At least one England striker still knows where the net is. After missing his country's Euro 2008 qualifying double-header over the past week, Peter Crouch grabbed a hat-trick to give Liverpool revenge for the three defeats Arsenal had inflicted on them this season.
The victory sends the Reds above the Gunners into third spot in the Barclays Premiership, and Crouch did his England cause no harm with a fine trio, two in the first half and a quality finish for his third after the break.
His recovery from a broken nose kept him out of Steve McClaren's plans against Israel and Andorra. How the England boss could have done with Crouch in Tel Aviv and Barcelona.
Daniel Agger scored Liverpool's other goal, but a William Gallas effort for Arsenal failed to destroy the feelgood factor at Anfield as their new American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett watched from the directors' box.
Boss Rafael Benitez made five changes from the side which drew at Aston Villa a fortnight ago, with Craig Bellamy out with an injured side sustained while playing for Wales in midweek.
And as the debate still rages over Steven Gerrard's best position, he found himself playing an attacking midfield role behind Crouch.
Arsenal made six changes from their defeat at Everton two weeks ago, with Emmanuel Adebayor back from suspension and Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Eboue returning.
Third and fourth place were at stake with this Anfield clash, but the sub-plot of new Liverpool ownership stole the show before kick-off.
Gillett met early arrivals in the stadium reception, before spending time shaking hands with all the stewards.
Up in the directors' box an hour before the start, Hicks - Liverpool scarf around his neck - was signing autographs for a string of fans. American accents were everywhere.
On the pitch the languages were predominantly Spanish, Portuguese and French, but it was an Englishman who opened the scoring for Liverpool on four minutes.
Jermaine Pennant and Alvaro Arbeloa exchanged back-heels out on the right, and Arbeloa surged to the line to fire over a cross which Crouch met with venom on the near post, ahead of Kolo Toure.
But Arsenal responded with greater pace and quick control, and Liverpool were forced back, Cesc Fabregas pulling the strings.
Adebayor's towering header from Fabregas' corner almost brought the equaliser.
Liverpool played on the break, and only a Toure intervention stopped Gerrard scoring, while a Crouch shot was well held by Jens Lehmann.
Crouch gave Gallas problems with his ungainly style, but Arsenal still came forward for their best chance of the half when Adebayor set up Julio Baptista, but the Brazilian sliced badly wide.
Crouch, having an excellent game, continued to upset Arsenal defenders, and when Toure clattered into his back on 35 minutes, it set up the second for Liverpool.
Xabi Alonso's quick free-kick sent Fabio Aurelio away on the left and when his cross arrived in the box, there was Crouch climbing above Abou Diaby to power a header past Lehmann.
Lehmann was booked by referee Steve Bennett for dissent as the teams came off at the break, and Pennant almost made a third for Crouch within a minute of the restart.
Fabregas was booked for a foul on Alonso on 50 minutes, before Gerrard almost scooped a Mark Gonzalez cross past Lehmann.
Then Adebayor saw a stunning 25-yarder crack against a post before Alonso was next in the book for a trip on Alexander Hleb.
Two minutes later Gerrard was taken off, replaced by Dirk Kuyt, clearly with the Champions League on Benitez's mind.
But it did not halt Liverpool's progress and they got their third on the hour when Agger's glanced header from Aurelio's free-kick evaded Lehmann's dive.
Jose Reina made a fine save to his left to claw away an Adebayor header on 63 minutes.
Arsenal pulled one back on 73 minutes when Fabregas' corner was flicked on by Toure for Gallas to turn over the line from a yard at the far post.
But any doubt about the result was ended when Crouch produced nimble footwork to find some space in the box on 81 minutes to fire past Lehmann after excellent work from Pennant and Kuyt set him up.
Teams:
Liverpool Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Pennant,Alonso, Mascherano (Riise 82), Gonzalez (Zenden 69),Gerrard (Kuyt 56), Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Fowler.
Booked: Alonso.
Goals: Crouch 4, 35, Agger 60, Crouch 81.
Arsenal Lehmann, Eboue (Hoyte 82), Toure, Gallas, Clichy,Hleb, Fabregas, Diaby (Rosicky 65), Denilson,Julio Baptista (Ljungberg 65), Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Senderos.
Booked: Diaby, Lehmann, Fabregas.
Goals: Gallas 73.
Att: 43,958
Ref: S Bennett (Kent).
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