As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the games. E-mail paul@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.
You may need to refresh the page for YouTube videos and other elements to display correctly.
Swansea 2-2 Arsenal
Hello, and welcome to our first liveblog of the day. Here are the teams:
Swansea: Vorm, Tiendalli, Chico, Bartley, Davies, Dyer, Britton, de Guzman, Ki, Routledge, Graham. Subs: Tremmel, Michu, Hernandez, Monk, Shechter, Rangel, Agustien.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott, Giroud, Cazorla. Subs: Martinez, Vermaelen, Rosicky, Podolski, Andre Santos, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Coquelin.
It’s been a good start from Arsenal, as they’ve controlled possession in the opening stages.
Swansea could well be under the cosh today, especially given that they are at less than full strength.
Swansea are sitting quite deep at the moment, and allowing Arsenal to play the ball around in their own half.
They’re clearly trying to emulate the counter-attacking style that brought them success at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season.
Wilshere has just lofted a free-kick straight into the goalkeeper’s hands.
Arsenal need to be less casual in attack in order to break Swansea down.
As I type, Danny Graham finds himself through on goal, and his powerful shot from just outside the box is parried away by the goalkeeper.
For the second time in quick succession, Vorm comfortably collects Wilshere’s free-kick.
Perhaps Arsenal need to change their set-piece taker.
Despite not having their best team out, Swansea look quite clever and rather Arsenal-esque at times when in possession.
Who says they don’t care about the FA Cup?
A good run by Walcott forces a free-kick on the edge of the area.
However, the England striker hammers the set-piece straight into the wall.
Arsenal were linked with Irish midfielder James McCarthy today. Click here and vote on whether or not you think the midfielder would make a good signing for the club.
Some nice play from Arsenal, as they exchange a series of slick passes.
However, the move comes abruptly to a halt, as Arteta hits a clipped pass to no one in particular.
The Gunners have been conspicuously unimaginative in their opponents’ final third thus far.
Ramsey bursts into the box with the ball, following another flowing Arsenal move.
Nonetheless, the Welshman takes too long to pull the trigger, allowing the defender to recover and get a decisive tackle in.
(Michael Laudrup watches on – John Walton/EMPICS Sport)
Bartley’s header hits the bar, following a well-delivered free-kick from De Guzman.
That’s the closest we’ve come to a goal, with 37 minutes played.
Swansea are gradually coming more into this game and are beginning to get more possession and territory.
Arsenal, meanwhile, look like they’re going through the motions somewhat, as was the case in their last match against Southampton.
Cazorla’s strike from just outside the box is saved with relative ease by Vorm.
The Spaniard hasn’t influenced the game in the manner that he often does.
So half-time in a game in which goalscoring chances have been in short supply.
Swansea came closest when Bartley hit the cross bar with a header following a De Guzman free-kick, and Danny Graham also went close when played through on goal, while Arsenal have had a few pot shots without really ever looking too threatening.
Overall, there’s been some nice, attractive, passing football, but little in the way of end product from either team.
Let’s hope for a better second half.
According to OptaJoe, Arsenal have had two shots on target in the last 135 minutes of football.
Does little to play down critics’ claims that they try to walk the ball into the net all too often.
Arsenal break quickly, and Walcott lays it to Giroud.
The Frenchman’s strike is powerful, but straight at Vorm, who parries it away.
Strong claims for an Arsenal penalty, as Ramsey goes down, but the referee dismisses them.
The replay shows that it was the correct decision, as the Welshman clipped his own heels.
The visitors have noticeably upped the tempo in the last few minutes.
Rather ominously for Arsenal, Michu and Hernandez have come on for De Guzman and Routledge.
It surely proves that suggestions that Swansea can’t be bothered with this game are unfair.
Swansea 1-0 Arsenal: Straight after coming on, Michu lofts the ball over Mertesacker’s head and runs through on goal, powerfully shrugging off defenders as he does so and finishing coolly (57 mins).
What an impact he has made on this game! The Liberty Stadium is rocking as a result.
Tiendalli makes a great recovery tackle, after Gibbs gets ahead of him in the Swansea box.
This game has really livened up in recent minutes.
Ramsey does well to get his cross in from a tight angle, and the unmarked Giroud heads wastefully wide.
In case it wasn’t obvious before, Arsenal clearly need to buy a striker in the January transfer window.
