verpool, April 22

Andrey Arshavin produced a stunning four-goal show to blow a huge hole in Liverpool’s title dream as Arsenal secured a 4-4 draw at Anfield on here Tuesday.

The Russia striker — the first player to score four league goals in a single league match at Anfield since Dennis Westcott for Wolves in 1946 — produced a quality display as Reds committed defensive suicide to leave Manchester United firm favourites to clinch their third successive domestic title.

Liverpool are level on points with United at the top of the table, United have two games in hand. Liverpool will be kicking themselves for failing to see off Arsenal in one of the most thrilling matches Anfield has ever witnessed.

Arshavin sent the visitors into the lead at half-time before two goals in six minutes at the start of the second half from Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun put Liverpool in command. But Arshavin capped a fine display with goals in the 66th and 69th minutes before Torres made it 3-3. After Arshavin had bagged his fourth goal in the final minute, Benayoun levelled in the dying moments.

Both Liverpool and Arsenal were hampered by injuries to key players. The hosts were without Steven Gerrard while Arsenal were also handicapped by the absence of Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor, who have scored 33 times between them this term.

Spanish La Liga

MADRID: Gonzalo Higuain scored his second goal in injury time on Tuesday to help Real Madrid rally for a 3-2 win over Getafe in the Spanish league.

Higuain ran into the area three minutes into injury time and sent a rising left-footed shot in for the winner, which came during a closing eight minutes that included four goals, a red card for Madrid defender Pepe and a Getafe penalty miss. Madrid improved to 75 points, three behind league leader Barcelona.

Robert Soldado headed Getafe into the lead in the 10th minute, but Higuain jumped on a defensive lapse to even the score in the 45th. The drama really picked up from the 84th, after substitute Juan Angel Albin put Getafe ahead 2-1.

Jose Maria “Guti” Gutierrez equalised from a free kick in the 86th before Pepe was red carded for a series of aggressive actions. Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas saved Casquero’s low-chipped penalty. And Higuain then scored to give the Spanish champions their 17th win in the last 18 league games.

Also Tuesday, Fernando Llorente scored a second-half winner to give 10-man Athletic Bilbao a 2-1 win at last-place Numancia in a matchup of teams trying to avoid the drop.