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Graham: It's up for grabs for Arsenal at Anfield once again
Last updated at 12:28pm on 8th April 2008
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Arsenal are rated as outsiders for tonight's big clash, just like George Graham's team on a dramatic night in Liverpool in 1989.
It is 19 years since Liverpool and Arsenal clashed in such a significant match as tonight's at Anfield. The enormity of defeat is again too great to comprehend - just as it was in 1989 when Michael Thomas snatched the League from Liverpool's grasp with the last kick of a momentous season.
Hoping for repeat: George Graham led Arsenal to a memorable victory at Anfield that clinched the league title in 1989
Read more...
That famous Friday night, one half of Merseyside was left in tears as Arsenal got the 2-0 win they needed to be crowned champions on goal difference.
A similar result tonight in the European Cup quarter-final could signal the beginning of the end for Rafael Benitez.
The Spaniard is under pressure to capture European football's biggest prize for the second time after failing in the Premier League yet again.
Two decades ago, George Graham got the better of Kenny Dalglish by devising a simple strategy. The former Arsenal manager predicts tonight's match will be a similar battle of wits, with Benitez under most pressure to get his tactics right and capitalise on the 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium in the first leg.
Graham, the last Arsenal coach to win a European title, finds many similarities between his visit to Anfield in 1989 and the challenge facing Wenger and his team. "No one gave us much chance," he said. "But Liverpool played the wrong game and we exploited that.
"They have the problem tonight too. They have to decide how they are going to play. A goalless draw is good enough for them but can they afford to play for a draw? There's a big risk factor involved in setting out to play for a goalless draw.
"The tactics will be fascinating. Arsenal play only one way but they will not want to concede an early goal. They'll keep the ball and keep probing for openings. They always attack teams away and, of course, they have little option tonight because they must score. "Liverpool have the bigger decisions to make. Do they sit back and invite Arsenal to attack? Or do they take risks, go looking for the goal that might clinch it and perhaps leave themselves vulnerable at the back?"
Liverpool, under Dalglish, were defending champions in the spring of 1989 and their match with Arsenal, scheduled for 22 April, was postponed until the end of the season following the Hillsborough Stadium tragedy.
Arsenal had seen a 19-point lead over Liverpool eroded until, on the last day of the campaign, they had to win by two clear goals at Anfield to take the title for the first time in 18 years.
This was the Liverpool of Rush, Barnes, Hansen and Grobbelaar - the only foreigner on the field - and they had not lost at home by a two-goal margin for three years. Arsenal hadn't won at Anfield for 15 years.
"I shocked everyone by travelling up on the morning of the match," said Graham.
"I'd read in a book that when visiting a hostile environment you should go in and out quickly. So I thought that's what we'd do. It worked. I told the lads everyone expected us to go hell-for-leather from the kick-off. But I said I'd be delighted if the match was goalless at half-time.
"I wanted to be solid and cautious so I played three centre-backs. Before they went onto the pitch I told them we'd win 3-0. It was a bit of a joke but in the end I was only one goal out."
Having headed Arsenal in front, Alan Smith then set up the injury-time goal for Thomas - bringing the 1988-89 season to the most dramatic conclusion in the history of the game, the moment brilliantly captured by commentator Brian Moore who used the memorable line: 'It's up for grabs now'.
At that time Graham's Arsenal reached new heights of discipline and work-rate, while Liverpool were among the best passing teams in Europe. Wenger's Arsenal now enjoy acclaim for the quality of their passing, while Liverpool's detractors moan about the tactics employed by Benitez.
The fact is, of course, that the Spaniard has taken Liverpool to two European Cup finals in three years.
His priority tonight will be to limit the influence of Cesc Fabregas, hugely talented but now struggling to cope with the demands of a long season. Benitez will ensure Javier Mascherano is never far from the Spaniard. The enthusiasm of Fabregas epitomises the spirit in Wenger's team but the protracted fight to stay in the title raise has taken a toll. The 1-1 draw at Emirates tipped the balance of the tie in Liverpool's favour. Wenger complained, with justification, that Arsenal should have had a penalty last week and he may well get his penalty - lots of them, in fact - if tonight's game follows the pattern of the three previous 1-1 draws between the sides this season.
