Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool: Salah strike earns Reds point
Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool: Salah strike earns Reds point. It was Mohamed Salah‘s late strike that helped Liverpool earn a point when they visited the Emirates to take on Arsenal in their Premier League title clash on Sunday afternoon.
The returning Bukayo Saka made his mark as he fired the Gunners into an early lead, but Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk equalised for the Reds with an effort from a corner.
Mikel Merino’s first goal for the Gunners just before half-time had put Mikel Arteta’s side ahead until the 81st minute, when Salah found space to finish and punish the hosts for their sluggish defending.
How the game unfolded?
Arsenal were handed a big boost pre-match as it emerged both Saka and Jurrien Timber were fit to feature after their recent absences, helping to negate the massive loss of William Saliba to suspension.
It was Saka who provided the game’s first moment of standout quality. A wonderful raking pass from Ben White was controlled expertly by the England winger, who left Andy Robertson scratching the turf with his turn and fired past Caoimhin Kelleher high at the near post.
That goal rocked Liverpool and Arne Slot, who had lost only one of his first 12 games in charge prior to Sunday’s meeting. However, his side showed spirit to level proceedings soon after through their huge centre-back.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner was met by a Flick from Luis Diaz, allowing Van Dijk the easiest of headers to restore parity at the Emirates.
Arsenal were nearly ahead again moments later, though Merino somehow diverted Declan Rice’s free kick away from goal despite throwing himself enthusiastically at the delivery. Elsewhere it was Saka who looked the most dangerous, teasing Robertson with his dribbling.
It was the set-piece trick that worked for Arteta’s side as they took the lead. After the cameras panned to their dedicated coach Nicolas Jover, Rice’s cross whizzed over to Merino, who made good contact this time to bag his first Arsenal goal.
The hosts thought they had dealt with all their injury nightmares pre-game, but another scare was dished out when Gabriel Magalhaes hit the deck needing treatment. The Brazilian was unable to continue and ended up being replaced by Jakub Kiwior.
Liverpool made a triple substitution after the hour and began boxing Arsenal in their own half, though it didn’t translate to immediate chances as Ryan Gravenberch blazed high and wide after a crunching tackle.
Havertz soon barged his way into the opposition box and tried to get past substitute Kostas Tsimikas, but the ball eventually trickled into Kelleher’s grateful arms.
Liverpool finally put the killer move together as Alexander-Arnold brilliantly picked out Darwin Nunez, who had the awareness to slide the ball back to Salah to finish beyond David Raya’s reach.
Timber had been forced to depart a few minutes before the goal, with a patched-up defence tasked with keeping the Reds from scoring a winner in the final 15 minutes. However, both sides held firm with the points ultimately shared after an entertaining spectacle.
