Arsenal v Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Leandro Trossard’s late goal
A huge game at the top of the Premier League table as Jurgen Klopp’s leaders Liverpool were beaten by Mikel Arteta’s Gunners at the Emirates Stadium
Arsenal spiced up an already intriguing Premier League title race as they beat lacklustre leaders Liverpool 3-1 to slice the gap to two points on Sunday.
Arsenal deserved the points although they would not have expected a helping hand from an awful defensive mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson which allowed Gabriel Martinelli to restore their lead in the 67th minute.
Substitute Leandro Trossard then soothed any late nerves among the Emirates faithful as he secured the victory in stoppage time with a shot through Alisson’s legs.
Bukayo Saka had given Arsenal an early lead with a cool finish in the 14th minute but a Gabriel own goal on the stroke of halftime undid all of their good work.
Heading for only their second league defeat of the season, Liverpool’s frustrations boiled over as Ibrahima Konate was sent off in the closing minutes for a second booking after a foul on Kai Havertz.
Arsenal’s win lifted them to second on 49 points to Liverpool’s 51 with both clubs having played 23 games. Champions Manchester City, who play on Monday, have 46 from 21 games.
Arsenal transform the title race with win over jaded Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp had warned before this match that people would say it would be good for Manchester City no matter what happened, but it is obviously great for Arsenal.
This was a third huge home win against one England’s giants this season, but maybe the most stirring of all. There was something much more convincing about it than either the victories over Manchester United and Manchester City, more value to it than the cheap errors that allowed some of the goals.
It was a proper show of substance. The only downside to the ultimate 3-1 was how opening goalscorer Bukayo Saka went off injured but Arsenal won’t want to consider that right now. Mikel Arteta certainly wasn’t thinking about it as he careered around the touchline high-fiving anyone in sight in the seconds after Leandro Trossard had put the ball through Alisson’s legs.
Arsenal have transformed the title race with win over jaded Liverpool
Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool: Goals by Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard gave the Gunners a vital three points and victory over their title rivals
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool
Mikel Arteta is talking to Sky now too.
“We went out there and suffered early in the second half, but we started to control the game,” he says.
He’s asked if it was a big half-time teamtalk.
“You have to wait for your moment. It feels like a big win.
“Today we could have paid the price, but we were efficient. The way they are playing they are the best team in Europe, they dominate every phase of play,” he added.
“It’s about doing it consistently. We are a good team.”
“I’m so pleased, because that was a big win for us. It gives us momentum, and we are really excited.”
He says that they’ll have to await news on injuries to Saka and Zinchenko.
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool
Now Klopp is speaking to Sky. Asked whether he saw a good performance level, he replies: “In moments, not all day.
“Arsenal deserved the three points. But found our way into the game. If we don’t concede the second, everything can be different.”
He’s asked if they missed some players for the first time this season.
“We always miss them. If it’s 1-1, if you stay in the game, then in that moment we can turn the game in our direction with changes.
“We didn’t play enough from the start. We weren’t calm enough, but we just didn’t have the finishes.
“It’s alright. A lot of things came together in one game.
“We could have played better, but a lot of things were against us. We should’ve played better, but everything in these moments went against us.”
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk is speaking to Sky Sports and has taken the responsibility for the second goal, refusing to blame Alisson or the nudge from Martinelli.
He says the Emirates “is a tough place to go. They tried to drag players out, get in wide spaces, and we did well.
“It’s our first defeat since september. Losing hurts, but we take it game by game. It hurts for me, it’s not nice to be involved in mistakes, but I’ll work hard and be back. The next opportunity is on Saturday,” he adds.
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool
Liverpool stay top, having missed the opportunity to extend their lead at the top to eight points.
They remain on 51 points, two above Arsenal and five above Manchester City, though City also have two games in hand on them.
The Reds’ next two games are against Burnley and Brentford, before the League Cup final against Chelsea.
The final is followed by a home FA Cup tie, before an away match against Nottingham Forest on 2 March. They host Manchester City a week later.
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool
Jorginho and Declan Rice spoke to Sky Sports just now, and emphasised the importance of the win.
“We knew the importance of the game today. The only focus was to win and get three points,” said Rice.
“Every game is so important, to do it in the way we did, these are the moments we live for,” he added.
Man-of-the-match Jorginho said that Arsenal “believe in ourselves. That goal didn’t change what we’d done in the first 45 minutes.
“The maturity we demonstrated was huge, it really helped us.”
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool
This result moves Arsenal to second in the table on 49 points, though Manchester City have two games in hand.
rsenal’s next five fixtures seem straightforward on paper, with consecutive away games against West Ham and Burnley followed by the first leg of their Champions League tie against Porto.
They then host Newcastle at home before a trip to Sheffield United.
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool
An intriguing game comes to an end at the Emirates, with Arsenal moving to within two points of Liverpool at the top of the league.
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool
An excellent night for Arsenal. Some are saying they are ‘back in’ the title race, but at five points behind were they really out of it yet?
Their performance was impressive in parts, limiting Liverpool to few clear-cut chances. Their midfield was consistently good today, as were their wingers, but huge questions remain over the number nine position. Some would say that they’re still missing a reliable goalscorer, even when Jesus is fit.
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool
An uncharacteristic performance from Liverpool in many ways. They lacked intensity in large parts, relied on a large slice of luck for their goal and were uncharacteristically sloppy in defence for the goals they conceded.
This drop in quality likely won’t alarm Klopp for now – he’s still got Salah and Endo returning, as well as some injuries – but it was certainly a strange game for the Reds.
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