Liverpool vs Arsenal LIVE: Result and reaction after Roberto Firmino late equaliser in dramatic game
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal: The Gunners squandered a 2-0 lead even though Mo Salah missed a penalty in a thriller at Anfield
Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino scored a late goal to rescue a 2-2 draw with Arsenal, which robbed the Premier League leaders of their eighth consecutive victory and what would have been their first win at Anfield since 2012.
Mikel Arteta’s side appeared poised to stretch their gap over second-place Manchester City before Firmino scored in the 87th minute, when Trent Alexander-Arnold dinked a cross to the back post that the forward headed past Aaron Ramsdale.
Arsenal had taken the lead through forward Gabriel Martinelli in the eighth minute and the Brazilian then set up compatriot Gabriel Jesus in the 28th.
Mo Salah pulled one back for Jurgen Klopp’s team shortly before half time, but missed a penalty in a game of numerous narrow misses. His blushes were spared by Firmino’s late header in one of the games of the season
Relive all the action from Anfield with our live blog, below:
HALF-TIME! Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal
Phew! A very entertaining half, all things told.
Arsenal dominated for the most part and were deservedly 2-0 up after Martinelli and Jesus goals. Liverpool finally woke up after Alexander-Arnold sparked an incident with Xhaka and Salah pulled a goal back. They suddenly believe again.
We’re set up for a thrilling second 45 minutes
Chance for Liverpool
Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal - 45+3 mins
Liverpool looking to turn this into more of a scrap, a nastier affair and the crowd are behind them. They’re hassling Arsenal and that could easily have been 2-2!
Salah floats a ball to the back post and Jota flicks it goalwards. Saved by Ramsdale, it falls to Henderson and he blazes over. Much, much better from the hosts though
Game becoming a spicier affair
Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal - 45 mins
Suddenly there’s a bit of an edge to this contest and the Anfield crowd are now getting into it. This is set up for an intriguing second half. Four minutes of injury-time first though
GOAL! Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal (Salah 41’)
Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal - 41 mins
Liverpool back in it? Mo Salah finishes well from close range.
It comes out of nothing. Good overlapping on the left by Jones and his ball across is met by a lunging Henderson. I think Henderson is going for goal but instead, the ball finds Salah following in at the back post and he pokes home
Xhaka and Alexander-Arnold go at each other
Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal - 40 mins
A bit of afters between Alexander-Arnold and Xhaka when the Arsenal man leaves an arm on the Liverpool defender late and the England international shoves him in the back in response. Yellow card for both.
Given the control Arsenal have, not sure Xhaka needed to engage there - he does have some previous with silly mistakes...
Arsenal free-kick comes to nothing
Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal - 37 mins
Attacking free-kick for Arsenal, near the right-hand corner flag. Saka whips it in but a couple of Liverpool headers help see off the danger.
Salah shoots wide with decent chance
Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal - 33 mins
Well, that was a chance for Liverpool. Holding has his pass cut out and Salah scampers clear to the right of the goal but Ramsdale narrows the angle and the Egyptian can only shoot wide
Virgil van Dijk given a yellow card
Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal - 31 mins
Oof! Virgil van Dijk wanted no part of chasing Gabriel Jesus back there, so simply clatters into him with a physical foul on the left touchline, having idled across to cover.
Van Dijk booked and that was a clear sign of frustration. Liverpool being outplayed here.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal (Jesus 28’)
Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal - 28 mins
Arsenal double their lead and it’s Gabriel Jesus!
Martinelli gets away on the left far too easily - he spins Alexander-Arnold and has acres of room. He whips in a pinpoint cross and, on Easter Sunday, Jesus rises highest and heads past Alisson. He got away from Van Dijk and frankly, it was all far too easy for Arsenal
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