THE end result may have been the same, but the emotions of the beaten Liverpool players as they trudged from the turf were markedly different.
A savage 6-3 defeat to Arsenal in the Carling Cup in January 2007 prompted furious debate over the strength of Rafael Benitez’s squad and his youth policy.
However, there should be no similar post-mortem after the Anfield outfit slipped out of the competition to the same opposition at the Emirates last night.
Frustration and not humiliation was the overriding feeling among the travelling fans, with a makeshift Liverpool having done themselves justice, the supporting cast giving Benitez reasons for encouragement.
And with £20m Alberto Aquilani making his long-awaited bow in a Liverpool shirt, there were significant positives for the Anfield manager.
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