Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool

Arsenal proved too strong for Liverpool as they beat the Reds in an absorbing Carling Cup fourth round tie.

Fran Merida thundered in a shot off the post from the edge of the area as Arsenal seized the initiative.
 
Emiliano Insua equalised with a spectacular 25-yard dipping strike but Nicklas Bendtner shot into the roof of the net to restore Arsenal's lead.
 
Andriy Voronin put a shot wide and Ryan Babel missed a Dirk Kuyt cross with the goal gaping as Arsenal held on.
 
Liverpool's £20m summer signing Alberto Aquilani made his long awaited debut for the club as a late substitute and, even though he had an overhead kick blocked, he could not help his side back into the match.
 
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had again plunged some of his youngsters into action in this competition but his side also had a more experienced look as he included more of his senior players needing first-team action.
 
His counterpart Rafael Benitez had a similar blend of experience and youth as he tested the depth of his squad by giving his supporting cast the chance to shine.
 
The fringe Reds players almost took their chance when Voronin found David Ngog and his clever backheel put Philipp Degen through on goal only for the right-back to angle a shot wide. 
 
Arsenal's fluidity and slick passing is a feature of their game no matter who plays and they upped the tempo before being rewarded with a stunning goal.
 
Merida scored with an 18-yard left-foot strike after Gunners debutant Craig Eastmond, 18, had won a tackle on the edge of the Reds box.
 
But the visitors hit back with an equally superbly struck effort when Babel nodded the ball down to Insua and he chested the ball down before sending a dipping shot past keeper Lukasz Fabianski.
 
The sense of attack from both sides and a vulnerability about both defences made for a captivating and open game.
 
A swift Arsenal counter-attack masterminded by the skill and vision of Aaron Ramsey provided an opening for Kieran Gibbs and, despite chipping a shot over on-rushing keeper Diego Cavalieri, Reds defender Martin Skrtel headed the danger away.
 
Cavalieri had another escape when he missed a cross and, after a goalmouth melee, gratefully gathered Bendter's close range shot on the turn.
 
However, the Denmark international gave Cavalieri no chance when he latched on to a Gibbs ball and powered a strike into the roof of the net.
 
Liverpool had chances to equalise but Voronin angled a shot across goal wide and a well-struck Babel free-kick was saved.
 
Babel should have scored from a Kuyt cross but he missed the ball completely as Arsenal continued their impressive record of not having lost to Liverpool at home since February 2000.
 
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