Liverpool vs Arsenal result, highlights and analysis as late Firmino goal dents Gunners' title hopes

David Lynch

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Liverpool vs Arsenal result, highlights and analysis as late Firmino goal dents Gunners' title hopes image

ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL — Liverpool dealt a blow to Arsenal's Premier League title hopes as they came from behind to claim a 2-2 draw in a pulsating Anfield encounter.

The Gunners looked to be on their way to a first win on this ground since 2012 as they raced into a two-goal lead courtesy of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli in the first half.

However, the Reds struck back against the run of play through Mohamed Salah prior to the break and looked an entirely different prospect from that point on.

It still appeared that their day might end in frustration as the clock ticked down following a missed penalty from Salah, but Roberto Firmino headed home at the death to secure a share of the spoils.

It is a result that does little for Liverpool's already slim top-four hopes but one that puts Manchester City in a position where they would likely take the title by winning their nine remaining games.

Liverpool vs Arsenal result

  1H 2H Final
Liverpool 1 1 2
Arsenal 2 0 2

Goals:
ARS — Martinelli — 8th min
ARS — Jesus — 28th min
LIV — Salah — 41st min
LIV — Firmino — 87th min

Lineups:

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson — Henderson, Fabinho, Jones — Salah, Gakpo, Jota

Arsenal (4-3-3): Ramsdale (GK) — White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko — Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka — Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

Best and worst of Liverpool on show

For the first 40 minutes of this game, those watching were given a glimpse of the embarrassingly passive brand of football that has put Liverpool at risk of not even qualifying Europe this season.

The Reds were slow, tentative, and being taken apart by Arsenal on their own patch — something that would have been unthinkable in any recent season.

But then Salah's somewhat unexpected goal before halftime transformed the hosts, leading to a finish in which they showed that they are still capable of producing their threatening best.

The key aim of Jurgen Klopp's summer business will be to ensure that his team can produce that form more regularly, most probably by adding greater intensity to a midfield area that has lacked all season.

Do that, and the gap between these two sides will not be as big as the Premier League table or the first half suggests.

A good point for Arsenal? Perhaps not

On the face of it, a point for Arsenal at a ground where they have regularly struggled should feel like progress and proof of their growing stature.

But this can only feel like two dropped points given that they were basically toying with Liverpool after taking a two-goal lead early in the day. It would have been worse, too, had Aaron Ramsdale not made two exceptional saves in the dying moments.

Asked by Sky Sports whether this was two points lost or one gained, Ramsdale replied: "A bit of both. We managed to dig in at the end but we had some good chances. We came to Anfield and played it really well, but had to survive as well, so I think right now it will be mixed emotions.

"Over the next few days, it'll definitely be a very good point. Maybe [it was points dropped], but I've just walked off the pitch and we've just been under pressure for 35 minutes, whatever it was, and we've managed to get a point away at Anfield."

In the end, a point means the Gunners know that Manchester City will retake the lead in the title race with victory in their game in hand and when the sides meet at the Etihad on April 26.

Arteta will probably find it hard to be overly positive about what transpired on Merseyside with that in mind.

Alexander-Arnold's decisive moment

You can only wonder what the reaction might have been had Trent Alexander-Arnold let a ball slip through his legs prior to a last-gasp equaliser going in in such a big game.

But it was Oleksandr Zinchenko who was deceived just outside the box before Liverpool netted, and so a national debate over his defensive capabilities is unlikely to ensue in the coming week.

Yes, he may not be perfect in one-vs-one situations, but Alexander-Arnold showed exactly why Klopp won't be jettisoning him from his team any time soon in this game.

The skill and cross that led to Firmino's equaliser is a passage of play that few other full-backs could produce and that will be on show more regularly next season should the Reds get back to their dominant best.

Liverpool vs Arsenal as it happened

Final: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

FULLTIME: All over at Anfield - wow, what a game.

90th min (+5): Liverpool nearly win it again at the death but are twice denied by Ramsdale!