Lukas Podolski has replaced the disappointing Ramsey for Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Walcott has hit a chance just wide from close range, after some sloppy passing by Swansea at the back.
Swansea are having to put in more last-ditch tackles than they’d like of late.
Roughly 15 minutes remain, with an Arsenal equaliser still very much looking on the cards.
Arsenal 1-1 Swansea: A corner is only half cleared, and Koscielny plays it back into Podolski, who turns and hits it into the net in exquisite fashion (81 mins).
Arsenal 2-2 Swansea: Phew! Firstly, it’s another beautiful goal (83 mins).
Gibbs plays a one-two with Giroud, ultimately volleying it powerfully into the net.
Shortly thereafter, a Swansea corner falls to an unmarked Danny Graham, who hammers it home with aplomb (85 mins).
The second half is certainly making up for the dullness of the first period.
Great chance for the onrushing Tiendalli, who can only find the side-netting when it’s laid to him just inside the box.
Both sides are throwing bodies forward in abundance now, as they desperately seek to avoid a replay.
Michu has been named Man of the Match, despite playing less than half the match.
Five minutes of added time to be played…
Here are all the goals you haven’t seen yet.
YouTube credit: MyFootballlights
YouTube credit: MyFootballlights
YouTube credit: KooraTubeHD1
So a draw is probably a fair result ultimately.
Possibly owing to the fact that a potential replay was on the horizon, both teams really attacked at will in that second half, following a cagey opening period.
C0nsequently, there were moments of attacking brilliance and a series of bad defensive mistakes from both sides.
Having worked so hard to get back into the game, Arsenal will be disappointed to have let the lead slip in the dying stages, especially by conceding such a poor goal.
The hosts will also feel they could have won the game, but given how the Gunners dominated large parts of that second half, it would have been very harsh on them if they’d lost it.
Overall, as was the case with the West Ham-United game last night, both teams will be extremely irritated at the prospect of having to play each other again in the coming weeks.
(Swansea City’s Danny Graham celebrates scoring his side’s second goal of the game - John Walton/EMPICS Sport)
This sums proceedings up nicely…
COME ON UNITED. #GGMU
@Gavin Mitchell: can’t beat long ball game !
@James Brown: Don’t be sour
@Gavin MitchellGood win, tactics spot on and second secured…
Hated adored!!!!
Cmon UTD, go to town on them now, they’re certainly there for the taking today.
Absolutely clueless from Klopp.
Too nervous to say anything other than c’mon the Pool!!
As I said Yesterday ,Dejan Lovren …. funniest stand up act around
Game over I’m afraid.
@Robert Clifford: Really!!??
@Jack Jackson: Yes. I hope I’m proved wrong.
@Jack Jackson: Yep really.
This is great fun
United to park the bus and get an offside handball goal that went out for a throw in seconds earlier in the 97th minute of injury time.
@Gabe: or score a nicely finished goal & lead within 15mins. One or the other!
From a neutral perspective – Jose is a proven winner, Jurgen is not, having said that , I would go for a tight 1-1 draw.
@George Costanza: 2 German league titles??
@Mark Noonan: Cork or Dundalk would finish top 6 in that league get a grip
@Anthony Whelan: so it’s easy to finish above Bayern is it? Tool
King Salah 3-0 LFC YNWA 2019 IS OUR YEAR!
@Football nut99: so much for that anyway haha 2020 it is!
@Sledro: every year is your year!!!
Why wasn’t Rashford booked for celebrating with the crowd after scoring his first? He should be off after that yellow for the challenge on Milner.
@Stephen Keane:
Don’t be talking rubbish. Milner is well able to look after himself and leave the boot in more often than not.
@David Sinclair: he got a yellow for the challenge. I’m saying it should have been a second yellow.
@Stephen Keane: And if a Liverpool player got sent off for that you’d have a different story.
The question you should be asking is why your utter clown of a manager keeps picking the comedy gold that is Dejan Lovren . I’ve seen Sunday league defenders with a smell of liquor off them that have a better command of the penalty box.
@Stephen Keane: he should have been off. Any neutral can see that. Two penalties too.
Didn’t see the match did Salah play
Mata starting hardly calls for parking it, hopefully in as a No.10 rather than out wide. Great to see Bailly back, big loss all season hasn’t played since Nov.. still worth a punt over lindelof. Prefer Shaw over Young but understand going for experience. Big game for VVD, Lovern will need to be covered for
Wow… Rashford on fire…I’ll gloat after 90 minutes.
