The Spain and Red number ‘9’ grabbed two goals as Liverpool and Arsenal fought out an amazing 4-4 draw at Anfield. Torres scored his 12th and 13th league goals of the season in what can only be described as a magnificent advert for the English game. Liverpool were without the injured Steven Gerrard for the Arsenal clash as Rafa Benitez made two changes from the side which drew with Chelsea in the Champions League. Daniel Agger came in for Martin Skrtel in the centre of the home defence and Albert Riera replaced Lucas Leiva.

Fernando Torres tested Fabianski early on with the game’s first effort on goal. The Spaniard skipped past two Arsenal defenders but his shot was blocked by Lukasz Fabianski.

The Liverpool number ‘9’ had to receive treatment following a challenge from Toure, but the striker was soon back in action.

Yossi Benayoun and Alvaro Arbeloa were both denied by Arsenal’s Polish shot-stopper as the Reds piled on the pressure. Lukasz Fabianski was again the hero as he brilliantly turned a Torres half-volley over the bar. Fernando’s effort was heading for the top corner, but Fabianski managed to get his fingertips to the ball.

It looked like it was going to be a frustrating night for the Reds as Fernando Torres turned Kolo Toure thirty yards out from goal before hammering a shot goalwards. The Spaniard’s drive was blocked by the Arsenal keeper, who was having a blinder.

It had been all Liverpool for the opening 35 minutes, but it was Arsenal who were to take the lead. Javier Mascherano was robbed of possession by Samir Nasri who found Cesc Fabregas, who in turn cut the ball back for Andrei Arshavin to crash home off the bar.

The Merseysiders almost carved out an immediately reply but again Fabianski was on hand to push Benayoun’s curled effort round the post.

The Reds grabbed an equaliser straight form the restart, and it was that man Torres who finally found a way past the Arsenal keeper. Kuyt floated a ball across the box for the Spanish striker to place a pin-point header past Fabianski. The strike was the forward’s 12th Premier League goal in 20 appearances.

The home side did not have to wait long to grab a second. Arsenal lost possession deep in their own half and Dirk Kuyt found Yossi Benayoun at the far post to head the ball over the line. Fabianski managed to claw the ball out, but the Israeli’s header was at least a yard over the line before the keeper got his hand on the ball.

Following ten minutes of sustained pressure from Liverpool, Arsenal drew level with a goal out of the blue. Arshavin beat Arbeloa to a loose ball before firing well-angled shot from the edge of the Liverpool area into the left hand corner.

The Gunner’s Russian forward silenced the home crowd with both his and Arsenal’s third of the evening. A poor clearance from the Liverpool defence only went as far as Arshavin, who had time to control in the box and drive a low shot under Reina’s body.

The lead though did not last long as Fernando Torres found pace inside the Arsenal box before shooting low into the bottom left hand corner. Fabianski got his hand to the ball, but the Polish keeper couldn’t keep the forward’s effort out.

With just under ten minutes remaining Torres was denied a hat-trick as Kieran Gibbs managed to clear the Spaniard’s flicked header from a corner off the line.

Liverpool were pushing everybody forward in search of a winner and the home side were caught out by a quick break from Arsenal. Theo Walcott found Andrey Arshavin who made no mistake with a fine left-footed finish.

There was still time for Benayoun to find the back of the net in stoppage time as the midfielder fired home from six yards out. The last two minutes were all Liverpool as the home side tried desperately to claim all three points, but there was no time for any more goal action as the game ended 4-4.


- Match Stats: Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Alonso, Mascherano, Benayoun, Kuyt (El Zhar, 85), Riera (Babel, 73), Torres

Goals: Torres 48, 72, Benayoun 56, 90+3

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Toure, Silvestre, Gibbs, Arshavin, Song Billong, Fabregas, Denilson (Walcott, 64), Nasri, Bendtner (Diaby, 90)

Booked: Sagna

Goals: Arshavin 36, 66, 69, 89