English Premier League - Liverpool and Arsenal battle to draw

Arsenal's run of 12 successive victories was brought to an end at Anfield by a defiant Liverpool, but Cesc Fabregas' late equaliser was enough to put the Gunners back on top of the Barclays Premier League. The hosts were intent on giving Arsenal a fierce examination, and when Steven Gerrard blasted home from 20 yards on seven minutes it was clear the north Londoners were in for a fierce battle.  Liverpool clung onto that lead until 10 minutes from time - but Fabregas maintained the Gunners' unbeaten run this season to deservedly reward their efforts.

The Merseyside club are also still unbeaten in the Barclays Premer League this term, and their performance will have done much to wipe away the misery of the midweek Champions League defeat against Besiktas.  Liverpool opted for Gerrard in behind a front three, and he set about putting behind him a season of indifferent form from the start.

Voronin picked up an early booking for a foul on Fabregas. But Arsenal conceded possession from their own free-kick and Alonso charged towards the box, to be tripped in full flow by the Spaniard in the seventh minute.  John Arne Riise's tapped free-kick was crashed into the back of the net, past an unsighted Manuel Almunia, by Gerrard.  Arsenal tore into Liverpool, causing Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher plenty of problems at the heart of the home defence.

Hyypia and Carragher needed to hurl themselves at efforts from Rosicky and Kolo Toure, before Carragher required treatment for a crack on the head from an Emmanuel Adebayor challenge.
Arsenal almost equalised in the 54th minute when Adebayor surged into space on the right to crack a shot against the foot of a post, the ball bouncing out for Fabregas to fire over an open goal.
Liverpool were now hitting on the break as they soaked up waves of Arsenal attacks.

Peter Crouch won plenty of flick-ons and saw another long-range effort thud into Almunia's chest.  Gerrard and Voronin then set up Crouch for a run into the box and cross-shot which flashed just wide. When Gerrard fired it into the box, Alonso's header was kicked away from an open goal by Toure. But the Gunners levelled after Alexander Hleb's run on the left created the space for Fabregas to squeeze home the equaliser, wrong-footing Jose Reina with a toe-poke from eight yards.

Fabregas then hit the post from 20 yards on 86 minutes, with Bendtner firing the rebound over the bar.  Crouch's touch sent Gerrard surging into the box and only Mathieu Flamini's block stopped the Liverpool captain.  Carragher was then booked for a foul on Adebayor but Liverpool hung on and were even coming forward at the end - although a draw was a fair result.