Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon (Garde 68), Winterburn, Vieira,
Adams, Platt, Wright, Keown, Bergkamp, Marshall (Parlour 68),
Hughes (Shaw 73).
Subs Not Used: Bould, Harper.
Booked: Bergkamp.
Goals: Wright 78.
Liverpool: James, Kvarme, McAteer, Wright, McManaman, Collymore,
Fowler (Thomas 81), Barnes, Redknapp, Harkness, Bjornebye.
Subs Not Used: Warner, Ruddock, Berger, Kennedy.
Booked: Collymore, McAteer.
Goals: Collymore 50, McAteer 65.
Att: 38,068
Ref: G Ashby (Worcester).
By Bill Pierce, PA Sport
Stan Collymore put Arsenal out of their misery in the Premiership title race with a 51st minute strike at Highbury to keep second placed Liverpool on the heels of leaders Manchester United. But Gunners' fans declared referee Gerald Ashby the real villain of the piece as far as they were concerned after he awarded a hotly-disputed 66th minute penalty from which Jason McAteer clinched the points with a follow up effort after David Seaman had blocked Robbie Fowler's spot kick. Worcester official Ashby had given the penalty when Fowler tumbled over England goalkeeper Seaman's dive at his feet. And even the Liverpool striker looked astonished when the spot-kick was given, spreading his arms in front of the North Bank as Arsenal players angrily surrounded the referee.
Ian Wright clipped the ball over David James as he stretched to meet a Dennis Bergkamp header to give the Gunners hope 11 minutes from time but Liverpool's blanket defending soaked up the inevitable late pressure which included a loud appeal for an Arsenal penalty after Kvarme went tumbling in the closing seconds. Referee Ashby turned his back on this one and walked off the field to a storm of booing.
Collymore, back in the Liverpool starting line-up after four matches on the bench, gave them the breakthrough they needed just after the interval, popping up to slot home the rebound after Seaman failed to hold a fierce drive by Stig-Inge Bjornebye. Arsenal were unlucky to be trailing, but in the second half their inexperienced midfielders could not cope with the guile and drive of Steve McManaman, John Barnes and Jamie Redknapp. Their clinical football on the break was the key to the visitors' victory, which puts them just three points behind United, with both sides having seven games left.
Arsenal must now consider themselves out of the chase after their third home League defeat of the season. All they needed was a decent break in the penalty box during a cat-and-mouse first half, in which they largely quelled Liverpool's passing game and had the edge through Bergkamp's subtle moves and solid all-round team display. But Ian Wright, back after suspension, looked as though he needed the game and although Arsenal had more of the possession in the first 45 minutes, the clearest chances fell to Collymore in the first 14 minutes. Superb defending by Tony Adams and Martin Keown put the striker off his final shot, after he had moved menacingly into the box on the end of first a McManaman pass and then a miskick by Arsenal's David Platt.
Arsenal lacked the cutting edge to grab the lead they needed before the interval and their best chance went begging when Bergkamp sliced his shot over the bar following a low cross from Wright. Arsenal's frustration really started when Bergkamp was booked for allegedly diving at the end of an intricate run, which took him past a string of Liverpool defenders to the edge of the box. But after Collymore's breakthrough with his 14th goal of the season, referee Ashby saw it Fowler's way for the penalty. Although the 28-goal striker had his shot beaten away by Seaman, it was McAteer who reacted quickest of all to slot home the loose ball.
Liverpool manager Roy Evans refused to count Arsenal out of the championship race despite the Merseysiders' 2-1 victory at Highbury tonight. Liverpool moved within three points of leaders Manchester United and six ahead of Arsenal with a game in hand thanks to the win. But Evans insisted: "It's crazy to talk of it being a two-horse race. The situation has been changing by the day. We got the three points tonight and we are still in the race. "It was a very competitive game and Highbury is a tough place to come.
Stan Collymore had two or three chances in the first half and missed them. But he kept being in the right place and finally stuck one away." Evans had no doubt that Liverpool's second goal was legitimate as well, after his side had been awarded a controversial penalty when Robbie Fowler -- who missed the spotkick, only for Jason McAteer to tuck away the rebound -- had gone down under a challenge by David Seaman. Evans commented: "It looked a penalty from where I was. And I thought 'Thank you very much'. "If Robbie Fowler told the referee that he did not think it was a penalty, then he's being very honest. "Although David Seaman may not have made contact, his leg made an obstacle for Robbie. He was obviously not the man to take the penalty as he missed it."
McAteer said of his goal: "We were told to hang around the box and I was fortunate enough to be there to pop the ball into the net. "Tonight was a six-pointer for us and we've come away with a win. It's a tremendous result for us." Liverpool defender Mark Wright, Sky TV viewers' man of the match, echoed Evans' thoughts on the title race. "Don't count Arsenal out of it," he said. "They have a very comfortable run-in on paper while we have a difficult one. "There are a lot of points to be played for and the title race is not done and dusted yet."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, however, has ruled his side out of the title race. "We are six points behind Manchester United and we have only six games to play," he said. "We have a fight on our hands to get into Europe and at the end of the season we shall try to strengthen the squad. We have a difficult schedule ahead, but we should at least have got a point tonight. "We lost our organisation and concentration for a while in the second half, and paid for it." Wenger had strong feelings on the penalty decision that led to Liverpool's second goal. "It was never a penalty. David Seaman said that he never touched Robbie Fowler. It could be a difficult decision for the referee not to give it, but Robbie Fowler told him it wasn't a penalty," said the Gunners boss. "I don't want to interfere anymore. If the referee has said he didn't hear Fowler tell him it wasn't a penalty, then you have to believe him."
Liverpool are now 15-8 second favourites from 3-1 with Ladbrokes to win the title after their 2-1 win at Arsenal, who are out to 33-1 from 12-1.