ANDRIY Arshavin scored four for Arsenal but Yossi Benayoun grabbed an injury-time equaliser to earn Liverpool a 4-4 draw in a Premier League thriller at Anfield.

In an incredible match, Russian star Arshavin became the first man to score four goals in a League game at Anfield in 53 years – with Arsenal’s only four shots on target.

He gave the Gunners the lead against the run of play after 36 minutes only for Fernando Torres and Benayoun to give Liverpool the advantage with goals within seven minutes early in the second-half.

Arshavin then struck on the 67th and 70th minutes only for Torres to add his second two minutes later to level once more.

The Russian looked to have grabbed the points for Arsene Wenger’s side by matching Julio Baptista’s feat in the League Cup on this ground two seasons ago by scoring his fourth in the final minute.

But Benayoun popped up to scuff home a close range shot in injury-time to take Liverpool to the top of the Premier League for 24 hours at least.

The Merseysiders are ahead of Manchester United, who host Portsmouth today, on goal difference but they have played a game more and will feel they have dropped two points regardless of the entertainment served up.

Rafael Benitez’ side had 12 corners while the visitors had none, a telling statistic of the hosts’ domination. Liverpool had peppered Lukasz Fabianski in the Arsenal goal – with Samir Nasri clearing Daniel Agger’s header off the line – before the visitors took the lead via some sloppy defending that characterised the night. Javier Mascherano lost the ball in his own penalty area and Cesc Fabregas teed up Arshavin who smashed his shot in off the underside of the bar. Dirk Kuyt was pushed to the right wing after the break, and from there played a part in Liverpool’s opening two goals.

On 49 minutes, a poor clearance by Bacary Sagna fell to the Dutch workhorse who picked out Torres with his cross at the second attempt and the Spanish striker headed home his 12th goal of the season past the diving Fabianski.

Soon after Kieran Gibbs’ clearance fell to Kuyt, whose cross was headed home by Benayoun at the back post as the Israeli nipped in ahead of Sagna.

But Arshavin levelled proceedings when he nicked the ball off Alvaro Arbeloa and dispatched a 20-yard shot past Jose Reina.

The Russian was gifted his hat-trick three minutes later when Fabio Aurelio failed to deal with a cross from the left. His intended clearance landed at Arshavin’s feet six yards out and the shot went cleanly under Reina.

It was a short-lived lead, however, as Torres was afforded too much space 16 yards out by Mikael Silvestre. Fabianski got a strong hand on the shot, but he still failed to prevent the equaliser.

Liverpool were pressing for a winner and Torres had a header nodded off the line by Gibbs before Arsenal took the lead after breaking from a home corner.

With the Merseysiders having piled men forward the ball dropped to sub Theo Walcott at the scene of his wonderful Champions League goal last season. He charged forward in similar fashion and teed up Arshavin who planted his shot past Reina at the near post with his weaker left foot.

Yet there was more to come. When Arsenal failed to deal with a header across goal and the ball dropped to Benayoun, the Israeli rescued a precious point for the Reds; and incredibly, for the second Tuesday in a row Liverpool fans would head home after witnessing a 4-4 draw. (Eurosport)