Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal: Roberto Firmino nets late leveller as Gunners’ title challenge dealt blow
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Updated 09/04/2023 at 20:44 GMT
Manchester City threw down the gauntlet with victory over Southamptonn on Saturday. 24 hours on, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were unable to pick it up and run with it as they let slip a two-goal lead to draw at Anfield. It could have been worse for Arsenal in a game full of controversy as Mo Salah missed a penalty for Jurgen Klopp’s Reds. They lead the table by six points.
Arteta reflects on 'dropped points' against Liverpool
Roberto Firmino headed a late equaliser as Liverpool hit back from a two-goal deficit to rescue a 2-2 draw and dent Arsenal’s hopes of laying down a statement of their title-winning credentials at Anfield.
The Gunners were irrepressible at times in the first half and swaggered into a 2-0 lead courtesy of clinical goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus inside the first 28 minutes.
Liverpool laboured but blew good opportunities through Andy Robertson – who was involved in a bizarre altercation with the referee’s assistant during the interval - and Mo Salah before the Egyptian forward gave the hosts a lifeline with a close-range finish just before the break.
The Merseysiders dominated in the second half and should have levelled on 54 minutes, but Salah rolled a penalty wide of the post.
Arsenal were forced to dig in and defend desperately as Liverpool poured forward, but they couldn’t hang on as substitute Firmino nodded home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross three minutes from time.
Aaron Ramsdale then produced a string of world-class saves in stoppage time to deny the Kop the victory they were baying for.
The result means The Gunners are now six points clear of second-placed Manchester City having played a game more.
Liverpool remain eighth but their hopes of finishing in the Champions League places took another jolt as they are now 12 points adrift of Manchester United in fourth spot.
Talking point - Arsenal threaten a masterclass but then hang on for dear life
For many a pundit and supporter this was the acid test for Arsenal. Win at a ground where they have not triumphed since 2012 and it would surely show you could handle most atmospheres and situations.
At one point it looked like they would cling on with a mix of what many perceive to be trademarks of champions; a first-half of bewitching brilliance and then an old-fashioned show of grit to fend off wave after wave of Liverpool pressure.
Mikel Arteta’s men even had a slice of luck with Salah’s penalty miss and the Merseysiders will perhaps feel they deserved the win over the entirety of the 90 minutes.
For The Gunners it may seem like two points dropped having been 2-0 up and it certainly gives Manchester City a lift as they could move ahead of the Londoners on goal difference if they win their game in hand and the much-anticipated Etihad showdown between the top two later this month.
It leaves the race finely poised but Arsenal should remain upbeat as they avoided a complete collapse in what was an instant classic and their belief should not falter ahead of eight 'cup finals' in their pursuit of a first title since 2004.
Player of the match - Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
It looked like being one of Martinelli or Jesus as The Gunners' forwards threatened to run riot in the first half. However, Arsenal were firmly under the cosh in the second half and Ramsdale produced a show reel of exceptional saves to ensure his side escaped with a point that could yet be highly significant in this season’s title race.
Player Ratings
LIVERPOOL: Alisson 7, Alexander-Arnold 8, Konate 8, Van Dijk 6, Robertson 7, Fabinho 7, Henderson 7, Jones 7, Salah 5, Jota 6, Gakpo 6. Subs: Thiago 7, Nunez 7, Firmino 8.
ARSENAL: Ramsdale 9, White 7, Holding 5, Gabriel 6, Zinchenko 6, Partey 7, Xhaka 7, Odegaard 7, Saka 7, Jesus 8, Martinelli 8. Subs: Trossard n/a, Kiwior n/a, Tierney n/a.
Match Highlights
08’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal. Martinelli benefits from a lucky deflection off Van Dijk from Odegaard's pass and holds off his man to stab a low shot beyond Alisson.
20’ - LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Robertson rampages on to Fabinho's clipped through ball but rifles a low shot just wide of the far post.
28’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal. Jesus is left unmarked by Van Dijk to head home Martinelli's wonderful cross from the left.
34’ - LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Henderson sends Salah racing into the area but the Egyptian clips a shot wide of the near post under pressure.
81’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal. Salah taps in at the far post after Henderson had touched on a cut back from Jota. Jones' superb flick opened up the space down the left for Liverpool to cut Arsenal open.
45+3’ - LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Henderson blazes over from 10 yards out after Ramsdale had pushed away Jota's cut back from TAA's cross.
54’ - LIVERPOOL PENALTY MISS! A huge let off for The Gunners as Salah rolls his spot kick wide of the post. The penalty was awarded after Jota was brought down in the box by Holding.
82’ - LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Nunez races clear onto Salah's pass but his low shot lacks the power and conviction to beat Ramsdale.
87’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal. Firmino heads home at the far post after a lovely run and cross from Alexander-Arnold on the right.
90+4’ - LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Salah meets Robertson's cross but can only blaze over on the stretch from close range.
90+5’ - LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Ramsdale gets a fingertip to Salah's curling shot that looked destined for the far corner. Liverpool come again and Konate somehow fails to knock the ball over the line when he falls on the ball when he looked set to score just inches from the line.
Key Stats
Martinelli's opener was his 25th goal in the Premier League, joining team-mate Gabriel Jesus as the only other South American player to reach this tally while 21 or younger.
Salah had 10 shots with a combined xG of 2.1 today - more than Arsenal (9 shots, 1.4 xG) and the joint-most shots any player has had on record (from 2003-04) in a Premier League game against The Gunners (Andy Carroll also 10 in April 2016).
No player has scored more non-penalty goals against Arsenal in Premier League history than Roberto Firmino (10).
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