Arsenal vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Saka wins huge five-goal thriller
Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool: Saka’s late penalty moves Gunners top after visitors had twice equalised
Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League table as Bukayo Saka’s late penalty earned them a vital win over Liverpool, whose struggles continued.
Arsenal made the perfect start as they took the lead after just 58 seconds, with Gabriel Martinelli finishing their first attack following a clever pass from Martin Odegaard.
But Liverpool responded well and were the better side as they found the equaliser through Darwin Nunez, only for Jurgen Klopp’s side to concede on the counter-attack on the stroke of half time as Bukayo Saka finished off a move at the back post.
Roberto Firmino’s excellent finish moved Liverpool level once again but Saka’s late penalty - awarded for a foul on Gabriel Jesus and after some chaotic defending - sealed a huge win as Mikel Arteta’s side hung on for a statement victory at the Emirates.
Reaction from Arsenal vs Liverpool below, with Everton vs Manchester United to follow:
Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool
12 mins: Arsenal threaten again, this time down the right as Partey finds the overlapping White. It’s cut back to the box where Xhaka was arriving, but both he and Jesus where offside. Alisson was still required to make a decent stop.
Arsenal then do a decent job of slowing down Diaz as he tried to break down the left. Martinelli then tracks back on Alexander-Arnold.
Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool
11 mins: Van Dijk gets his head to an Alexander-Arnold corner but it goes over the bar. Van Dijk connected with the header from about 14 yards out which is where Arsenal would want it.
Ramsdale is back taking goalkicks so he looks fit once again.
Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool
9 mins: Not good news for Arsenal, potentially. Ramsdale reached immediately for his right thigh / hip flexor area following a previous goal kick. The back up Matt Turner looks on but it seems as if Ramsdale is staying on for now.
Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool
7 mins: Jesus gets his first touch as he spins Matip and releases Martinelli. Alexander-Arnold does enough to hold him up on the right wing but Arsenal look dangerous everywhere in the opening exchanges.
Thiago’s ball forward to Salah is then cut out by Ramsdale, who goes down holding his hip.
Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool
5 mins: Arsenal clear through Partey and suddenly Martinelli bursts clear. He’s chased by Diaz, who is sharp himself, but Martinelli pulls away to beat the Colombian to the ball. Diaz brings him down on the halfway line and gets a booking.
Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool
4 mins: Martinelli vs Alexander-Arnold was always going to be a key battle but the Liverpool right back has been exposed badly here in the opening goal. Liverpool were sliced apart as Arsenal came forward and Alexander-Arnold was caught ball watching as Martinelli peeled behind him.
Nunez fires Liverpool’s first shot at the other end as the Reds win a corner.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool (MARTINELLI 1')
WOW - WHAT A START FROM ARSENAL!
It’s their first attack and they slice Liverpool open immediately! It started as Saliba broke up a Liverpool attack and the Gunners flew forward through Saka. It’s fed inside to Odegaard who picks out the space behind Alexander-Arnold, who was stranded. Martinelli slips the ball beneath Alisson and Arteta could not have dreamed of a better start.
Liverpool fall behind again.
KICK OFF! Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool
Underway at the Emirates. Liverpool won here twice last season to silence the home crowd - but Arsenal have taken a further step forward this year following the arrival of Gabriel Jesus. Mikel Arteta doesn’t think they are favourites but this is their biggest test of the season - should be a cracker!
Arsenal vs Liverpool LIVE: Latest updates
Premier League clubs are supporting the ‘No Room for Racism’ campaign this weekend and next, in line with Black History Month and after agreement between the Premier League captains.
Teams will take the knee before kick-off.
The players are now out of the tunnel. Great noise in the Emirates.
Arsenal vs Liverpool LIVE: Latest updates
Mikel Arteta rejects a suggestion that Arsenal are favourites to win coming into this afternoon’s clash against Liverpool, even though they sit 11 points above them in the table.
“I don’t believe that,” he says. “We have a really tough game to play out there, two really good teams. We will see who wins it. You have to look at them, how they are playing, and they still do so many good things. They’ve played so many games they deserved to win. We know the opponent we have today.
“It’s a joy to play with this crowd. The players are really enjoying it.”
Arteta confirms Zinchenko has suffered a “another muscle injury”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments