Danny Murphy overpowers Lauren (Allsport).
By Paul Walker, PA Sport
Click here for full match stats
The only person smiling more than Emile Heskey after this tremendous battle
was Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson - who sat in the Anfield stands
watching the champions and Barclaycard Premiership leaders held by Liverpool.
The Merseysiders, way out of the title hunt, fought their way to what looked
an unlikely point at times thanks to Heskey's last-ditch header.
So Arsenal missed the chance to go eight points clear of United, leaving the
door ajar for the Old Trafford men - who can trim The Gunners' advantage to
three points if they win their game in hand.
As well as Ferguson, Sven-Goran Eriksson was in the Anfield stands to make
sure his England men were fit and well, as was Ajax boss Ronald Koeman, whose
side face Arsenal soon in the Champions League.
Arsenal started with flow, pace and composure and would have been out of sight
by the break but for the form of the returning Jerzy Dudek.
Michael Owen had an early shot blocked after Heskey's persistence, but the pace
of Arsenal's response on eight minutes was frightening.
Bergkamp's ball sent Thierry Henry slicing through the middle, and although
Jamie Carragher got across to tackle and Dudek made an excellent close-range
block from the Frenchman's shot, the ball fell perfectly for Pires to drive into
an open goal from 10 yards.
Liverpool goalkeeper Dudek did well to block another fierce angled drive from
Henry after the Gunner had cut in from the left, before Bergkamp forced
Carragher into a desperate last-ditch tackle.
Vieira was penalised for pushing Sami Hyypia as he headed a Pires corner past
Dudek, but the way this contest was going another Arsenal goal wouldn't have
been undeserved.
Owen's pace got him behind Sol Campbell after 22 minutes, but the covering was
so swift he had to twist away from defenders before seeing David Seaman block
his effort. Steven Gerrard's follow-up volley was held by the England veteran.
Patrick Vieira's dominance of midfield and Henry's stunning pace threatened
every time Arsenal attacked, and when Pires put French compatriot Henry into
space yet again on 29 minutes, Dudek had to be at his best to touch the angled
drive behind.
From Pires' corner, Pascal Cygan's header was blocked on the line by Bruno
Cheyrou as Liverpool survived again.
After 32 minutes Henry's pace took him clear again onto a Pires ball, he went
round Dudek but was forced sufficiently wide by the Pole and only found the
sidenetting.
Liverpool were desperate for a break and when one arrived from an El Hadji
Diouf pass, Owen was clear again but failed to beat Seaman, who saved well to
his left.
The hosts needed to inject fire and competitiveness into their game, and to
their credit they went for it after the break.
Henry had twice failed at the other end before Riise had one of those rare
chances to equalise, getting in on the left but still not being able to force
the shot past Seaman.
But Liverpool's sheer persistence did see them equalise, and it was Riise who
managed it on 53 minutes.
Owen and Heskey worked hard to keep the ball on the left and when it was laid
back to the edge of the box, Riise produced a searing low drive to finally beat
Seaman.
Dudek then produced a stunning left handed save at full-stretch to turn away a
curling Henry free-kick.
From a first half in which Arsenal had reigned supreme, Liverpool were finding
that pressure on the ball and passion got them back into the contest.
But one lapse at the other end was grabbed gleefully and fortunately by
Arsenal. Bergkamp's 25-yarder clipped Gerrard, wrong footed Dudek and sailed
into the net to put the Gunners ahead again.
Dudek continued to defy Arsenal with saves from Henry and Gilberto as the
Gunners sought to settle things.
But Liverpool's spirit earned them their reward with seconds when a searching
cross by substitute Salif Diao was powered home by Heskey's head.
Teams:
Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Riise,
Diouf (Baros 82), Murphy (Diao 80), Gerrard,
Cheyrou (Smicer 69), Heskey, Owen.
Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Traore.
Booked: Diouf.
Goals: Riise 52, Heskey 90.
Arsenal: Seaman, Lauren, Campbell, Cygan, Cole, Parlour,
Vieira, Silva, Pires, Bergkamp (Luzhny 86), Henry.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Jeffers, Wiltord, van Bronckhorst.
Booked: Cygan.
Goals: Pires 9, Bergkamp 63.
Att: 43,668
Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).
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