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 Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber limped off so as to add to the Gunners’ damage woes.
Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal the lead within the ninth minute(AP)
Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal the lead within the ninth minute when he ran on to Ben White’s ball excessive, lower inside Andy Robertson and fired previous Caoimhin Kelleher at his close to publish for a fiftieth Premier League aim 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 Diaz flick-on from a nook.
“I think to come back twice is a good thing, and we take the point and we move (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 manage Gabriel Martinelli’s harmful ball throughout the face of aim.
The house followers wished a penalty simply after the half-hour mark when Ibrahima Konate floored Martinelli with a careless problem, however referee Anthony Taylor deemed he acquired sufficient of the ball, with Havertz slicing a volley excessive within the aftermath.
Mikel Merino scored his first Arsenal aim simply earlier than half-time, assembly Declan Rice’s free-kick with a bullet header that was upheld after a prolonged VAR evaluation for offside.
Liverpool improved after the break and Diaz went shut 5 minutes after the restart following a mazy run alongside the touchline.
ARSENAL ‘VERY DISAPPOINTED’
Gabriel limped off early within the second half, changed by Jakub Kiwior, as Arsenal sustained one other damage to a key participant. Current returnee Timber adopted him off later.
Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta will hope to quickly welcome again captain Martin Odegaard, who has been out since September however mentioned within the matchday programme that he’s near a return.
The hosts needed to face up to appreciable intervals 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 relaxed tap-in from Darwin Nunez’s selfless cross, placing the Egyptian winger eighth on the all-time record and degree with Robbie Fowler on 163 profession Premier League targets.
The momentum appeared to be with Liverpool to clinch a comeback victory however Arsenal had the ball within the internet on the demise via a mixture of Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, although referee Taylor had already blown for a foul.
Requested in regards to the incident, Arteta mentioned he didn’t know why a foul had been given within the build-up and declined to remark additional.
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 disappointed” his aspect didn’t win, however mentioned: “Very proud of the team, especially with the situation that we are going through at the moment.”
He added that he would favor to be 5 factors forward of Metropolis moderately than 5 behind, although he mentioned: “The team is alive, the team wants it.”
Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot mentioned that, on stability, he was completely satisfied: “Going two times behind against a very strong and good Arsenal team, then to get a point is pleasing to see.”