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CROUCH HAT-TRICK GUNS DOWN ARSENAL
Liverpool have reclaimed third place in the Premiership from Arsenal after a brilliant hat-trick from Peter Crouch and a goal from Daniel Agger gave them a emphatic 4-1 win over the Gunners at Anfield on Saturday.

The Reds have avenged a double cup defeat to Arsene Wenger's side and in the process overtaken them in the table after Peter Crouch returned from injury with his first hat-trick for the club and a Daniel Agger goal made a late William Gallas goal nothing more than a consolation.

Today signalled a new dawn in Liverpool's future as their new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks took in their first game since officially taking charge of the club; and they looked well at home already as they stood proudly in their Liverpool scarves.

The Reds were returning to domestic action after a long international break and with most of Liverpool's players having been involved for their countries, it was perhaps no surprise to see Rafa ring the changes.

He made five from the side that drew at Aston Villa a fortnight ago. One of them changes was the return of Peter Crouch after he had recovered from an operation to mend his broken nose.

And how Crouch celebrated his return to action, with two first half goals that gave the Reds a commanding 2-0 half time lead and put them on their way to overtaking Arsenal and reclaiming third place.

It took Crouch just 4 minutes to announce his return and give Liverpool the lead. Jermaine Pennant and Alvaro Arbeloa combining brilliantly before Pennant's cross was met by Crouch, who had beat his marker to the ball, and he finished low into the corner.

Crouch had clearly missed playing because he, like Mascherano, was involved in everything good Liverpool did and he almost scored again in the 24th when his acrobatic effort was well saved by Lehman.

Arsenal came close to equalizing when Adebayor headed narrowly over, but Liverpool extended their lead in the 35th minute when Fabio Aurelio's deep cross was met by a powerful Crouch header that gave Lehman no chance and flew into the net.

At 2-0 up Liverpool were in a commanding position, but when Adebayor hit the post early in the second half they knew not to take anything for granted and they swiftly attacked themselves and scored a decisive third goal through Daniel Agger.

And like the second goal it was a Fabio Aurelio cross that was Arsenal's undoing as this time Agger was the man to meet it with his head and score passed Lehman into the Kop net.

Arsenal had already won twice at Anfield this season and they weren't about to lie down and Adebayor again hit the post after this time his header had brought a fine save out of Reina.

The visitors raised hopes of a comeback when Gallas scored to make it 3-1 with a scrambled goal from a corner, but it proved to be no more than a consolation when Crouch beat Gallas and capped off a brilliant comeback with his hat-trick in front of the Kop.

Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Agger, Carragher, Arbeloa, Gonzalez, Alonso, Mascherano, Pennant, Gerrard MBE (captain), Crouch. Subs - Dudek, Riise, Kuyt, Zenden, Fowler

Arsenal: Lehmann, Clichy, Toure, Gallas, Eboue, , Fabregas, Diaby, Hleb, Baptista, Adebayor. Subs - Rosicky, Ljungberg, Hoyte, Senderos, Almunia Referee: S Bennett Conditions: Dry