Liverpool won't have enjoyed their first visit to the Emirates Stadium after goals from Flamini, Toure and Gallas condemned them to a 3-0 Premiership defeat at the hands of Arsenal on Sunday.
The Reds were undone by a trio of goals from a trio of unlikely scorers; and despite causing the Arsenal defence a number of nervy moments, they were unable to find the goal that would have further undermined the Gunners' ability to take all three points.
Momo Sissoko's injury meant that Rafa had to rethink his midfield plans for this clash and there was little surprise when he opted for Bolo Zenden to replace him after the Dutchman had put in a good performance at Birmingham on Wednesday.
Zenden started the game in the centre of midfield with Xabi Alonso, but both were powerless as Robin Van Persie threatened to give Arsenal a second minute lead when he raced clear. The Reds were saved though when the sharp eye of referee Mark Clattenburg spotted that Van Persie had used a hand to get the ball past Reina before slotting into an empty net.
Liverpool thought they had taken the lead themselves in the 14th minute when the best move of the match ended with Crouch putting the ball into the net from six yards. But their celebrations were cut short when Crouch was adjudged to have been offside when converting Alonso's cross.
They came close again in the 28th minute when a clever free kick routine gave Zenden a chance that he was only inches away from converting. But as they looked to have reached half time with their goal in tact, they were hit by an Arsenal sucker punch in the 41st minute when Flamini gave the home side the lead from close range. Again there were suspicions of offside, but there was no flag this time and the Reds were behind.
Liverpool came out for the second half and took the game to Arsenal, but their hopes of a comeback took a fatal blow in the 56th minute when Kolo Toure collected Van Persie's through pass and scored low under Reina to make it 2-0 to Arsenal.
Rafa's side almost found an immediate way back in the 58th minute when Zenden headed over when well placed; and Steven Gerrard's 66th minute shot gave Almunia a nervous moment. But William Gallas put the result beyond doubt when heading Arsenal into a 3-0 lead from Van Persie's 80th minute corner.
Only a fine stop from Pepe Reina stopped Adebayor making it 4-0 for Arsenal in the closing moments; and the Reds were deprived of a consolation goal when Craig Bellamy's strike was ruled out for offside when he looked onside.
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