Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus fire Arsenal to within reach of first Anfield win since 2012 before Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino earn Liverpool point in thriller. Salah missed penalty before Aaron Ramsdale's late heroics secure point.
 |
Roberto Firmino's late header earned Liverpool a 2-2 draw with leaders Arsenal as the Premier League title race was blown wide open in a pulsating Anfield encounter.
The league-leading Gunners looked set to pass the toughest assessment of their title credentials with a first Anfield win since 2012 when Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus struck in an imperious opening 28-minute spell.
Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool a lifeline before half-time but his missed second-half penalty appeared to have handed Arsenal the victory they needed to restore their eight-point lead at the summit.
But Liverpool's perseverance was rewarded three minutes from time when Arsenal's nemesis Firmino levelled the contest with a header - his 11th Premier League goal against the Gunners.
The drama continued in a thrilling finale as Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale produced two sensational saves to prevent Salah and Ibrahima Konate scoring stoppage-time winners, as Arsenal clung onto a first Anfield point in seven seasons which could prove priceless if their title aspirations are to come to fruition.
Arsenal remain six points clear at the top of the Premier League and still have their fate in their hands but the sight of their seven-game winning run ending will only embolden champions Manchester City, who have played a game fewer and welcome the Gunners to the Etihad Stadium on April 26.
Player ratings
Liverpool: Alisson (6), Alexander-Arnold (6), Konate (7), Van Dijk (6), Robertson (6), Henderson (6), Fabinho (6), Jones (6), Salah (6), Jota (5), Gakpo (5).
Subs: Thiago (6), Firmino (7), Nunez (6).
Arsenal: Ramsdale (8), White (6), Holding (6), Gabriel (7), Zinchenko (6), Partey (6), Xhaka (6), Odegaard (6), Saka (7), Jesus (8), Martinelli (8).
Subs: Tierney (n/a), Kiwior (5), Trossard (5).
Man of the Match: Aaron Ramsdale.
With Liverpool having lost just once at home all season the prospect of Arsenal enduring more Anfield misery remained a possibility irrespective of the hosts' inconsistent campaign.
But it took all of eight minutes for the Gunners to allay any nerves as Bukayo Saka's darting run sparked panic and allowed Martinelli to capitalise on more suspect Liverpool defending with a deft low finish into the corner.
Team news
Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo returned as Liverpool made five changes following their 0-0 draw at Chelsea.
Bukayo Saka replaced Leandro Trossard in Arsenal’s only change from the 4-1 victory over Leeds.
Arsenal could have been out of sight before Liverpool had the chance to respond to their free-flowing start, with Oleksandr Zinchenko forcing a save from Alisson Becker and Jesus turning Saka's cross over at the back post before Andy Robertson blazed a shot past the post.
Arsenal's dominance was underscored before the half-hour mark when Jesus rose unopposed in the Liverpool area to forcefully head in Martinelli's superb cross.
Thoroughly outplayed for the opening 40 minutes, Liverpool grabbed a lifeline three minutes before the interval as Salah bundled at the back post after Curtis Jones and Robertson had combined to find Jordan Henderson in the Arsenal area.
Ramsdale denied Diogo Jota, with Henderson blazing the rebound over, as Arsenal preserved their lead through to half-time, where Liverpool full-back Robertson appeared to be elbowed in the face following an altercation with linesman Constantine Hatzidakis.
Assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis appears to elbow Andy Robertson in the face at the end of the first half at Anfield.
The incident sparked Liverpool into life in the second period and, within seven minutes of the restart, they were presented with the chance to draw level when Rob Holding clumsily brought Jota down in the area, but Salah steered his spot-kick wide just as he did at Bournemouth in March.
Ramsdale prevented substitute Darwin Nunez levelling the contest after he was released through on goal, but he was powerless as Firmino headed in Alexander-Arnold's cross for his 11th goal in all competitions against the Gunners.
And having looked on course for a statement victory the closing stages saw Arsenal hang on for a point as Salah and Konate were thwarted by superb Ramsdale saves just when the Gunners Anfield curse threatened to reappear.
Jurgen Klopp had mixed feelings after Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal. Klopp was disappointed with how Liverpool started the match but praised their performance to get back in the game and ultimately did not know how they did win.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to Sky Sports: "It was a little bit typical for us this season and for Arsenal as well, it was a completely open game. They scored with the first situation and not too long after they scored the second one and our problems were big enough but we made them even bigger.
"But then the reaction was good, it was a spectacular game in the end. How we cannot win it, I don't know, with the chances we had.
"It's a point and a good reaction from the two goals we conceded, that's positive but I'm caught in between. I have no problem with drawing and for Arsenal, it's a super important point because if you draw these kinds of games, you've got a good chance to become champions.
"You cannot always be super, super, super convincing. They were good but they would agree they could or should have lost this game today. They didn't so the point is probably better for them."
What do you know about the Robertson incident? "Nothing. I know it happened but I didn't watch it because in these situations, the pictures speak probably for themselves."
Arteta: We have to take the point
Mikel Arteta reflected on Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool and felt the Gunners lost control of the game after a strong start and said the draw was a fair result.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to Sky Sports: "Wow. A really intense game. We started brilliantly, controlled the game and scored the first goal, and the second goal was a beautiful action. The game was under control until we conceded a really sloppy goal. Then the game changed momentum.
"We lost control after half time, lost far too many simple balls and it became a very open and chaotic game which they love. They could have scored three or four, missed a penalty and Aaron (Ramsdale) made a couple of great saves. But we had some big breakaways and could have scored two or three. In the end, the result is fair.
"The lesson is from the first 35 minutes and how we played coming to a ground like this and what we did. But we have to continue to do this regardless of the crowd and the result to go and look for a third and fourth goal."
On Liverpool's strong home form: "I haven't seen anyone do it in this Premier League season, nobody. They beat every big team here and could have been 4-0 up vs Real Madrid after 20 minutes so it's extremely difficult. They are going to have moments and we did deal with them. Our goalkeeper played a big part.
"We could have taken three points - if we played like we did [at the start] for another 15 minutes the game would have taken a different trajectory - but we didn't, and we have to take the point.
"We move on and try to convince them to play like they did for the first 35 minutes and we will win a lot of games."
Opta stats
Arsenal unable to crack Anfield code
Arsenal remain winless in 10 visits to Anfield in the Premier League, drawing three and losing seven times, while conceding at least twice in each match.
Liverpool have only lost one of their last 37 Premier League games at Anfield (W27 D9), with that defeat coming against Leeds United in October.
There have been 184 goals in Premier League games between Liverpool and Arsenal, making it the highest scoring fixture in the competition's history.
Arsenal have dropped points from a leading position for only the third time this season, also doing so against Southampton at St. Mary's and at home to Brentford.
SEE EPL TABLE:
- Readers Comments desired, Share Your Story in comment box below;
0 Comments