Liverpool vs. Arsenal: 6 Things We Learned in Gunners' Anfield Victory

Liverpool crashed to a late 2-1 defeat at Anfield in the Premier League against Arsenal, as, despite dominating much of the match and creating a host of goalscoring opportunities, they fell to a Robin van Persie brace.

Kenny Dalglish was without a trio of first choice players from the League Cup Final last week, as Steven Gerrard, Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson all missed out, but the Reds were the far brighter side in the first half and could have taken the lead in the first 10 minutes with a succession of chances going close.

Dirk Kuyt missed a penalty, and the ensuing rebound, before Laurent Koscielny put through his own net to finally put Liverpool ahead.

Luis Suarez then hit the post and Stewart Downing mis-kicked when placed to lob into an empty net, before van Persie scored his first with Arsenal's first real chance of the game, heading in from Bacary Sagna's cross.

The second half followed the same pattern, with Dirk Kuyt hitting the post and going close on a couple of other occasions, while right-back Martin Kelly twice could have scored from inside the six-yard box with any kind of touch at all, but he missed the ball on both occasions.

Robin van Persie then delivered the ultimate sucker punch. He volleyed in with his second chance of the game, two minutes into injury time, to hand Arsenal the three points.

Here are six things we learned in the match.

Can Nobody Take a Reliable Penalty for Liverpool Any More?

Luis Suarez.

Dirk Kuyt.

Charlie Adam.

Andy Carroll.

Luis Suarez again.

Steven Gerrard.

Charlie Adam again.

And, against Arsenal, Dirk Kuyt again.

That is the shocking list of players who have missed penalties for Liverpool this season alone.

Gone, apparently, are the days of the likes of Danny Murphy, Gary McAllister or Robbie Fowler reliably hitting the back of the net from 12 yards, save perhaps for the very odd occurrence or wonder save.

Even Steven Gerrard has missed a couple in the last season or two, and he previously went on a run of about 15 or 16 successful spot-kicks.

A lot has been made of Liverpool missing chance after chance in open play, so they simply cannot afford to pass up the most gifted chances of all.

It doesn't matter if the 'keeper is having a worldie—put the penalties where they can't reach!

Pepe Reina Beaten Twice at His Near Post

Given the amount of matches he plays, it is not often that Pepe Reina doesn't have a good game.

Against Arsenal, however, he will certainly be more than a little disappointed with his contribution having been beaten twice by Robin van Persie at his near post.

The first goal was arguably difficult to do anything about after the Dutch forward got ahead of Jamie Carragher, planting a firm header beyond Reina from close range, but the second goal for sure will be a source of concern for the Liverpool No. 25.

van Persie's volley was accurate and well-struck, but still, Reina should have been guarding his near post better. He should have been better positioned to make the save.

Other than the goals, Reina made a very good save from a deflected Theo Walcott shot and dealt easily with the little that Arsenal threw his way.

But ultimately, he has been at least partly responsible for Liverpool's defeat.

Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez Put in a Great Shift Up Front

Liverpool went with a front two of Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez against Arsenal, and it seemed to be the right call from Kenny Dalglish. The two livewire forwards caused all sorts of problems for the Gunners defenders with their nonstop harrying and pressing.

The pair never gave the Arsenal back line a chance to break forward or pass easily into midfield, starting up the dominating possession play which Arsenal love to implement.

Much of Liverpool's success in controlling the game was down to those two, always working hard and closing down the ball.

Between them, they helped fashion a succession of chances for themselves and their team mates too, while both forwards were unlucky to strike the woodwork instead of scoring.

Kuyt, of course, missed his penalty and subsequent follow-up, but that was one of the few black marks—along with too many offside decisions—against either of their performances.

Finishing remains an issue for Liverpool, but for determination, attitude and no shortage of ability on the ball, Kuyt and Suarez arguably demonstrated that they should remain the front pairing from here on in for Liverpool.

Charlie Adam Failing to Show He Is a Genuine First-Team Player for the Reds

A regular starter for much of the season, Charlie Adam is seen by most of the Premier League-watching world as a first choice midfielder for Liverpool.

But he isn't playing like one.

Adam can go from having a great game to a poor game, but generally, he has shown this season that, while he is capable and talented, he lacks the real ability that marks the "good" from the "great."

Against Arsenal, he put in what has been a typical Adam performance: getting on the ball plenty, taking responsibility for set pieces and trying to create attacking chances, working hard in midfield and tackling around the centre circle, but, ultimately, failing on too many occasions.

With his passing, Adam delays and delays and delays.

Frequently, there is a quick, easy and possibly highly effective pass on to a teammate, but Adam chooses to continue dribbling forwards, takes an extra touch or looks the other way.

Jordan Henderson was in acres of space on the right edge of the Arsenal penalty box at 1-1 in the second half, but Adam typically chose to try and take on another defender instead.

Henderson's own form means there was no great likelihood of him scoring anyway, but the point is just to demonstrate what happens time and time again when Adam is on the ball.

Adam has lucked out, though, with his teammates' fitness this season. With everybody fit, he probably doesn't get in the team.

Gerrard missed the early stages of the season, while, by the time he was coming back, Lucas Leiva was ruled out for the whole season.

Lucas and Gerrard could easily be Liverpool's first-choice central pairing, while Henderson and Spearing both have gotten plenty of minutes too.

Adam is one of those who needs to step up over the last few months of the season to prove his worth, but to be honest, he has already shown what he is about: a good player, and one who is definitely Premier League quality—but not good enough for the top four. Not good enough for Liverpool.

Robin Van Persie: He Scores When He Wants

What more can be said about Robin van Persie? Having racked up over 30 Premier League goals during 2011, he is well on his way to repeating the feat for 2012 as well, scoring eight times in the Premier League already since the turn of the year.

The Dutchman has 31 for the season in all competitions following his brace against Liverpool.

Midway through the first half, the Reds must have been pleased that they were keeping him so quiet. van Persie hadn't had a sniff of the ball in the area and had been unable to link up with his wingers Theo Walcott and Yossi Benayoun.

But one wicked Bacary Sagna cross later, van Persie had put Arsenal level after far too easily getting ahead of the returning Jamie Carragher.

His second goal in injury time was one of the finest displays of finishing on the volley you might watch this season, after similarly being kept anonymous throughout the previous 46 minutes.

Liverpool created enough chances to win three matches, never mind just this one, but finishing remains a real problem for the Reds.

Robin van Persie, however, scores when he wants.

Apparently.

Champions League Dream Is over for This Season for Liverpool

With 11 fixtures of the Premier League season to go for most sides, 12 for Liverpool, who have a Merseyside derby match in hand, the Reds trail the top four—and Arsenal in particular—by 10 points.

Newcastle United and Chelsea also separate Liverpool from the Gunners, but neither has shown a huge amount of consistency this season, so Liverpool would have been confident of overtaking both teams should they sort out their home form.

The match against Arsenal was Liverpool's big chance to put their marker down for the final three months of the season, but it has proven a step too far in Kenny Dalglish's first season back.

From Liverpool's run-in, only three teams they face are in the top half at present, so the points are certainly there to be won, but given their inability to kill teams off at Anfield this season, it must be considered now that 10 points will be too many to make up.

Liverpool haven't featured in the Champions League since November 2009. And it looks like the wait to return to Europe's premiere competition will have to go on for at least another season yet.