Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal. Arsenal maintained their place at the top of the Premier League after a thrilling draw with Liverpool at Anfield.
Victory for either side would have put them top of the table at Christmas they but had to settle for a share of the points in an entertaining encounter.
Arsenal delivered the perfect start when defender Gabriel headed home from Martin Odegaard’s free-kick after only four minutes.
However, Liverpool regrouped and were level after 29 minnutes when Mohamed Salah thrashed a finish high past Gunners keeper David Raya at his near post after collecting Trent Alexander-Arnold’s raking pass.
In between, Liverpool looked to be denied a clear penalty when Odegaard handled and after that Jurgen Klopp’s side had the better opportunities, although Arsenal were always a threat.
Substitute Harvey Elliott grazed the outside of the post while Alexander-Arnold wasted the best chance of the half when he blasted against the bar after Liverpool swamped Arsenal on the counter-attack.
Liverpool were left counting the cost of the failure to find the finishing touch for the second successive league game at Anfield.
They were held to a draw by a stubborn Manchester United last Sunday and had to settle for a point once more in a contest of much higher quality against Arsenal, responding to Gabriel’s early strike with another magnificent goal from Salah.
Manager Jurgen Klopp will reflect on two big moments which mean his side stay behind the Gunners going into Christmas after an often-frenetic meeting at Anfield.
Liverpool will be furious that they seemed to be denied a clear penalty when Odegaard handled in the first half and Alexander-Arnold should have buried what could have been the match-winner late on.
They restricted Arsenal’s opportunities in the second half but this is an outcome that will satisfy Mikel Arteta’s side and perhaps, most of all, new Club World Cup champions Manchester City.
source – BBC