Arsenal win clinches fourth spot for Everton

Arsenal 3 Liverpool 1

Arsenal ended Liverpool’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League thanks largely to first-half goals from Robert Pires and Jose Antonio Reyes at Highbury.

The Londoners survived a second-half fightback to virtually assure themselves of the runners-up spot in the Barclays Premiership and rule out any hope of the Reds snatching the fourth and final Champions League berth from near-neighbours Everton.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard gave the visitors some hope after the break when he scored with a long-range shot in the 51st minute but Cesc Fabregas put the game beyond doubt with a well-worked third in added time.

Liverpool went into the game needing to win their two remaining games and hope that rivals Everton would slip-up as they both chased the coveted fourth place.

Rafael Benitez’s side, already assured of a place in this year’s final against AC Milan in Istanbul on May 25, will not be allowed to defend the crown as things stand should they defeat the Italians.

Liverpool were the first to seek an opening in the sunshine of north London but Milan Baros’ control let him down when Luis Garcia put him in the clear with a delightful chipped pass inside the opening three minutes.

Arsenal had a goal ruled out in the 11th minute when Sami Hyypia gave the ball away to Fabregas. Robin van Persie’s shot was pushed into the path of Reyes by Jerzy Dudek but the Arsenal striker was adjudged offside.

At the opposite end, John Arne Riise was prevented from opening the scoring by Jens Lehmann while Baros was booked for handball after knocking it past Philippe Senderos and firing into the net through the legs of the Arsenal goalkeeper.

In the 20th minute Liverpool defender Djimi Traore unleashed a crisp, low drive that Lehmann momentarily fumbled before claiming correctly at the second time of asking.

Liverpool escaped again in the 22nd minute when a cross from Pires was met at the far post by Lauren but Dudek pushed his side-footed volley onto the crossbar. Seconds later Pires went close with a drive from 20 yards.

Arsenal went ahead in the 24th minute with a stunning free-kick from Pires. The Frenchman’s goal was just reward for Arsenal after Dietmar Hamann had been yellow-carded for bringing down skipper Patrick Vieira on the edge of the penalty area.

Arsenal were now in rampant mood and Liverpool’s dream of clinching fourth appeared to have evaporated when Reyes fired a second a goal in the 29th minute.

The Arsenal striker took control of a pass from Fabregas and burst into the penalty area as the Liverpool defence backed off.

Reyes then completed a fine run with a low left-footed drive into the bottom corner of the net to put the Gunners in total control.

Arsenal’s youngsters were now enjoying plenty of freedom, especially in attack, and van Persie brought another fine save from Dudek as Liverpool’s defence failed to cope with the fluidity of the home side’s football.

Gerrard was guilty of giving the ball away to Vieira in the 44th minute but he was rescued by Traore who stopped the Arsenal player in his tracks with a fine tackle.

Benitez made two changes during the interval with Baros replaced by Djibril Cisse and Harry Kewell on in place of Riise.

The changes had an immediate impact and Reyes gave away a needless free-kick with a push in the back of Kewell on the edge of the penalty area in the 51st minute.

It brought Liverpool back into the game when Hamann laid the ball off to Gerrard and the England midfielder’s shot cannoned off Fabregas and into the corner of the net. The Londoners were clearly stung by Liverpool’s goal and began to increase their own tempo. In the 57th minute Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso complained he was body-checked by Vieira but referee Graham Poll took no action.

Five minutes later a sublime ball from Gerrard put Luis Garcia clear on goal but Ashley Cole got back to block the Liverpool player’s effort.

In the 88th minute, a Gerrard free-kick was met by the towering frame of Hyypia but the Liverpool defender’s header went wide of the target.

At the other end, Gilberto squandered a clear chance to put the game beyond Liverpool’s reach when he latched on to Dennis Bergkamp’s pass but blazed his effort over the bar from an acute angle.

Fabregas made it three in added time when he finished off a fine move. Lauren cut in from the right and squared the ball to Bergkamp who produced a sublime first-time lay-off to the 18-year-old Spaniard, who poked a shot past Dudek.