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:
Arsenal and Liverpool play out a ludicrous game and no one knows how to feel
It should have been so much better for Arsenal, but then could have been so, so much worse, writes Miguel Delaney. Likewise Liverpool. If it’s difficult for anyone involved to know how to feel after that, it at least reflects the true reality of a title race. This is where it gets serious. This is a warning of what is to come, not an end in itself, despite those remarkable last few minutes.
The big question from a game that was so full of drama and yet so inconclusive is what effect this will have for what next. This 2-2 at Anfield could be the sort of match that was emotionally exhausting for Arsenal without the important and immense psychological lift of victory or any catharsis… but then there was Aaron Ramsdale’s three saves of escalating significance and sensational quality.
They could end up crucial to the title, let alone this game. And still Arsenal could have won it after that. Still Liverpool could have won it for that.
Read Chief Football writer Miguel Delaney’s full piece from Anfield:
Arsenal and Liverpool play a ludicrous game and no one knows how to feel
A match that will live long in the memory was won and then almost lost by Arsenal before they took away a point towards their title push
Fate is starting to turn against Arsenal in title race
There was little more than half an hour gone and the Arsenal fans were partying like it was 1989. As they revisited the scene of the most famous 2-0 win in their history, they went two goals ahead and sang: “We’re going to win the league.” An hour later, they looked guilty of premature celebration, writes Richard Jolly.
Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus’ early goals may not be bracketed with Alan Smith and Michael Thomas’ title-winning strikes at Anfield after all. Even as their lead stretched to six points, perhaps the momentum shifted to Manchester City. Arsenal’s destiny will be decided on the road, with trips to City and Newcastle to come, and Roberto Firmino’s 87th-minute equaliser suggested they might not be fated to become champions after all.
On a day when Arsenal led for 79 minutes, they almost lost the match and did drop two points. Aaron Ramsdale made stunning saves in injury time, first to stop Mohamed Salah curling in a winner, then to prevent Ibrahima Konate from chesting in a still later decider. Arsenal were subjected to a pounding for an hour: if this proves a precious point, it felt a fortunate one in the end. They benefited from the rarity of penalty miss from Salah, albeit his second in succession, and the heroics of Ramsdale. His second-half saves from Salah and Darwin Nunez, both before Firmino’s equaliser, were superb. Goalkeeping heroics can form part of title-winning campaigns, but as 21 shots rained in, Ramsdale’s were required.
Read Richard Jolly’s full thoughts from a crazy day at Anfield:
Fate is starting to turn against Arsenal in title race
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal: The Gunners squandered a 2-0 lead and were lucky to escape Anfield with a point on a dramatic day
Aaron Ramsdale reacts to dramatic draw
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was the player of the match and made a couple of incredible saves at the end. He’s been talking to Sky Sports
[If it’s a point gained or two dropped]: “Ooh, I’m not sure, probably a bit of both. Right now, it’s mixed emotions but over the next few days we’ll see it as a very good point.
“We’ve just been under pressure for 35 minutes, a point away at Anfield, against a top side. It might be two points dropped but could have dropped all three.
“I enjoyed playing today. No better games to play in than these which mean so much to both teams. Couldn’t get three points but my saves helped out.
“I thought we were excellent. For 50 mins, 60 mins we wer3 very good and then defended well. We’ve got to go back in, work hard every day and build. One point is better than none and another one on the board. The manager is hugely positive, we’ll digest it over the next few days and we’ll be showing the good stuff we did in the first half.”
Increidble drama at Anfield
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
Simply incredible drama at Anfield and it means the title race becomes even more fascinating. It’s still in Arsenal’s hands but it’s also in Man City’s hands!
The Gunners are six points clear but City have a game in hand and the game between the sides in a couple of weeks’ time looks HUGE!
FULL-TIME! Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
And the final whistle blows! WOW, WOW, WOW! What a game, what a finish but after it all, it’s a draw. Arsenal drop two points in the title race
Konate misses golden chance as Ramsdale comes up with increidble save
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal - 90+6 mins
THIS IS CARNAGE! How have Liverpool not go the winner there?!
The ball is put into the box, nodded across and Konate is three yards out but can’t get a proper connection with the goal gaping, Ramsdale scrambles across and somehow claws it off the line. Unreal!
SAVE! Ramsdale brilliantly claws the ball out of the top corner
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal - 90+5 mins
WOW! Unbelievable save by Ramsdale. Salah’s curling shot is deflected and it’s headed into the top corner but Ramsdale somehow claws it out for a corner. Superb!
Salah lofts one over the crossbar
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal - 90+4 mins
Good work by Tierney (who came on for Zinchenko after the goal) to dispossess Salah and win the throw-in. Liverpool get the ball back and Tierney is all over Salah in the box but lets go just in time. Salah still gets to the cross but can only loft the ball over the bar
Alexander-Arnold shoots over the top
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal - 90+1 mins
Trossard whips in the cross but Alisson claims it and launches a counter with a quick throw to Alexander-Arnold on the left (!)
Liverpool work it round and Alexander-Arnold drifts into the middle but fires over the top
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