Conceding an early goal at Arsenal is becoming a habit for Liverpool. Digging in and getting a result is also a habit, and that’s just what they did at the Emirates on Sunday night, securing a point, by way of an 80th minute equaliser from Mo Salah, after Virgil van Djik had drawn Liverpool level with Arsenal in the first half.
Saka, who was inevitably fit for the home side, put his team ahead within 10 minutes. Andy Robertson, who had a difficult afternoon, was undone by a long ball, then compounded the error by allowing the English winger to turn on to his left foot just yards from goal. The resulting shot giving Caoimhin Kelleher no chance. The Gunners lead though was short lived, as a smart corner routine, arriving at the head of the Liverpool captain, courtesy of a glancing touch from Luis Diaz, drew the Reds level.
Arsenal, clearly the better team throughout the opening 45 minutes, continued to dominate. Liverpool meanwhile, continued to not only give the ball away, but gave away needless free-kicks, allowing Declan Rice to find his range.
Having already passed up one glaring opportunity to go ahead from the right quadrant of the pitch, as half-time approached, Arsenal made no such mistake. A pinpoint cross behind Liverpool’s somewhat static defence, was dispatched by Merino, with Van Djik’s boots being adjudged to have kept the scorer on-side in yet another interminably long VAR check.
Arne Slot surely had to change something for the second half. However, he chose to change the shape, rather than the personel. Whereas Liverpool were constantly out numbered in midfield in the opening half, as the second half progressed they took control. Without necessarily creating clear cut chances, they began to threaten, though in truth it was a triple substitution that really changed the momentum of the game. Robertson, Diaz and Alexis Mac Alister were all replaced.
Cody Gakpo stayed wide, whilst Dominik Szoboszlai pushed forward, allowing Curtis Jones to help screen the defence. With much of the game now being played in Arsenal’s defensive third, Liverpool ultimately manufactured a second leveller. Darwin Nunez, who’d ran himself into the ground, squaring it to Salah inside the penalty box from inside right and the Egyptian found the net with his usual aplomb.
There’ll no doubt be those who’ll claim Liverpool were a little fortunate to leave London with a point, especially given Arsenal’s early dominance. After all, the Gunners were without Saliba and suffered further injuries throughout the game, with Gabrielle hobbling off after 75 minutes. However, others might want to examine the mentality of an Arsenal side who so often appear reluctant to press home their advantage in the ‘bigger’ games when ahead. A mentality that not only cost them points in this fixture, but at Manchester City earlier this season.
So Slot’s winning run away from home is over. Liverpool are now a point behind the champions but, having taken seven points from nine against United, Chelsea and Arsenal, are surely in fine fettle for a concerted charge at the title, with two home games to come in the league ahead of the next international break.
