Arsenal vs Liverpool. Premier League.
Emirates StadiumAttendance60,383.
Report and free match highlights as Mo Salah gives Liverpool late 2-2 draw at Arsenal; Gunners take early lead through Buyako Saka before Virgil Van Dijk equalises from corner; Mikel Merino’s first club goal restores hosts’ lead, but Salah earns point at Emirates Stadium
Sunday 27 October 2024 20:14, UK
A late Mohamed Salah equaliser rescued a 2-2 draw for Liverpool at absence-hit Arsenal to move them a point off the top of the table.
The Gunners were without William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori from their first-choice back four and held their visitors at arm’s length for much of a captivating encounter, but after losing Gabriel to a knee injury during the game, were punished late on by a clinical Liverpool counter.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s long ball down the right left the hosts stretched, with Darwin Nunez’s pace in behind allowing him time to square to Salah for his sixth Premier League goal of the season.
That kept Liverpool four points ahead of their hosts despite what Jamie Carragher labelled a "disappointing" performance. "When you think of the problems Arsenal had [with injuries] during the game then l would have expected them to create a lot more," he said.
Arsenal had given themselves a lead to defend inside nine minutes, when Bukayo Saka won a foot-race with Andy Robertson to Ben White’s ball down the line. In spite of the Liverpool defender’s recovery, Saka shook him off a second time before lashing in at Caoimhin Keller’s near post.
The questions over the makeshift centre-back pairing of Gabriel and White were largely answered in open play. Instead, it was a corner which brought Liverpool level nine minutes later when Virgil van Dijk stooped to nod home Luis Diaz’s flick-on.
The Premier League’s set-piece masters were not to be outdone, and restored their advantage moments before the interval with Merino’s first goal for the club, powering a header of his own past Kelleher at the back post from Declan Rice’s free-kick.
The Spaniard briefly had his celebrations cut short by a VAR review, which took several minutes to confirm he was onside by the finest of margins.
Liverpool only forced David Raya into one save after half-time, despite Arsenal losing Gabriel and then Jurrien Timber to injuries, until they finally clicked into gear with 10 minutes remaining to catch Arsenal upfield for Salah’s late leveller.
That goal stopped Arsenal narrowing the gap to the Reds to a point and instead moved the visitors themselves back a point behind new leaders Manchester City.
Sky Sports' Roy Keane:
"All the brilliant players affect games, and that's what Saka does. You can see that with his finish.
"What came across in his interview was, he's disappointed, but I'm starting to worry about Arsenal's mentality now.
"When they get themselves in front, they sit back, instead of going after the third goal. Liverpool were there for the taking if they wanted it."
Sky Sports' Ron Walker at the Emirates Stadium:
"After passing their sternest test against Chelsea last weekend, Liverpool came up short at the Emirates. They had an opportunity to put down a real marker against what ended a third-choice Arsenal defence but only really tested David Raya once after half-time. That was when they beat him.
"Everyone knows the quality Arsenal lose when one of Gabriel or William Saliba is absent. When both are missing, a team of Liverpool's attacking efficacy should be threatening much more. All that, and when Arsenal are also onto their third-choice left-back...
"Arne Slot praised the second-half response of his team and they did improve from a slow start, but only to register a combined xG of 0.85 across the 90 minutes, their lowest figure of the season.
"Against a full-strength Arsenal that would be a decent tally, and a good result. In these circumstances, it represents an opportunity missed.
"Liverpool's build-up may have been more considered this season but they still stretch teams on the attack, and it was a goal straight out of the Jurgen Klopp copybook to level late on.
"We have begun to mention Liverpool as title hopefuls but just as Arsenal learned last season, without the courage to really push for a win in these kind of games, Manchester City - the new league leaders - will be licking their lips once again."
Liverpool manager Arne Slot speaking to Sky Sports:
"Arsenal were the first team better than us. They deserved to be one up at half-time. We had less to recover and prepare for this game and if I look at how strong we were in the second half, that pleased me and most being two times down."
