Arsenal's title hopes fade after Liverpool's late, late equaliser

Dirk Kuyt scored an equaliser for Liverpool against Arsenal with the last kick of the game. Photograph: Sean Dempsey/PA

An often-vapid match became gripping far into stoppage time when each side converted a penalty, Arsenal took the lead in the 98th minute when Robin van Persie converted his slickly after Jay Spearing brought down Cesc Fábregas. At the very end, though, the hosts confounded themselves. Luis Suárez's free-kick broke to Lucas and although he presented no danger Emmanuel Eboué still barged him over. Dirk Kuyt struck home the penalty with the last kick of the game.

The folly of Eboué leaves Arsenal, with no games in hand, six points adrift of Manchester United in the Premier League. That will bring solace for Sir Alex Ferguson's side after their defeat in the FA Cup semi-final. This match had largely been listless and, penalties aside, it may be remembered for the head injury that saw the Liverpool captain, Jamie Carragher, carried off in the second half. Before the match had ended, however, it was reported that he had regained consciousness fully in the dressing room.

Few had pestered Arsenal with talk of the Premier League title in any case. That subject seemed inappropriate for a side that have been beaten three times on their own pitch, although people tend not to appreciate just how the they have atoned for such sins in away matches.

Arsenal were at risk early in the fixture when Spearing seemed to be fouled inside the penalty area by Johan Djourou after nine minutes. The referee, Andre Marriner, did not see a foul. Where the hosts were concerned, the moment that gripped the home crowd in the first-half was Laurent Koscielny's header against the bar following a Robin van Persie corner in the 16th minute.

The greatest concern for the visitors would, all the same, have been the collision between Carragher and team-mate John Flanagan that saw a brace fitted to the Liverpool captain before he was stretchered away after prolonged treatment. Sotirios Kyrgiakos took over in defence and Arsenal, in open play, continued to flounder in their efforts to prise open a line-up that became ever more secure, even if Van Persie did shoot against Reina in the 85th minute.