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Premier League Player Ratings: Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool
Diaby header stops the rot for Gunners
10 Feb 2010 21:58:00
By Neil Jones | Liverpool Correspondent
ARSENAL
Manuel Almunia - 7 - Not much to do, though he handled Liverpool's crowding tactics well at set-pieces. Flapped at one Gerrard free kick late on, but made a critical late save to turn Babel's piledriver onto the crossbar.
Emmanuel Eboue - 7 - Defended well against Maxi, though his attacking instincts were rather subdued.
William Gallas - 7.5 - Made a goal-saving challenge to deny Ngog, and was often well-placed to clear from inside his own box.
Thomas Vermaelen - 7.5 - Pacy and classy in possession, and his understanding with Gallas was plainly evident.
Gael Clichy - 6 - Cautioned for a foul on Gerrard, and a lot of Liverpool's best play came from his flank.
Abou Diaby - 7.5 - Not especially incisive with his passing, but was on hand to head his side ahead with 19 minutes remaining, and his energy and dexterity in midfield was more than useful.
Cesc Fabregas - 6.5 - Tried to get Arsenal moving as much as possible, and though his passing lacked its usual imagination, he was still a very effective cog in the Gunners' midfield. Booked late on for delaying the taking of a free kick, and was fortunate not to concede a penalty when blocking Gerrard's strike.
Alex Song - 7 - Picked up plenty of pieces in midfield, and kept the ball for his side. Was a useful defensive tool too, snuffing out Gerrard's bursts on more than one occasion.
Andrei Arshavin - 6 - Never got into the game, save for one beautiful pass for Rosicky, and was replaced by Walcott midway through the second half.
Samir Nasri - 5 - Troubled by an early knock, and replaced by Rosicky after just 34 minutes.
Nicklas Bendtner - 6.5 - Denied by Reina at the start of the second half, the Dane was later booked for diving after going over Agger's leg on the edge of the box. Hold up play allowed Arsenal to grow into the game in the second half, and he was involved for Diaby's goal. Not his most devastating game, but effective nonetheless.
Substitutes
Theo Walcott - 6 - Replaced Arshavin, and his pace immediately rattled Liverpool, even if his final ball did not.
Tomas Rosicky - 7 - Early replacement for the stricken Nasri, the Czech star initially looked off the pace. Miscontrolled a gilt-edged chance, before seeing another deflected narrowly over. It was his perfect centre which allowed Diaby to head the winner.
Bacary Sagna - 6 - Late replacement for Bendtner, as Arsenal looked to protect their lead.
LIVERPOOL
Pepe Reina - 6.5 - Did well to smother at Bendtner's feet, but was left exposed for Diaby's goal and denied a fifth straight clean sheet.
Jamie Carragher - 6 - Keen not to get caught on the turn by Arshavin, and defended well as a consequence. Forced off just nine minutes into the second half with a groin problem.
Daniel Agger - 7 - Cool and calm as ever, the Dane is looking a class act again at the heart of Liverpool's defence.
Martin Skrtel - 7 - Covered very well alongside Agger, and had perhaps his best game of the season. Deserved a clean sheet.
Emiliano Insua - 6 - Defended reasonably well, snuffing out one chance for Nasri early on. Wasted a couple of useful counter-attacks with careless passes, and was dragged infield - allowing Rosicky to cross for Diaby's goal.
Javier Mascherano - 6.5 - An important player for Liverpool in the midfield, the Argentine kept things ticking over and got in Fabregas' face, even if his passing was not of an especially high quality.
ARSENAL
Manuel Almunia - 7 - Not much to do, though he handled Liverpool's crowding tactics well at set-pieces. Flapped at one Gerrard free kick late on, but made a critical late save to turn Babel's piledriver onto the crossbar.
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Emmanuel Eboue - 7 - Defended well against Maxi, though his attacking instincts were rather subdued.
William Gallas - 7.5 - Made a goal-saving challenge to deny Ngog, and was often well-placed to clear from inside his own box.
Thomas Vermaelen - 7.5 - Pacy and classy in possession, and his understanding with Gallas was plainly evident.
