Premier League: Deja Vu or Russian Roulette?

This unpredictable title race took a few more twists and turns this week, as Manchester United took a routine 2-0 win over Portsmouth, and Chelsea were held to a stalemate in an FA Cup Final rehersal against Everton.

But the real story of the week came from Anfield, where Liverpool played out another thrilling 4-4 draw against a fellow Big 4 side, this time to Arsenal in the Premier League, where, like in the Chelsea-Liverpool Champions League encounter the week before, The Reds were left dissapointed after scoring 4, although they were up against a virtuoso display by Andrey Arshavin, who netted all 4 for the North London side.

The first half began with Liverpool showing real intent, but their chances were thwarted by villain-turned-hero Lukasz Fabianski, who appeared to have put his Wembley nightmare firmly behind him. Near the end of the half, however, it was Arsenal who took the lead through Arshavin, after Mascherano gave the ball away, leading to a good passing move led by skipper Cesc Fabregas, whose cut-back saw Arshavin hammer the ball in via the crossbar.

Liverpool tried for the equaliser immediately, and their attacking intent was finally rewarded in the 2nd half, with Fernando Torres planting a firm header into the goal for the leveller. Less than 5 minutes later, Yossi Benayoun was the benefit of some poor Arsenal defending to loop a header in for 2-1, albeit with a clash of heads with an Arsenal defender. The midfielder was too stunned by the knock to celebrate, but recovered in time for the kick-off.

The Gunners responded with a goal of their own, however. That Russian playmaker lashing home from 25 yards after dispossesing a slow-witted Arbeloa. He then pounced on a pitiful excuse of a clearence by Fabio Aurelio to tap-in his third shortly after.

It was to be expected that Liverpool would press for an equaliser, and who better to turn to than their No.9? Torres picked up a short pass on the edge of the box, dummied Mikael Silvestre, and then hit a superb shot past Fabianski to make it 3-all. In their persuit for a winner, The Reds were hit on the break by substitute Theo Walcott, and with a run that evoked memories of his efforts in the Champions League last year, this time with Arshavin slamming a 1-on-1 shot past Reina for #4. By this time the match was in its 90th minute, but Liverpool’s efforts were not about to go in vein, as relentless pressure led to Benayoun scoring a late leveller in injury time. There was no time for a 9th goal in the match, but this encounter will go down as an all-time Premier League classic.

Both teams will feel aggrieved not to have won this, with Arsenal having 2 goals (rightly) disallowed for offside, and Liverpool having as many efforts cleared off the line, to sit along their dominance throughout, but it was the Russian maestro who grabbed all the headlines, with 4 shots, and 4 goals.

Liverpool now sit 3 points behind Manchester United, who do have an extra game in hand, but it is far from over yet.

Anfield will not host a Premier League game this weekend, with Liverpool going to the KC Stadium to face Hull City, the ground instead being used by their Under 18′s tonight (FA Youth Cup Semi-Final, against Birmingham City U18′s), and on Sunday, where it will play host to the FA Sunday Leagues Cup Final, between Oyster Martyrs and Scots Grey. Wayne Rooney is said to be attending as keen Oyster Martyrs fan, as three of his relatives are involved with the Croxeth-based side.

Both matches will have to go a long way to match the dramas of Tuesday, though.