Looking at the teams, it should be a stroll in the park for Liverpool today. 2-0 to the reds #YNWA
@Seàn Mc: You were saying?
#GGMU
@Seàn Mc: Good luck with that !
@Seàn Mc: LOL
@James Reardon: Its turning in a hiding after 30 minutes .. YEAHHHHH
@Gavin Mitchell: In fairness, he did say 2-0 to the reds!
@Link: 2-1 Lets go!
@Seàn Mc: it’s our year lol delusional pool fans
But the best attacking team in Europe lol
No Pogba to slow utd down that’s the difference.
Liverpool didn’t even test De Gea
Come on the pool. come on ireland.
Jamie(Englands Envy) must be at the game,poor coverage at times at Old Trafford.
Not bad eh Jamie?
It’s a game now and it really shouldn’t be. Should have been over at half time
Hahahahahaha
Just nothing better than beating Liverpool. They are the worst fans in sport. Such a moany bunch.
Can see it going one of two ways…0-0 draw or Liverpool running away with it
I hope this doesn’t come back to bite me
Should have kept my mouth shut
@Kian: hahaha, keep talking
@Kian: ooopps
@Back pass: if it keeps going like this I’ll be absent from here for a while lol
@Kian: fair play it’s only a bit of banter draw looking likely
@Back pass: think draw would have been fair, but can’t begrudge Utd the win, solid defense…could have had a couple of pens but that’s the game. Least it wasn’t a bore draw this time, more like the game it should be
Liverpool haven’t turned up. Liverpool asleep.
Mourinho is klopping Klopp at the moment.
Bad defensive performance from Liverpool. Arnold having a shocker unfortunately. Rashford is a great player. Can’t see us getting anything from this now being 2 behind but if we do it’ll come from Smalling because he is a liability in that united defence.
Sweet :-)
This game will outline just how defensive Mourinho is. Practically a dead rubber and Moaninho will STILL park the bus
@Colin Ahern: ha ha ha how’s that prediction working out? Clown
@FPL Thommo: Comedy gold from poo fans
@Colin Ahern: Colin you clown, on her bike pal
@Colin Ahern: Spot on Colin. Good call
Palace were a tougher challenge. Mata… beautiful should of killed the game off in the 1st 40 mins
Liverpools beautiful attacking flair to be stumped by a lump up to fellani to lay off to Lukaku with 2 mins left on the clock. I could picture a bomb going off in every Liverpool supporters head, Aaah that would be brilliant
Well let’s be honest, we were well beaten today, Liverpool always get nervous when we go to old Trafford! Hope this doesn’t wreck our season
We know there’s a change in the football climate when you here the two of these fighting over second place like it’s the title. Anyway….I expect a tight game today with a 1:1 result.
@Jack Jackson: Or “hear” rather before some smarta** points it out……:)
Right 2-1 United. Lukaku,Sanchez
Mane
Just got a notification for a goal. High priority notifications my arse. Most people don’t care.
@Daddy Long Legs: You get notifications once you enter the article. You can turn them off then if you want. What I can’t understand is how you got a notification because if you don’t care then you surely didn’t click into the article! Very confusing..
Sanchez is very poor. Giving ball away a lot again today. Probably needs to calm down, make sure he’s in possession of the ball befor he tries to flick it on.
Get in there. Pool getting a wake up call. Great stuff. Defense still shite
Cmon Liverpool
Do Manchester United own the FA? Most biased referee I’ve ever seen. Liverpool are rubbish anyway so don’t know why they were so confident…
City for the next five years… love oil !!!!!!!!! Blue mooooooonnnn
@James Brown: haha ya thick
Stick Virgil on Lukaku that first goal doesn’t happen. Rashford playing well for you. Reckon we can come back tho
@Ollie Watson: Jesus I can’t see it at the moment.
Very poor reactions from De Gea there
Liverpool are doing fantastic they are club who trades heavily on its history. It’s credit to there owners and management that despite been a selling club and being stepping stone for ambitious players who want to win things. They continue to keep producing players for the big clubs. Despite Wigan winning bigger trophies In the last ten years its credit to them and also the fans who continue to give fanatic support to a club going nowhere. Well done Liverpool
with 5 mins to go, come on the ‘Pool.