Mohamed Salah‘s late equaliser earned Liverpool a 2-2 draw with rivals Arsenal in an entertaining Premier League encounter on the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, as Gabriel Magalhães limped off so as to add to the Gunners’ damage woes.
Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal the lead within the ninth minute when he ran on to Ben White‘s ball excessive, minimize inside Andy Robertson and fired previous Caoimhín Kelleher at his close to put up for a fiftieth Premier League objective on his return from damage.
Virgil van Dijk, maybe lucky to keep away from a card for a petulant kick at Kai Havertz within the opening exchanges, equalised 9 minutes later, nodding dwelling a Luis Díaz flick-on from a nook.
“I feel to return again twice is an efficient factor, and we take the purpose and we transfer [on],” Van Dijk instructed Sky Sports activities.
Arsenal responded positively and spurned a number of half-chances, with Saka hitting a shot over the bar and Havertz unable to regulate Gabriel Martinelli‘s harmful ball throughout the face of objective.
The house followers needed a penalty simply after the half-hour mark when Ibrahima Konaté floored Martinelli with a careless problem, however referee Anthony Taylor deemed he bought sufficient of the ball, with Havertz slicing a volley excessive within the aftermath.
John Powell/Liverpool FC through Getty Photos
Mikel Merino scored his first Arsenal objective simply earlier than half-time, assembly Declan Rice‘s free-kick with a bullet header that was upheld after a prolonged VAR assessment for offside.
Liverpool improved after the break and Díaz went shut 5 minutes after the restart following a mazy run alongside the touchline.
Gabriel limped off early within the second half, changed by Jakub Kiwior, as Arsenal sustained one other damage to a key participant.
Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta will hope to quickly welcome again captain Martin Ødegaard, who has been out with an damage since September. Arteta stated within the matchday programme notes that he’s near a return.
The hosts needed to stand up to appreciable durations of strain, although they threatened on the counter as Liverpool left gaps on the again.
Salah levelled the sport within the 81st minute with a peaceful tap-in from Darwin Núñez‘s selfless cross, placing the Egyptian winger eighth on the all-time listing and stage with Robbie Fowler on 163 profession Premier League targets.
The momentum gave the impression to be with Liverpool to clinch a comeback victory however Arsenal had the ball within the web on the demise by means of Havertz, although referee Anthony Taylor had already blown for a foul.
The draw places Liverpool second with 22 factors from 9 video games, one level behind Manchester Metropolis, and Arsenal transfer into third with 18 factors.
Arteta instructed reporters he was “very dissatisfied” his aspect didn’t win, however stated: “Very happy with the staff, particularly with the scenario that we’re going by means of for the time being.”
He added that he would favor to be 5 factors forward of Metropolis moderately than 5 behind, although he stated: “The staff is alive, the staff desires it.”
Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot stated that, on steadiness, he was comfortable: “Going two instances behind towards a really sturdy and good Arsenal staff, then to get some extent is agreeable to see.”