A draw was arguably the suitable consequence after Arsenal and Liverpool flexed their muscle tissues to indicate why they’ve emerged because the main contenders to win the title.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Arsenal ensured they are going to spend Christmas Day on prime of the Premier League as they held title rivals Liverpool to a pulsating 1-1 draw at Anfield on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s aspect took an early lead by means of Gabriel Magalhaes, however Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool stage earlier than the interval.
A draw was arguably the suitable consequence after either side flexed their muscle tissues to indicate why they’ve emerged because the main contenders to win the title.
Chasing a primary title since 2004, Arsenal sit one level away from second positioned Liverpool heading into the festive interval.
The crew that has topped the Premier League at Christmas has gone on to win the title in six of the previous 10 seasons, however the draw on Merseyside was additionally a lift to the chasing pack.
Third positioned Aston Villa are stage on factors with Liverpool, fourth positioned Tottenham are three factors additional again, whereas champions Manchester City are six factors adrift of the leaders with a sport in hand.
Liverpool are unbeaten of their previous 11 video games in opposition to Arsenal at Anfield.
However, coming per week after their goalless stalemate in opposition to Manchester United, this was one other irritating consequence for Jurgen Klopp’s crew.
“Oh my god, how strong are they? The good news is we are good as well,” Klopp stated.
“We pass instead of shoot, four or five times we do that, it’s a lesson. But generally the game is great.”
Arsenal weren’t fully happy both.
Last season they led 2-0 at Liverpool however ended up drawing 2-2, a consequence that began their collapse within the title race.
Their failure to carry on this time shouldn’t have such a dangerous impression, but it surely was nonetheless a missed alternative.
“Proud of the performance but the final pass went astray a few times. That’s where the frustration lies,” Arsenal ahead Bukayo Saka stated.
Klopp had urged Liverpool followers to offer Arsenal the “proper Anfield experience” after saying he was sad with the ambiance throughout Wednesday’s 5-1 rout of West Ham within the League Cup.
But Arteta was properly conscious of the maelstrom mendacity in wait, likening the visceral Anfield expertise to being thrown round in a “washing machine”.
Red wave
Responding to Klopp, the Liverpool trustworthy bellowed their ‘You’ll by no means stroll alone’ anthem as loudly as ever earlier than kick-off, however Arsenal took simply 30 seconds to indicate they had been unfazed.
A flowing transfer minimize open the Liverpool defence and ended with Gabriel Jesus’s shot deflecting simply over.
It was a warning and Arsenal took the lead after solely 4 minutes.
Martin Odegaard delivered an ideal free-kick into the Liverpool space and Gabriel rose to thump his header previous Alisson Becker from eight yards.
The Brazilian defender celebrated by cupping his arms to his ears in entrance of the Kop.
Anfield was surprised however not silenced. Falling behind was nothing new to Liverpool, who had trailed in eight different Premier League video games this season and solely misplaced certainly one of them.
Liverpool had been controversially denied a penalty by VAR when Odegaard dealt with within the space after slipping below strain from Salah.
Salah took it upon himself to make sure Liverpool weren’t left to rue that debatable choice because the Egyptian conjured an outstanding twenty ninth minute equaliser.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s raking move picked out Salah down the suitable flank and he glided away from Oleksandr Zinchenko into the world earlier than smashing a fierce strike previous David Raya at his close to submit.
An exhilarating half concluded with Arteta holding his head when Gabriel Martinelli shot broad moments after Saka ran by means of on objective however failed to complete.
Klopp’s males had the momentum after the break and Joe Gomez rifled inches broad, whereas Harvey Elliott’s long-range strike deflected onto the submit.
They ought to have been in entrance within the 73rd minute when a break from an Arsenal nook climaxed with Salah teeing up Alexander-Arnold, however the ball took a slight bobble and his shot cannoned again off the crossbar with simply Raya to beat.
As the relentless Red wave saved surging towards the Kop, Gomez’s effort drew a very good cease from Raya, however Arsenal held on.
Source web site: www.thehindu.com
