Liverpool 1 - 1 Arsenal

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Arsenal ensured they’ll prime the Premier League desk on Christmas Day with a 1-1 draw at Liverpool.

The Gunners made a really quick begin at Anfield and Gabriel Magalhaes headed house Martin Odegaard’s free-kick after simply 4 minutes to silence Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp’s aspect grew into the sport and Mohamed Salah equalised halfway by the primary half after Trent Alexander-Arnold discovered him with a shocking go, with the Egypt ahead beating the weak Oleksandr Zinchenko on his method to objective.

Each groups had their fair proportion of possibilities within the thrilling encounter that adopted, one of the best falling to Alexander-Arnold who smashed the bar from shut vary as Liverpool spurned a five-versus-two counter-attack.

The consequence means Arsenal have a one-point hole over Liverpool and Aston Villa with the league one recreation away from the midway level, with Tottenham and Manchester Metropolis, who’ve a recreation in hand, 4 and 6 factors additional again from the Gunners.

How either side couldn’t be separated

Arsenal took simply 30 seconds to get going at Anfield with Saka’s cross palmed out by Alisson and Gabriel Jesus’ shot deflected over.

From the ensuing nook, Jesus hit straight at Alisson however Arsenal took the lead from their subsequent set piece. Odegaard whipped within the free-kick and Gabriel was unmarked to nod previous Alisson with ease, VAR confirming the defender was marginally onside.

The Anfield devoted, summoned by Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp this week to make a superb environment, was not dampened by the early Arsenal objective and Salah benefited from Zinchenko’s lapse in focus within the field however may solely hit the aspect netting.

Then got here the primary actual contentious second of the sport as Odegaard appeared to deal with contained in the field below stress from Salah, however VAR took an extended take a look at the test and turned down the appeals.

Odegaard then joined Jesus in firing huge of the Liverpool objective on the break, earlier than Liverpool clawed themselves again on the scoreboard. Alexander-Arnold performed a wonderful ball into Salah down the suitable channel and the Egyptian burst previous Zinchenko with ease to blast previous Raya.

Arsenal noticed the chance to hold on till the half-time whistle however there was one remaining large likelihood for the guests.

Jesus performed Saka by on objective however Alisson distracted him as he tried to spherical him. Saka teed up Gabriel Martinelli who fired huge with the Liverpool goalkeeper and defence on the road.

Liverpool got here out for the second half taking pictures into the Kop and instantly began forcing errors from the Arsenal midfield.

First, Odegaard was pickpocketed deep in his half and Salah noticed a shot deflected into Raya’s path. Then Zinchenko gave the ball away and solely a last-minute interception from Declan Rice stopped a Liverpool second.

Liverpool stored on coming and substitute Joe Gomez, who changed Kostas Tsimikas within the first half with a nasty shoulder harm after colliding with Klopp on the touchline, curled simply huge of Raya’s far submit.

Arsenal managed to climate the storm by stepping on the ball a bit extra – however didn’t create too many second-half possibilities. The identical could not be mentioned for Liverpool.

Substitute Harvey Elliott lower inside from the suitable and noticed a deflected effort strike the surface of the submit, however one of the best likelihood of the night fell to Alexander-Arnold.

The possibility got here from an Arsenal nook the place a mix-up between Zinchenko and Odegaard allowed Salah to interrupt with 5 others. Salah discovered Alexander-Arnold contained in the field however he may solely crash the ball onto the bar, leaving the Kop aghast.

Gomez examined Raya’s palms with a close to submit effort shortly afterwards, however Arsenal maintained their prime spot – and standing of one of the best defensive staff within the league – by holding onto this level.

Can Arsenal keep prime after Xmas? Nev and Carra’s verdicts…

Sky Sports activities’ Gary Neville at Anfield:

“From an Arsenal standpoint, they’re going to be pleased. It is a step ahead, getting a degree right here.

“The query marks over the goalkeeper will subside barely, he had a extremely good recreation – notably second half. The query stays up prime, have they obtained a centre-forward who will take them to the title?

“However [Mikel Arteta] might be happy with coming to this very troublesome place, notably the place they had been final season. They’re the place they wish to be, they wish to be within the title race once more and so they’re on observe to do this.”

Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher at Anfield:

“Arsenal might be happy coming away to Anfield and getting a degree. They’ve solely obtained a degree from their final two away video games right here and at Aston Villa, however I have been actually impressed with them in each.

“At occasions they misplaced the ball in harmful positions, however they have these two centre-backs and Rice in entrance, and so they’re very troublesome to penetrate.

“Proper now, they’re one of the best staff defensively within the league. There is a lengthy method to go, however they are going to be proper within the race.”

Evaluation: Zinchenko struggles provoke full-back query for Arsenal

Sky Sports activities’ Sam Blitz:

Oleksandr Zinchenko was warned, twice. As soon as in April after which once more on Saturday night.

Arsenal’s left-back was crushed too simply for Roberto Firmino’s late leveller within the 2-2 draw between the Gunners and Liverpool as Mikel Arteta’s aspect in the end fell quick within the title race. Then within the early levels of the identical recreation this season, Zinchenko’s lapse in focus allowed Mohamed Salah a shot, however the Liverpool ahead hit the aspect netting.

And good gamers don’t allow you to off twice. Salah beat Zinchenko too simply down the suitable for his equaliser – the one blot from Arsenal’s wonderful defence that noticed Gabriel impress in each bins and William Saliba choose up man of the match.

Zinchenko was branded a “legal responsibility” by Gary Neville, who mentioned he ought to have been “hooked off” because the defender’s errors continued into the second half. One practically led to a Liverpool winner, however Trent Alexander-Arnold spared him by hitting the bar.

Arsenal tried to usher in an enchancment within the left-back space in the summertime, however accidents to Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu imply Zinchenko has to play these large video games when he’s defensively suspect.

With doubts remaining over Jakub Kiwior, left on the bench at Anfield regardless of Zinchenko’s shortcomings, Arteta must resolve whether or not a full-back is on the prime of their January switch window checklist over some other place.

What’s subsequent?

Liverpool go to relegation strugglers Burnley on Boxing Day for his or her closing fixture of 2023; kick-off 5.30pm. The Reds’ then play on New 12 months’s Day as they host Newcastle at Anfield, reside on Sky Sports activities; kick-off 8pm.

Arsenal face two London derbies of their closing video games of the 12 months as they first host West Ham on the Emirates Stadium on Thursday; kick-off 8.15pm. The Gunners then go to Fulham on New 12 months’s Eve, reside on Sky Sports activities; kick-off 2pm.

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