Arsenal vs Liverpool Timeline & H2H Stats

There have been some truly huge matches between Arsenal and Liverpool over the years. For the Gunners, the moment that Michael Thomas lifted the ball past Bruce Grobbelaar to secure a 2-0 win, which was enough to see them win the title at the Merseyside club’s expense, was a moment that will never be forgotten. It isn’t the only time that the clubs have met in dramatic circumstances, however, and it wasn’t always Arsenal that came out on top. In spite of the fact that they were much the better side, for example, the Gunners somehow contrived to lose the 2001 FA Cup final to Liverpool in spite of taking a 1-0 lead.

The sides met for the very first time in 1893, just a few months after Liverpool had been formed in the wake of Everton deciding to depart Anfield for a new stadium in Goodison Park. Back then, Arsenal weren’t even known as Arsenal, being in the process of changing the club’s name from Royal Arsenal to Woolwich Arsenal. Still, they won 5-0, being the first of four successive victories over the Merseyside club. It took until they were both in the First Division for Liverpool to register a win against the Londoners. With the two teams regularly competing for trophies, there have been some big games between them over the years.

Big Game Clubs

The first four times that Arsenal and Liverpool played one another were the only times that they did so in the lower leagues of English football. Since then, every time they have gone up against each other has either been in the top-flight or else in a cup competition. The first time that they met in the FA Cup, for example, came in the February of 1913. As if to prove the fact that they have mostly faced off in big games, the 1949-1950 FA Cup final saw two-time winners of the competition Arsenal taking on Liverpool in the final, with the Merseyside club looking to secure the competition for the first time in their history.

The Gunners broke Merseyside hearts thanks to a 2-0 win, also winning the final against them in 1971. It took another 30 years before Liverpool could gain revenge in the final, this time thanks to two late Michael Owen goals and some questionable defending from their Swiss centre-back Stephane Henchoz. With the two teams regularly challenging for the top honours, it is hardly a surprise that they’ve played in some iconic matches against one another. The Gunners won 4-2 in the Champions League at Anfield in 2008, for example. Yet it will always be that Michael Thomas goal to secure the 1988-1989 First Division title that Arsenal fans will think of first.

Arsenal’s Full Match History Against Liverpool