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:
Six minutes of added time
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal - 90 mins
We’re into six minutes of added time and it feels like either side could win it! A corner for Arsenal now.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal (Firmino 87’)
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal - 87 mins
Arsenal-killer Bobby Firmino comes up with the goods and Liverpool are level!
Alexander-Arnold nips past Zinchenko, gets to the by-line and stand a cross up to the back post where Firmino is leaning back but nods home the equaliser! It was like vintage 2020 Liverpool!
No one on the end of Saka’s dangerous cross
Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal - 86 mins
Neat work by Saka down the right, skips past a couple of men and a ball across in a great area but slides all the way through with no one there to turn it home. Alisson then races into the vacant left-back spot to fetch the ball and launch a counter-attack.
Gabriel heads straight at Alisson from a corner
Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal - 84 mins
The time-wasting has been deemed excessive and Bukayo Saka gets yellow carded for taking an age over a corner.
It’s worth the wait though as he picks out Gabriel in the box and he should do better with a header straight at Alisson. A decent chance that
SAVE! Ramsdale denies Nunez
Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal - 81 mins
Liverpool getting closer here! Firmino and Salah do great work on the halfway line, the latter finds Nunez who bursts through but he never looks confident one on one and Ramsdale saves relatively comfortably down to his left. Not great by the Uruguayan
Firmino looking to extend impressive Arsenal record
Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal - 80 mins
Only Robbie Fowler has scored more goals against Arsenal in the Premier League as a Liverpool player than Firmino. The Brazilian has netted 10 times against the Gunners - how the Reds would love number 11 today.
A couple of Arsenal subs now with Jesus and Odegaard heading off as Trossard and Kiwior come on. Granit Xhaka given the captain’s armband. Henderson not happy with the amount of time these subs are taking - I’m sure it will all be added on.
Firmino on for Liverpool
Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal - 77 mins
Good work from Ramsdale as he’s sharply off his line to dive on a loose ball. Heading towards the final 10 minutes and Liverpool hunting an equaliser still.
Bobby Firmino on for Fabinho to help the cause
Arsenal go close with Martinelli’s ball across
Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal - 73 mins
Liverpool survive! A good counter by Arsenal as Martinelli hares down the left and puts the ball across into a great spot for Saka at the back post but Robertson slides in and manages to slow the ball down, allowing Alisson to dive on it.
Odegaard then shoots from outside the box but it’s held by Alisson
Liverpool gather themselves for final push
Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal - 69 mins
We’ve had a bit of a lull for the last five minutes, perhaps as Liverpool regroup to push again for an equaliser.
They win another corner from Holding’s clearance but after some pinball, Partey eventually gets the ball away. Just over 20 minutes to go.
Liverpool’s Andy Robertson ‘elbowed’ by assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis
Andy Robertson appeared to be elbowed by an assistant referee at half-time in Liverpool’s feisty game with Arsenal at Anfield.
The extraordinary incident involved linesman Constantine Hatzidakis, who seemed to throw his arm at the neck of the Liverpool and Scotland defender, replays showed.
The Liverpool players were furious and Robertson was “apoplectic” in the tunnel moments after the clash with the official, according to Sky Sports.
Full story below
Andy Robertson ‘elbowed’ by linesman during Liverpool-Arsenal match
Robertson was protesting at half-time when assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis appeared to throw his arm at the left-back
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