by No quarter had been given at Anfield, but no statement victory either. Arsenal will top the Premier League at Christmas after picking up a point at Liverpool, a ground they have regularly beaten in the 11 years since they won here. Jürgen Klopp will properly reflect on what could have been.
The Liverpool manager was brought to his knees twice in the 100th league meeting between the clubs at Anfield, first when Kostas Tsimikas went in as manager with a potentially serious injury, and again when Trent Alexander-Arnold hit the Arsenal bar with David Raya only. to hit late. Gabriel Magalhães had given Arsenal a deserved lead before Mohamed Salah, with his 149th league goal for Liverpool, impressively brought the home side level.
Related: Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal: Premier League – live reaction
Klopp’s complaints about the Anfield atmosphere during Wednesday’s Carabao Cup rout of West Ham certainly did the trick. As soon as the two teams emerged, the noise was fit for a contest to decide who would take the No. 1 spot. 1 at Christmas. Arsenal showed determination to do it from the first whistle.
The visitors were in the lead within four minutes. It was Arsenal’s third clear-cut effort on Alisson’s goal in a blistering start that is reminiscent of what Liverpool are often subjected to by opponents at Anfield. The home defense was appreciative of opening up after just 30 seconds when Gabriel Jesus dispossessed Wataru Endo and the brilliant Martin Ødegaard released Bukayo Saka behind Kostas Tsimikas.
Alisson turned Saka’s dangerous low cross out to Jesus on the edge of the area, where the goal-bound striker’s shot deflected off Ibrahima Konaté and just over the crossbar of the stranded goalkeeper. When Jesus found a yard of space in a box packed six yards, he headed the resulting corner from Saka straight into the arms of Alisson.
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Arsenal were just warming up, and punished Liverpool’s more uncertain defending moments later. Konaté’s foul on Kai Havertz gave Ødegaard a free kick on the left. Arsenal’s move disturbed Liverpool, allowing Gabriel to ease in front of Konaté and send a powerful header past the stranded Alisson. The Liverpool keeper came off his line when the free-kick was taken but was stopped when he saw the Arsenal center rise unmarked in front of him. The goal stood after an unnecessary VAR check for offside against the scorer.
With Ødegaard and Declan Rice oozing authority and composure in midfield, Saka and Jesus keeping possession under pressure in attack and Gabriel and William Saliba dominant in the air, Arsenal controlled the first third of the game. Jesus sent a first time shot rising over Liverpool’s crossbar from Gabriel Martinelli’s pass. Ødegaard dragged an effort wide after Arsenal opened up the hosts’ left again.
Liverpool’s only response amid the early blitz was Mohamed Salah’s volley into the side-netting from Endo’s cross. They had strong appeals for a penalty when Ødegaard was tackled as he slid inside his area but both referee Chris Kavanagh and VAR showed mercy.
Arsenal’s confidence, as well as the sense that there were more chances to score afterwards, was growing when they fell two points short of Liverpool’s brilliance. The first came from Alexander-Arnold in his form as a Premier League quarterback minus the helmet and shoulder pads. Standing deep within his own half, he waited, and waited, and waited for a choice to appear. He then curled a 70-yard pass past Oleksandr Zinchenko into Salah’s run. The angle seemed against Liverpool’s top scorer until he cut back inside Arsenal’s left-back and unleashed an unstoppable finish inside David Raya’s goal. A great goal.
Liverpool suffered an unfortunate and potentially serious injury and the Anfield celebrations were still going on. Tsimikas and Saka were engaged in a physical battle from the start and the left-back was sent diving into Klopp, sending the Liverpool manager flying, as he was pushed by the Arsenal winger.
Joe Gomez immediately replaced the defendant and he was taken to hospital with a suspected fracture. Liverpool’s leading left-back Andy Robertson is recovering from a dislocated shoulder he suffered while on duty in Scotland in October.
Arsenal should have taken the lead again shortly before the break when Rice played Saka through the goal with a brilliant pass. Saka Alisson’s effort was blocked by a heavy touch but the ball fell to Martinelli, who stood inside Konaté but dragged his shot wide of two Liverpool players to reach the goal.
It was an exciting game, no let up between two quality teams giving everything to win. Gomez finally went close to scoring for Liverpool with a shot that went past Raya but just wide of the post.
Alexander-Arnold had a great chance to win it for Klopp’s team when Ødegaard and Zinchenko collided at Arsenal’s corner and Liverpool broke in big numbers. Salah led the charge and tied the defender as he swept into the box, but his finish clipped Raya’s bar and was narrow. Not for the first time, Klopp sank.
Liverpool claimed a second yellow card for Saka for fouling Ryan Gravenberch but he won the ball before sliding into the substitute.