Gael Clichy - 6 - Cautioned for a foul on Gerrard, and a lot of Liverpool's best play came from his flank.
Abou Diaby - 7.5 - Not especially incisive with his passing, but was on hand to head his side ahead with 19 minutes remaining, and his energy and dexterity in midfield was more than useful.
Cesc Fabregas - 6.5 - Tried to get Arsenal moving as much as possible, and though his passing lacked its usual imagination, he was still a very effective cog in the Gunners' midfield. Booked late on for delaying the taking of a free kick, and was fortunate not to concede a penalty when blocking Gerrard's strike.
Alex Song - 7 - Picked up plenty of pieces in midfield, and kept the ball for his side. Was a useful defensive tool too, snuffing out Gerrard's bursts on more than one occasion.
Andrei Arshavin - 6 - Never got into the game, save for one beautiful pass for Rosicky, and was replaced by Walcott midway through the second half.
Samir Nasri - 5 - Troubled by an early knock, and replaced by Rosicky after just 34 minutes.
Nicklas Bendtner - 6.5 - Denied by Reina at the start of the second half, the Dane was later booked for diving after going over Agger's leg on the edge of the box. Hold up play allowed Arsenal to grow into the game in the second half, and he was involved for Diaby's goal. Not his most devastating game, but effective nonetheless.
Substitutes
Theo Walcott - 6 - Replaced Arshavin, and his pace immediately rattled Liverpool, even if his final ball did not.
Tomas Rosicky - 7 - Early replacement for the stricken Nasri, the Czech star initially looked off the pace. Miscontrolled a gilt-edged chance, before seeing another deflected narrowly over. It was his perfect centre which allowed Diaby to head the winner.
Bacary Sagna - 6 - Late replacement for Bendtner, as Arsenal looked to protect their lead.
LIVERPOOL
Pepe Reina - 6.5 - Did well to smother at Bendtner's feet, but was left exposed for Diaby's goal and denied a fifth straight clean sheet.
Jamie Carragher - 6 - Keen not to get caught on the turn by Arshavin, and defended well as a consequence. Forced off just nine minutes into the second half with a groin problem.
Daniel Agger - 7 - Cool and calm as ever, the Dane is looking a class act again at the heart of Liverpool's defence.
Martin Skrtel - 7 - Covered very well alongside Agger, and had perhaps his best game of the season. Deserved a clean sheet.
Emiliano Insua - 6 - Defended reasonably well, snuffing out one chance for Nasri early on. Wasted a couple of useful counter-attacks with careless passes, and was dragged infield - allowing Rosicky to cross for Diaby's goal.
Javier Mascherano - 6.5 - An important player for Liverpool in the midfield, the Argentine kept things ticking over and got in Fabregas' face, even if his passing was not of an especially high quality.
Lucas Leiva - 7 - Was bright and busy in the centre of midfield, looking to join in with the attack wherever possible. Blazed a decent chance just over at the start of the second half, but won an awful lot of defensive headers
Dirk Kuyt - 5 - The match-winner from the weekend was a little off-colour, wasteful with his passing and rather predictable with his movement.
Steven Gerrard - 6.5 - Dangerous whenever he got the ball, with one classy ball providing a great opening for Ngog. Set-piece delivery was poor at times, though he looked the most likely to conjure something for his side, even though his theatrics at times were a touch embarrassing.
Maxi Rodriguez - 5 - Booked for a high challenge on Eboue, and spurned a couple of shooting chances in the first half. Struggled to make an impact after the break, and was perhaps fortunate to complete the game, given his lack of involvement.
David Ngog - 5 - Lacked conviction when played in by Gerrard at the start of the second half, which rather summed up his night. Movement was ok but his touch was poor too often and he offered little by way of threat to Almunia's goal.
SUBSTITUTES
Ryan Babel - 6.5 - Late substitute as the Reds chased the game, he drew a fingertip save from Almunia - via the crossbar - with his first action. Looked as lively as he has for some time, which will raise the question of a starting place once more.
Philipp Degen - 5.5 - Brought on for the injured Carragher, his first act was to collect a booking for a trip on Arshavin. Looked to gallop forward, but was flat-footed as Diaby headed the opening goal.
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