Champions League: Advantage Liverpool Over Arsenal

Part one of the Trilogy of Arsenal Liverpool matches unfolded at the Emirates Stadium and ended up as a tale of missed chances and bad luck for Arsenal.

At the end of it, though, Liverpool walked away with a crucial away goal to take back to Anfield. The scoreline stood at 1-1.

Like all big European matches, this match started as a rather cagey affair with both teams cancelling each other out in the opening exchanges. Arsenal just shading the proceedings in terms of possession.

Then, with probably the first clear cut opportunity presented to them, Arsenal scored as a towering Adebayor netted in a cross from a short corner. Arsene Wenger had just three minutes to enjoy the goal as Gerrard twisted and turned and got through the Arsenal defense to put a low ball across the Arsenal net which was tapped in by a sliding Dirk Kuyt.

In the second half, Arsene decided to put Walcott on instead of Van Persie, resorting to a more stable 4-5-1 formation. The substitution proved useful as Theo infused some much needed pace into Arsenal and gave them some width to worry their opponents.

Arsenal picked up the pace and started to put together their crisp short passes.

Midway into the second half Hleb found himself through on goal only to be denied by Kuyt who clearly pulled down Hleb. But the referee did not see the obvious.

The bad luck did not end there for Arsenal as a shot from Fabregas was cleared elegantly from the line by his teammate Bendtner.

Liverpool had chances of their own but as the half progressed it became more of an attack (of Arsenal) vs defence (of Liverpool). 

Rafa Benitez was obviously delighted with the result. The visitors got what they had come looking for. An away goal.

Jamie Carragher was probably the Man of The Match for Liverpool. He answered almost every thing that was thrown to him. Gerrard and Torres had good games but Alonso was a lost figure.

For Arsenal Adebayor stood out with his goal and the defense held stubborn to deny Liverpool another away goal.

The tie is very evenly poised at this stage with Liverpool holding a slight edge.