London team Arsenal ended Liverpool's 20-week run at the top of the English Soccer League First Division on Saturday (10 February) when they beat them 2-0 in a thrilling game.

More than 50,000 fans saw Arsenal jump to the top of the league by being the first team to beat Liverpool on their home ground in 33 matches.

The game was evenly balanced until wall after half-time, with both teams producing some magnificent football in the particularly wet conditions. But Arsenal, with their cool defence and teamwork in tackling and covering, had little trouble in holding Liverpool.

They began the second half on the attack and McNab went close to scoring with a low drive through a crowded goalmouth.

After 55 minutes, they missed another good chance when Kennedy failed to pass to Ball waiting in a good scoring position.

But Ball made up for it in the 64th minute after Lindsay had brought down Armstrong in the penalty area. Ball took the kick and drove the ball past Clemence to put Arsenal in the lead.

Radford came close to scoring again three minutes late,r but Clemence blocked his shot. However, Redford made good his attempt in the 69th minute when he beat Smith in a run from the halfway line, rounded Clemence and then guided the ball into the net.

SYNOPSIS: At Liverpool's Anfield ground, the surprise soccer match of the day on Saturday with Arsenal, in light shirts kicking left to right, launching one of their many attacks on the home team. More than fifty-thousand fans packed the ground to watch the battle of the leaders in the English League First Division table. Liverpool were celebrating their twentieth week at the top of the league. And with a determined Arsenal facing them, it was an evenly balanced game until well after half-time.

Both tams produced some magnificent football in the particularly wet conditions.

But it was Arsenal, with their teamwork in tackling and covering, and their cool defence, who gain ed the upper hand.

Arsenal player Armstrong brought down a cross pass from Kennedy, turned it past Lindsay and was tripped as he went for it. Alan Ball took the penalty kick and scored to make Arsenal one up.

Liverpool continued to attack, but Arsenal's defence was too strong. Attack turned into counter-attack.

In the sixty-ninth minute, Radford received recompense for an earlier miss when he beat Smith in a run from the halfway line, rounded Clemence and scored. Arsenal were two up. Despite Liverpool's continued attack, they could not break through, and with the score at two-nil against them, they had suffered their first defeat on their home ground in thirty-three matches...and lost their league lead.