Eurosport –
Andrey Arshavin scored four for Arsenal but Yossi Benayoun grabbed an injury-time equaliser to earn Liverpool a 4-4 draw in a Premier League thriller at Anfield.
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In an incredible match, Russian star Arshavin became the first man to score four goals in a League game at Anfield in 53 years – with Arsenal’s only four shots on target.
He gave the Gunners the lead against the run of play after 36 minutes only for Fernando Torres and Benayoun to give Liverpool the advantage with goals within seven minutes early in the second-half.
Arshavin then struck on 67 and 70 minutes only for Torres to add his second two minutes later to level once more.
The Russian looked to have grabbed the points for Arsene Wenger’s side by matching Julio Baptista‘s feat in the League Cup on this ground two seasons ago by scoring his fourth in the final minute.
But Benayoun popped up to scuff home a close range shot in injury-time to take Liverpool to the top of the Premier League for 24 hours at least.
The Merseysiders are ahead of Manchester United, who host Portsmouth on Wednesday, on goal difference but they have played a game more and will feel they have dropped two points regardless of the entertainment served up.
Liverpool had peppered Lukasz Fabianski in the Arsenal goal with Samir Nasri clearing Daniel Agger‘s header off the line before the visitors took the lead via some sloppy defending that characterised the night.
Javier Mascherano lost the ball in his own penalty area and Cesc Fabregas teed up Arshavin who smashed his shot into the net, off the underside of the bar.
Dirk Kuyt was pushed to the right wing after the break and he played a part in Liverpool’s opening two goals.
On 49 minutes, a really poor cleanrace by Bacary Sagna fell to the Dutch workhorse who picked out Torres with his cross at the second attempt and the Spanish striker headed home his 12th goal of the season past the diving Fabianski.
