Liverpool Analysis: Lack Of Fire-Power Costs Rafael Benitez

Posted Thursday, February 11, 2010 by Goal.com

Powderpuff Reds attack lets down another battling performance

It was Arsenal versus Liverpool alright, but not as we know it.

These two great institutions of English football have produced some memorable moments down the years - think back to the FA Cup Finals of 1971 and 2001, the last-day drama of 1989, or the 4-4 draw last April - but on Wednesday night they served up an instantly-forgettable encounter in front of a nervous Emirates crowd.

Rafael Benitez would have been pretty pleased had his side managed to hold firm for 19 more minutes, but Abou Diaby's header condemned the Reds to a first defeat in eight games, and gave vital resuscitation to an Arsenal title bid that was on a life-support machine prior to kick-off.

Wenger's side are under pressure following hefty defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea in recent weeks, and it showed from the first whistle. Liverpool were far from fluent, but they were in the home side's faces and dragging the game down to a tactical battle rather than a free-flowing spectacle. Benitez has never won at the Emirates, and knows that this Liverpool side were unlikely to do so with a gung-ho approach.

The reason for this is simple - the Reds have a lack of genuine attacking threat in games such as this. Benitez was correct to keep faith in young Frenchman David Ngog as his lone-front man, but the 20-year-old was a boy lost in a man's game against the immaculate William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen.

His one chance came at the start of the second half, as he raced onto Steven Gerrard's inviting through-ball. He was astute to get himself across Vermaelen, but in doing so delayed his shot long enough for Gallas to nip in with a superbly-timed challenge. It may be a moot point, but one imagines that the injured Fernando Torres would have been wheeling away in celebration had he been presented with the same opening.

Behind him, it was a night to forget for both Maxi Rodriguez and the in-form Dirk Kuyt. Wenger sprung a surprise by naming Emmanuel Eboue ahead of Bacary Sagna at right-back, but the Ivorian handled Maxi with ease, and Kuyt looked distinctly off-colour despite his usual endeavour.

Which meant, predictably, that the creative spotlight fell once again on Gerrard. The Reds' captain is not enjoying a vintage season by his own high standards, and as such cannot be expected to shoulder the entire attacking burden for his side. Gerrard huffed and puffed here - and in truth looked the likeliest in Liverpool colours to create something - but if anything the visitors' threat waned as the game wore on.

Substitute Ryan Babel - impressive again after a promising half-hour in Saturday's win over Everton - did draw one fine save from the Spaniard, who tipped the Dutchman's 25-yarder onto the bar, but Manuel Almunia will reflect on a pretty quiet evening all told.

Not that Arsenal were much better. Wenger threw Nicklas Bendtner into the action from the start for the first time since November, but the Gunners still lacked the punch which so illuminated their early-season form. The manner in which Tomas Rosicky dallied when presented with a golden chance by Andrey Arshavin's slide-rule pass summed up the sense of nervousness around the stadium.

In fairness, Liverpool's defence - like Arsenal's - enjoyed a pretty solid evening, with both Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel excelling, and it was always likely to require a moment of artistry from either side to win the game. Rosicky's cross and Diaby's flying header did the trick.

For Wenger it brings an end to the storm-clouds which have gathered around North London of late, and eliminates the points dropped in defeat to Chelsea on Sunday. To do so, just like Liverpool previously, it required a performance of guts and desire, as opposed to flair and fluidity. The Frenchman can be satisfied on both counts.

For Benitez - who was left angry after referee Howard Webb refused to award a last-minute penalty for handball by Cesc Fabregas - it is the end of a run which has gone a long way to restoring the confidence shattered by the club's awful winter run, the disappointment etched on the Spaniard's face after the final whistle is testament to the Reds' improvement since a mind-numbing defeat to Portsmouth just before Christmas.

They were as good here as they have been in their past seven unbeaten games since then, the difference being that they were up against a team that can punish a lack of attacking conviction.

Next Sunday's trip to Manchester City now assumes even more importance in the race for a top-four finish - if that were possible.