A draw was arguably the proper consequence after Arsenal and Liverpool flexed their muscle tissues to present why they’ve emerged because the main contenders to win the title.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Arsenal ensured they’ll spend Christmas Day on top of the Premier League as they held title rivals Liverpool to a pulsating 1-1 draw at Anfield on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s aspect took an early lead by means of Gabriel Magalhaes, however Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool stage earlier than the interval.
A draw was arguably the proper consequence after either side flexed their muscle tissues to present why they’ve emerged because the main contenders to win the title.
Chasing a primary title since 2004, Arsenal sit one level away from second positioned Liverpool heading into the festive interval.
The crew that has topped the Premier League at Christmas has gone on to win the title in six of the previous 10 seasons, however the draw on Merseyside was additionally a lift to the chasing pack.
Third positioned Aston Villa are stage on factors with Liverpool, fourth positioned Tottenham are three factors additional again, whereas champions Manchester City are six factors adrift of the leaders with a recreation in hand.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their previous 11 video games in opposition to Arsenal at Anfield.
However, coming per week after their goalless stalemate in opposition to Manchester United, this was one other irritating consequence for Jurgen Klopp’s crew.
“Oh my god, how strong are they? The good news is we are good as well,” Klopp mentioned.
“We pass instead of shoot, four or five times we do that, it’s a lesson. But generally the game is great.”
Arsenal weren’t fully happy both.
Last season they led 2-0 at Liverpool however ended up drawing 2-2, a consequence that began their collapse in the title race.
Their failure to hold on this time shouldn’t have such a harmful impression, nevertheless it was nonetheless a missed alternative.
“Proud of the performance but the final pass went astray a few times. That’s where the frustration lies,” Arsenal ahead Bukayo Saka mentioned.
Klopp had urged Liverpool followers to give Arsenal the “proper Anfield experience” after saying he was sad with the environment throughout Wednesday’s 5-1 rout of West Ham in the League Cup.
But Arteta was properly conscious of the maelstrom mendacity in wait, likening the visceral Anfield expertise to being thrown round in a “washing machine”.
Red wave
Responding to Klopp, the Liverpool trustworthy bellowed their ‘You’ll by no means stroll alone’ anthem as loudly as ever earlier than kick-off, however Arsenal took simply 30 seconds to present they have been unfazed.
A flowing transfer lower open the Liverpool defence and ended with Gabriel Jesus’s shot deflecting simply over.
It was a warning and Arsenal took the lead after solely 4 minutes.
Martin Odegaard delivered an ideal free-kick into the Liverpool space and Gabriel rose to thump his header previous Alisson Becker from eight yards.
The Brazilian defender celebrated by cupping his fingers to his ears in entrance of the Kop.
Anfield was surprised however not silenced. Falling behind was nothing new to Liverpool, who had trailed in eight different Premier League video games this season and solely misplaced one in all them.
Liverpool have been controversially denied a penalty by VAR when Odegaard dealt with in the realm after slipping below stress from Salah.
Salah took it upon himself to guarantee Liverpool weren’t left to rue that debatable choice because the Egyptian conjured an excellent twenty ninth minute equaliser.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s raking cross picked out Salah down the proper flank and he glided away from Oleksandr Zinchenko into the realm earlier than smashing a fierce strike previous David Raya at his close to publish.
An exciting half concluded with Arteta holding his head when Gabriel Martinelli shot vast moments after Saka ran by means of on purpose however failed to end.
Klopp’s males had the momentum after the break and Joe Gomez rifled inches vast, whereas Harvey Elliott’s long-range strike deflected onto the publish.
They ought to have been in entrance in the 73rd minute when a break from an Arsenal nook climaxed with Salah teeing up Alexander-Arnold, however the ball took a slight bobble and his shot cannoned again off the crossbar with simply Raya to beat.
As the relentless Red wave stored surging towards the Kop, Gomez’s effort drew an excellent cease from Raya, however Arsenal held on.
