Arsene Wenger has been at Arsenal for 20 years... That's a bloody long time in football and during that time it's fair to say we've had several scrapes with the Gunners so in the run up to our opening league fixture on Sunday I thought it would be good to take a look back through the Wenger years.
In the time that Arsene has been in London, Liverpool have had a total of seven managers; Roy Evans, Gerard Houllier, Rafael Benitez, Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish, Brendan Rodgers and of course Jurgen Klopp. As far as I am aware, Kenny Dalglish is the only one to have voiceiferously told the Frenchman to "piss off" on the touchline. Good old Kenny.
In the early days under Roy Evans (including his stint with Houllier) Liverpool picked up some strong results against Arsenal namely in the League Cup when they beat Wenger's side 4-2 in the round of 16 thanks to goals from McManaman, Fowler and Berger.
Four seems to be a number that sticks when it comes to games with Arsenal during the Wenger era, on eight occasions one or both sides have netted four goals. Perhaps the most famous incident of four goals was the one involving Andrey Arshavin. He bagged four in a single game against the Reds back in April 2009. Liverpool under manager Rafael Benitez had some tricks of their own though with Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun providing two goals a piece.
Arshavin now plays in the Kazakhstan Premier League...
From the Houllier years who can forget little Michael Owen in the Millennium Stadium. It was the treble season for the Reds and Arsene Wenger certainly wasn't going to stand in the way of Gerard. The FA Cup final was a highlight for Liverpool and remains an important moment from the last couple of decades against the Londoners.
The Rafa Benitez era was an exciting one at Liverpool, forever remembered for that Champions League victory in 2005 but Rafa also came across Arsene Wenger's side in 2008 in his pursuit of more European silverware.
The first leg in the quarter finals ended well for Arsenal after they collected a 1-1 draw at the Emirates but they had yet to travel to Anfield. A nail-biting game for the Reds at L4 eventually ended in a 4-2 victory. I remember the game well because I was inconsolable when when Adebayor's goal went in at 84 minutes, head in hands, refusing to look at the screen, then my fella was trying to tell me we had a peno but I just thought he was winding me up! Thankfully he wasn't. The Reds went on to get knocked out by Chelsea in the semi-final.
For Brendan Rodgers, perhaps one of his most impressive games as Liverpool boss came against Arsene Wenger on 8th February 2014.
Martin Skrtel of all people had found the back of the net after just one minute at Anfield and that really set the tone for a terrible day at the office on Arsene Wenger's part. Nine minutes later Skrtel had scored again. Most of you know of my strange love for Martin Skrtel, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, up out my seat absolutely elated, every time we had the ball we looked like we'd score. I'd never seen such a confident performance against the Gunners. A Daniel Sturridge goal and a brace from Raheem Sterling sealed the 5-1 victory.
Jurgen Klopp will walk his side out for his second meeting with Arsene Wenger on Sunday and after collecting a 3-3 draw the German will be looking to seal his first win against Arsenal. On their home turf it is always difficult and against the experienced Wenger it could be a tough start for the Reds.
In the time that Arsene has been in London, Liverpool have had a total of seven managers; Roy Evans, Gerard Houllier, Rafael Benitez, Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish, Brendan Rodgers and of course Jurgen Klopp. As far as I am aware, Kenny Dalglish is the only one to have voiceiferously told the Frenchman to "piss off" on the touchline. Good old Kenny.
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| Images clockwise from top via: arsenal.com, dailymail.co.uk and mirror.co.uk |
Four seems to be a number that sticks when it comes to games with Arsenal during the Wenger era, on eight occasions one or both sides have netted four goals. Perhaps the most famous incident of four goals was the one involving Andrey Arshavin. He bagged four in a single game against the Reds back in April 2009. Liverpool under manager Rafael Benitez had some tricks of their own though with Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun providing two goals a piece.
Arshavin now plays in the Kazakhstan Premier League...
From the Houllier years who can forget little Michael Owen in the Millennium Stadium. It was the treble season for the Reds and Arsene Wenger certainly wasn't going to stand in the way of Gerard. The FA Cup final was a highlight for Liverpool and remains an important moment from the last couple of decades against the Londoners.
The Rafa Benitez era was an exciting one at Liverpool, forever remembered for that Champions League victory in 2005 but Rafa also came across Arsene Wenger's side in 2008 in his pursuit of more European silverware.
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| Images from top to bottom via: mirror.co.uk and goal.com |
For Brendan Rodgers, perhaps one of his most impressive games as Liverpool boss came against Arsene Wenger on 8th February 2014.
"It was breathtaking." - Brendan Rodgers
Martin Skrtel of all people had found the back of the net after just one minute at Anfield and that really set the tone for a terrible day at the office on Arsene Wenger's part. Nine minutes later Skrtel had scored again. Most of you know of my strange love for Martin Skrtel, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, up out my seat absolutely elated, every time we had the ball we looked like we'd score. I'd never seen such a confident performance against the Gunners. A Daniel Sturridge goal and a brace from Raheem Sterling sealed the 5-1 victory.
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| Image via bleacherreport.com |