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Gerrard gives Liverpool the edge

Arsenal` s Emmanuel Adebayor, second right, scores their first goal against Liverpool during their Champions League quarter-final, first leg soccer match at the Emirates Stadium in London on Wednesday. PHOTO: EPA

A moment of genius from Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool the narrowest of advantages in their Champions League quarter-final tie with Arsenal after a pulsating first leg at the Emirates finished 1-1 on Wednesday.

Headed into the lead by Emmanuel Adebayor mid-way through the first half, Arsenal had the chances to have won here and will long complain after being denied what appeared to be a clear penalty 20 minutes from the end of a second half they overwhelmingly dominated.

But it will be Liverpool who kick off at Anfield next week as marginal favorites to progress to the last four after Gerrard brilliantly set up Dirk Kuyt for the precious away goal that leveled the match three minutes after Adebayor’s strike.

“That was really important,” said Kuyt, referring to his goal.

“We had a few other little chances and were a bit unlucky not to get another goal,” added Kuyt, who also scored for Liverpool in the previous Champions League round against Inter Milan.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was left understandably frustrated.

“I feel we are not paid for what we produced tonight and to finish a game like that 1-1 is disappointing,” said the Frenchman, who is yet to win the Champions League.

“But we produced the performance we wanted and we had the chances to win the game. Liverpool created very little tonight and the whole second half was played in their half.”

He was left seething too by the decision not to award the penalty.

“It was a blatant penalty just under the eyes of the referee. That is a few times that has happened to us now and it is very difficult to accept,” he said.

However, Kuyt insisted that he had not deliberately fouled Hleb.

“It is a split second thing and you have to decide, but I didn’t pull his shirt or anything. It was close but it wasn’t a penalty,” Kuyt said.

Wenger’s Liverpool counterpart Rafael Benitez praised his side’s hardworking performance, but summed up in one sentence what would be the crucial factor.

“The away goal is crucial in Europe,” said Benitez, who has reserved his best results for European competition.

Opening skirmishes that were far less guarded than anyone had anticipated generated a couple of minor alarms in both goalmouths before Mathieu Flamini produced the match’s first moment of real quality.

From the center circle, the Frenchman’s forward chip fell invitingly for Robin van Persie in between Liverpool’s back-pedaling centerbacks and Jose Reina but the Dutchman’s attempt at a volleyed finish comfortably cleared the Liverpool goalkeeper’s bar.

Reina was forced to make a save from van Persie a minute later, after neat build-up work by Cesc Fabregas and Adebayor, and it was from the resulting corner that Arsenal claimed the lead.

After a quick tap to Fabregas, van Persie’s delivery was a straightforward inswinger to the edge of the six-yard box. But with Reina rooted to his line and the Liverpool centerbacks missing in action, Adebayor was able to nod his side into the lead.

Sami Hyypia in particular will not enjoy watching the replays. The Finn was conspicuously static as Adebayor rose unchallenged in front of him.

The home side’s celebrations were quickly curtailed however by the brilliant improvisation of Gerrard at the end of a counter-attack that the Liverpool captain had launched himself.

The move appeared to be running out of steam when Ryan Babel over-ran the ball on the left of the box. Fortunately for Liverpool, it trundled into the path of Fernando Torres and the Spaniard’s lay-off gave Gerrard the platform to work his magic through the inside-left channel.
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