Starting with three strikers up front against Arsenal, Rafael Benitez issued a statement of attacking intent to his squad and red men everywhere.

With both Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso back from injury and perhaps not quite match fit, the Liverpool magaer seemingly set aside his sometimes cautious style and, like the old Kop chant, his cry before kick-off must have been 'Attack, Attack, Attack'.

Seven minutes in and Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool a dream start. The returning Alonso received a pass from Steve Finnan and duly won a free-kick at the very edge of Arsenal’s penalty area. John Arne Riise, rather than hurting the wall or the spectators, passed to his captain. The wall moved and through its hole, Gerrard directed a shot which only the net got hurt by.

'Arsenal looked like a well-trained First Army. Liverpool, for their part, looked more like a guerilla force. Unconventional, obstinate and feisty'


The press has been waxing lyrically about this current Arsenal side, who seem to have turned the loss of their captain and icon Thierry Henry in their favour. The southern-based and southern-biased media usually blow the virtues and capabilities of their favoured ones out of all proportion, angling their cameras deftly enough to give the illusion of a forest when shooting a garden.

I have seen Arsenal every now and then this season. I have been impressed and secretly admired them - and I now have to openly admit the lyrical waxing has been well earned. Their passing and interchanging is sublime, everyone comfortable with the ball in his feet, finding each other blindfolded without breaking much sweat.

They were chasing the game as early as the seventh minute. However, panic is not in their vocabulary and they always started their attacks from the very back with ease. I guess their training does not consist of much running and cardio; probably they play five-a-side games all day.