After weathering the early storm with Adebayor and Van Persie coming close, Liverpool will have been disappointed to concede the opener from a set-piece. Sami Hyypia lost his bearings at a corner and Adebayor was allowed a free header which he duly netted on 23 minutes.
The lead was short lived. Three minutes later Fernando Torres laid the ball off to Steven Gerrard on the edge of the penalty area. He stormed past a couple of defenders like they weren't there before sending a pass across the six yard box where Dirk Kuyt reacted quickest to poke the ball home for 1-1.
The game remained cagey for the rest of the first half but after the break Arsenal began to put sustained pressure on the Reds. It was Liverpool who created the first chance of the second half however; after Torres had been brought down by Senderos, Gerrard whipped in the free kick, Martin Skrtel headed down to Kuyt and his quick shot was saved by Almunia with Hyypia ready to pounce.
Arsenal subsitute and Liverpool fan Theo Walcott sent a powerful shot just inches wide of Pepe Reina's post minutes later before Skrtel cleared another Walcott shot off the line.
The Gunners had a real shout for a penalty moments later when Hleb skipped past a couple of players before being pulled back by Kuyt. Luckily for the Reds the referee pointed to the corner spot not the penalty spot.
Liverpool were counting their blessings again minutes later when Fabregas' goal bound shot was stopped on the line by his team mate Bendtner. The Reds rode their luck in the second half for sure, but will be immensely pleased to return to Anfield next Tuesday with the scores level.