On this day: Gunners shoot down Rafa’s Reds

Liverpool saw their much-hyped title challenge effectively ended, heaping more pressure on Rafa Benitez, as they came up short at Arsenal on this day in 2006. The Reds entered the 2006/07 season being viewed as genuine title contenders having seemingly addressed several areas of weakness in the summer transfer window, adding the likes of Dirk Kuyt, Alvaro Arbeloa and Javier Mascherano to their ranks.
Off the back of lifting the FA Cup and finishing third the previous season, couple with their remarkable Champions League success in 2005, those at Anfield were hopeful this could be the year they ended their long wait for a league title.
However, travel sickness would strike down Liverpool and they arrived at the Emirates Stadium in mid-November seeking to pick up just their second away point of the season.
Defeats at Everton, Chelsea, Bolton and Manchester United had left them playing catch up on those at the top of the Premier League and things were to get worse in north London.
Benitez took the bizarre decision to start Steven Gerrard on the right against Arsenal and the England man looked lost being played out of position, with Xabi Alonso and Boudewijn Zenden as the central midfield pairing.
They were over-matched in midfield by Arsenal and it was no surprise when Mathieu Flamini put Arsenal ahead just five minutes before the end of the first half.
The Gunners, themselves chasing early pace setters Manchester United and Chelsea, hit their stride after the break and doubled the lead in the 56th minute, Kolo Toure finishing off a flowing move.
Arsene Wenger’s side rubbed salt into the wounds 10 minutes from the end when William Gallas nodded in a third to complete a comprehensive win for Arsenal. class=”fb-video” data-href=”https://www.facebook.com/Arsenal/videos/10153497721602713/” data-width=”500″>
Having been given the freedom of the Liverpool penalty area to score, Gallas’ goal was followed by a heated exchange between Gerrard and John Arne Riise as to who should have been picking up the Frenchman.
The win move Arsenal into third, five points ahead of ninth-placed Liverpool but still 10 behind United.
In the aftermath of the loss, a large section of the Reds faithful were left calling for Benitez to be sacked and he was subsequently linked with a move to Italy before re-affirming his commitment.
The Spaniard would stick around for another four years, guiding Liverpool to another Champions League final in 2007, only for AC Milan to get their revenge for their 2005 loss.
These two clubs would go on to meet three more times over the course of the season, Arsenal knocking Liverpool out of both domestic cup competitions in a four-day spell before losing 4-1 at Anfield in the league.
That victory would help Liverpool go on to finish above Arsenal, albeit only on goal difference, as they rallied mid-season to end up third.