Last updated at 12:28pm on 8th April 2008
Comments Arsenal are rated as outsiders for tonight's big clash, just like George Graham's team on a dramatic night in Liverpool in 1989.
It is 19 years since Liverpool and Arsenal clashed in such a significant match as tonight's at Anfield. The enormity of defeat is again too great to comprehend - just as it was in 1989 when Michael Thomas snatched the League from Liverpool's grasp with the last kick of a momentous season.
Hoping for repeat: George Graham led Arsenal to a memorable victory at Anfield that clinched the league title in 1989 Read more...
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That famous Friday night, one half of Merseyside was left in tears as Arsenal got the 2-0 win they needed to be crowned champions on goal difference.
A similar result tonight in the European Cup quarter-final could signal the beginning of the end for Rafael Benitez.
The Spaniard is under pressure to capture European football's biggest prize for the second time after failing in the Premier League yet again.
Two decades ago, George Graham got the better of Kenny Dalglish by devising a simple strategy. The former Arsenal manager predicts tonight's match will be a similar battle of wits, with Benitez under most pressure to get his tactics right and capitalise on the 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium in the first leg.
Graham, the last Arsenal coach to win a European title, finds many similarities between his visit to Anfield in 1989 and the challenge facing Wenger and his team. "No one gave us much chance," he said. "But Liverpool played the wrong game and we exploited that.
"They have the problem tonight too. They have to decide how they are going to play. A goalless draw is good enough for them but can they afford to play for a draw? There's a big risk factor involved in setting out to play for a goalless draw.
"The tactics will be fascinating. Arsenal play only one way but they will not want to concede an early goal. They'll keep the ball and keep probing for openings. They always attack teams away and, of course, they have little option tonight because they must score. "Liverpool have the bigger decisions to make. Do they sit back and invite Arsenal to attack? Or do they take risks, go looking for the goal that might clinch it and perhaps leave themselves vulnerable at the back?"
Liverpool, under Dalglish, were defending champions in the spring of 1989 and their match with Arsenal, scheduled for 22 April, was postponed until the end of the season following the Hillsborough Stadium tragedy.
Arsenal had seen a 19-point lead over Liverpool eroded until, on the last day of the campaign, they had to win by two clear goals at Anfield to take the title for the first time in 18 years.
This was the Liverpool of Rush, Barnes, Hansen and Grobbelaar - the only foreigner on the field - and they had not lost at home by a two-goal margin for three years. Arsenal hadn't won at Anfield for 15 years.
"I shocked everyone by travelling up on the morning of the match," said Graham.
"I'd read in a book that when visiting a hostile environment you should go in and out quickly. So I thought that's what we'd do. It worked. I told the lads everyone expected us to go hell-for-leather from the kick-off. But I said I'd be delighted if the match was goalless at half-time.
"I wanted to be solid and cautious so I played three centre-backs. Before they went onto the pitch I told them we'd win 3-0. It was a bit of a joke but in the end I was only one goal out."
Having headed Arsenal in front, Alan Smith then set up the injury-time goal for Thomas - bringing the 1988-89 season to the most dramatic conclusion in the history of the game, the moment brilliantly captured by commentator Brian Moore who used the memorable line: 'It's up for grabs now'.
At that time Graham's Arsenal reached new heights of discipline and work-rate, while Liverpool were among the best passing teams in Europe. Wenger's Arsenal now enjoy acclaim for the quality of their passing, while Liverpool's detractors moan about the tactics employed by Benitez.
The fact is, of course, that the Spaniard has taken Liverpool to two European Cup finals in three years.
His priority tonight will be to limit the influence of Cesc Fabregas, hugely talented but now struggling to cope with the demands of a long season. Benitez will ensure Javier Mascherano is never far from the Spaniard. The enthusiasm of Fabregas epitomises the spirit in Wenger's team but the protracted fight to stay in the title raise has taken a toll. The 1-1 draw at Emirates tipped the balance of the tie in Liverpool's favour. Wenger complained, with justification, that Arsenal should have had a penalty last week and he may well get his penalty - lots of them, in fact - if tonight's game follows the pattern of the three previous 1-1 draws between the sides this season.
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