.

Freddie Ljungberg finally got the goal to put Arsenal ahead, but Liverpool were nothing if not resilient, back in the best of Houllier's days. They fought back with two late Michael Owen goals, one right and one left foot, to steal the FA Cup.

Arsenal Rout the Reds in the League Cup

Nine goals!

Yes, Arsenal went to Anfield for the League Cup in 2008 and put six past Liverpool, who scored three themselves in reply.

Sit back and enjoy (unless you support Liverpool) goals from Jeremie Aliadiere, Robbie Fowler, Julio Baptista, Alex Song and Baptista again—who then missed a penalty and again for his hat trick—Steven Gerrard with the pick of the bunch, Sami Hyypia and then, you guessed it, a fourth for Baptista.

Another Anfield Late Show, from Luis Garcia

This was another late winner—coming in the 86th minute—but this time Liverpool were definitely the worthy winners, as they battered Arsenal for most of the game, with Jens Lehmann a one-man barricade between the Reds and three points.

He was finally breached, as Luis Garcia reacted quickest to yet another save, smashing home from a narrow angle to claim the victory.

One of the Greatest Ever Premier League Games

We'll finish up with one of the best-ever matches in Premier League history.

The result all but ended Liverpool's hopes of winning the Premiership title for 2008-09, but the game was as memorable for the introduction of Andrei Arshavin as it was for the back-and-forth nature of the contest.

The Russian scored all four of Arsenal's goals, while Liverpool hit the back of the net through Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun, twice apiece.

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