5) 20th August 2011 – Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool
Two late goals gave Liverpool their first away win over Arsène Wenger’s Gunners for 11 years, and their first victory at the Emirates in six visits.
The Reds were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland on the opening day of 2011-12, while Arsenal also dropped points against Newcastle United, but had beaten Udinese 1-0 in a Champions League qualifier four days before Kenny Dalglish and co. paid them a visit.
The game turned when Arsenal’s Emmanuel Frimpong saw red with 20 minutes remaining, to which Dalglish reacted by introducing Luis Suarez and Raul Meireles onto the pitch.
Both substitutes were involved in each of Liverpool’s goals, the first of which came in rather fortuitous fashion as Ignasi Miquel’s clearance bounced in off Aaron Ramsey.
The second, in the dying embers, was much more neat and tidy, with Suarez coolly converting Meireles’ square pass.
Unfortunately for the Reds, they finished eighth in the Premier League and even a Carling Cup win and an FA Cup final appearance couldn’t save King Kenny’s job.
4) 24th March 1997 – Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool
Liverpool’s third Premier League triumph at Highbury was a significant one. It put them three points behind Manchester United with seven games to go, and Sir Alex Ferguson’s side still had to go to Anfield.
Stan Collymore came back into the starting lineup after four games on the bench, and broke the deadlock on 50 minutes, pouncing on David Seaman’s failure to hold on to Stig-Inge Bjornebye’s shot.
Fifteen minutes afterwards, the Reds were awarded a penalty when Robbie Fowler tumbled over Seaman. The striker signalled that the spot-kick should not have been awarded, but he eventually took it, and saw it saved before Jason McAteer followed up to slot it home.
Ian Wright brought the Gunners back into the game with a 79th minute effort, but Roy Evans’ men hung on for a crucial three points.
In the end; defensive mistakes, the rise of the ‘Spice Boys’ culture, and a four-game ban for Fowler cost Liverpool dearly in the title race. They only won two of their seven remaining games, and had to settle for fourth.
3) 8th January 1966 – Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool
Arsenal came into this game having previously conquered Manchester United 4-2 at home, and hit Sheffield United and Wednesday for six and five respectively. They had no such joy against Bill Shankly’s resilient Reds.
Liverpool’s shrewd performance, capped off by Ron Yeats’ 87th minute winner, made it six successive league clean sheets on the road.
They went on to reclaim their First Division crown having surrendered it to Manchester United the previous year, and earned Shankly his third major trophy in as many years.
2) 15th August 1987 – Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool
Liverpool’s Blue rivals from across the park were the reigning champions going into the 1987-88 campaign, and Kenny Dalglish’s men had lost Ian Rush; who’d joined Juventus for £3.2m.
As one iconic frontman departed, another arrived in John Barnes, and he shone on the opening day of the season at Highbury.
It was Barnes’ delicious ninth minute cross that found John Aldridge, who duly nodded the Reds into the lead.
They were only ahead for eight minutes, though. Arsenal’s Alan Smith headed Charlie Nicholas’ delivery into the path of Paul Davis, who bundled the ball past Bruce Grobbelaar.
Debutant Barnes was again involved when Liverpool secured the points with two minutes left on the clock. His free-kick was cleared, but only as far as Steve Nicol, who floated his header into the top corner in front of the jubilant travelling fans.
The Reds eased to the league title, finishing nine points clear of second-placed Manchester United, and 20 ahead of Everton.
1) 24th May 1947 – Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool
Liverpool’s 1946-47 campaign had everything, not least the debuts of two club legends: Bob Paisley and Billy Liddell.
Their bid for the First Division title seemed to have diminished during the winter when they lost seven in 10 games. But an extraordinary run beginning in February put George Kay’s side back in contention, and the penultimate fixture of the season brought them to Highbury.
Ian McPherson put the Gunners ahead just after the hour mark, before one-club man Jack Balmer claimed his 15th league goal of the season to bring the Reds level.
South African midfielder Robert Priday claimed the decisive goal 11 minutes from time, and Liverpool went on to beat title rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in their final fixture, to clinch their fifth league crown.
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