Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal: Substitute Luis Garcia gave Liverpool a crucial victory over Arsenal three minutes from time in the battle for Champions League qualification.
Steven Gerrard had seen a first-half penalty saved by Jens Lehmann and it looked as if the north Londoners’ containing tactics were going to see them through to a point until Luis Garcia came on with six minutes left.
In the 87th minute he raced into the box after Dietmar Hamann’s shot had been palmed away by Lehmann and scooped the ball home in front of the Kop to give Liverpool a 10-point lead over the Gunners.
Dietmar Hamann took over from Alonso after 71 minutes before Lehmann was again in action to turn away a Kewell overhead kick.
In the 80th minute attempts Fowler gave way to Djibril Cisse but Morientes’ luck worsened when he failed to turn home a Gerrard cross four minutes later from a couple of yards out and even Cisse’s overhead flick could not rescue the situation.
Garcia replaced Sissoko after 84 minutes. And that produced the breakthrough. Hamann’s 30-yarder after 87 minutes was palmed away by Lehmann, and the little Spaniard made up yards to get there first to force the ball home.
