Premier League Player Ratings: Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal

Calm, authoritative and solid for 89 minutes before his failure to deal with Arsenal attack in final seconds cost Liverpool dear, even if Spaniard can count himself a little unlucky.

Home games give England's first-choice right-back even greater licence to bomb forward and his forward forays were one of Liverpool's most effective weapons before Cole's sending-off. Kept Arshavin quiet, too.

How did Agger do, goes the not-so-funny refrain. Very well is the answer, as usual, even at left-back. If his durability matched his ability, he would be some player.

Threw mind, body and soul at everything Arsenal had to offer. Not pretty but pretty effective.

Used all the tricks in his armoury to keep Chamakh quiet on his Premier League debut, only occasionally resorting to the darker arts. Led the back five with typical commitment and few deserved victory more than the Liverpool vice-captain.

If this was his last game at Anfield - and reports from Spain suggest a Barcelona deal is imminent - Mascherano ensured he leaves on a high. Far too savvy for Diaby and Wilshere.

On the periphery before a reckless and ill-judged, if not malicious, tackle on Koscielny seconds before the break ensured his Liverpool league debut should be the subject of quiz questions for years to come.

Re-deployed in his favourite central midfield role and responded with a colossal, all-action display. His range of passing from deep was a far cry from the not-so-glory Lucas-Mascherano days and his set piece delivery was radar-like in its accuracy.

One of Rafael Benitez's final signings twice bulldozed past Sagna early on and showed determination, strength and a sure touch. Impressive start.

Will never win extra marks for aesthetic appeal - or technical ability - but ran his heart out when Liverpool were reduced to 10 men and never allowed Arsenal to dominate on their left flank.

Proof that football really can be a curious old game. Fabulous finish of which Torres would have been proud and could have doubled his tally had Clichy not snuffed out a powerful header on the goal-line. Now to learn how to stay onside and hold the ball up.

Not so much a question mark about Arsenal's No.1 but an exclamation mark. His handling and positioning were messier than a toddler's party and will not want to watch too many replays of Ngog's opener. Calls for Wenger to recruit a top-notch goalkeeper - be it Schwarzer, Given or Uncle Tom Cobleigh - grow even more deafening.

Ridiculously booed for being the completely innocent - and injured - party in Joe Cole's sending-off and Kop had reason to crow when he was unluckily sent off for a second bookable offence four minutes into added time.

Saved Arsenal's bacon by blocking a goal-bound Ngog header but he will be nervously watching over his shoulder as Kieran Gibbs motors up behind him.

More effective in the final third than the last third. Did not dominate the inexperienced Ngog as he would have been expected to.

Lucky not to have conceded a penalty early on and his demand for Cole to be sent off won him little sympathy from the Kop. Busy, but his final delivery was inconsistent as Arsenal searched for an equaliser.

Arsenal's latest baby-faced prodigy showed an assasin's streak with a few tackles that might not have been disowned by Patrick Vieira. Generally neat in possession but looked the junior that he is against this company.

Slick and cumbersome in equal measures. Few players veer between the very good and very bad as often as the Frenchman, although he was deployed in his less favoured midfield anchorman role. Substituted as Arsenal threw the kitchen sink at Liverpool in the last quarter.

Looked a shadow of the European giant who stunned Anfield with four goals two seasons ago. Unable to exert any influence on the game.

Much is expected of the Frenchman following two seasons that have promised much but not quite delivered enough. Took up some excellent positions and was influential on the ball although could not quite come up with the killer pass.

If he was an actor, he would more likely get a gig with a lunchtime Australian soap opera than the Royal Shakespeare Company. The usual cocktail of dives, energy and misplaced passes.