The first chance sees the Englishman do brilliantly to tip a deflected Salah effort around the post before he then denies Konate on the line.

Arsenal break immediately from that opportunity but a poor pass to a free Saka gives Alisson the chance to come in and nick the ball.

90th min (+3): Salah so nearly wins it but can't keep his volley down from a Robertson dinked cross. 

90th min: Six minutes to be added on!

87th min: GOAL! Liverpool have nicked a late equaliser!!!

It's the man who loves a goal against Arsenal who gets its, Roberto Firmino heading brilliantly home on the stretch after Alexander-Arnold beats Zinchenko to cross. 

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85th min: Gabriel has a free header from a corner but can only direct it straight down Alisson's throat.

That's a huge chance to seal a big win.

81st min: Nunez gets in one-on-one from a brilliant first-time Salah pass but you just never felt the Uruguayan believed he would finish that one.

Ramsdale does well to get out to save but a confident striker puts that chance away.

79th min: Two changes for Arsenal, Odegaard and Jesus making way for Trossard and Kiwior.

78th min: Fabinho making way for Firmino as Klopp rolls the dice.

74th min: Brilliant defending from Robertson to keep Liverpool in it, the Scot sliding in at the back post to stop Saka scoring a certain goal from a Martinelli cross.

67th min: Arsenal trying to take the sting out with spells of possession and some compact defending and they have helped quieten this home crowd somewhat.

Still, might Mikel Arteta consider a change to give his team fresh impetus?

60th min: Two changes for Liverpool, with Nunez and Thiago replacing Jota and Jones respectively. 

Can Liverpool keep the momentum?

58th min: A break in play now as Gabriel receives treatment after heading a powerful Fabinho strike away. That will have hurt him. 

54th min: SALAH MISSES!!!

Would you believe it?! That's two penalty misses on the bounce from the Egyptian, who sidefoots well wide of the post with Ramsdale heading the wrong way. What a let-off for the visitors.

53rd min: Liverpool have had Arsenal penned in since the restart and get their rewards as Holding clumsily takes down Jota as the visitors attempt to clear from a corner.

52nd min: PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!!!!

46th min: Back under way at Anfield.

HALFTIME: A breathless half comes to a close at Anfield and Arsenal probably can't believe they're not out of sight.

They were utterly dominating for 40 minutes before the hosts scored a foal from nowhere and rather suddenly made a game out of things. 

How will the Premier League leaders react in the second half?

45th min (+3): Arsenal completely on the back foot now and Liverpool so nearly level as Henderson runs onto a loose ball in the box and smashes it over.

What a turnaround, the visitors praying for the whistle.

45th min: Anfield absolutely rocking now and Liverpool would surely want this half to go on a bit longer to see how Arsenal stand up to this test.

41st min: GOAL! Liverpool are somehow back in this game!

They work it well down the left through Jones and Jota before the pullback ends up at Salah's feet for a close-range finish courtesy of Henderson. 

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41st min: Xhaka and Alexander-Arnold go into the book for some pushing and shoving 

40th min: Arsenal simply toying with Liverpool here, passing the ball around comfortably before inevitably forcing a foul out of sheer frustration. 

Mikel Arteta will be loving every minute of this.

34th min: Salah gets in behind from a Henderson pass but pokes his effort wide of the post when he so often scores.

Liverpool desperately needed that to go in. 

32nd min: Van Dijk deservedly booked after clattering Jesus on the touchline. The Liverpool man got nowhere near the ball. 

28th min: GOAL! Arsenal are 2-0 up and in dreamland at Anfield!

Martinelli sneaks in down the left-hand side as easy as you like and curls in an inswinging cross that gives Jesus the easiest of tasks to head home unmarked. 

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23rd min: Ben White is the first man in the referee's notebook for a bit of a rash one on Jota high up the pitch.

20th min: Robertson latches onto a Fabinho ball over the top but, while he does well to keep his finish down, he sends it wide of the far post.

Better from Liverpool.

15th min: Arsenal in complete control of this game after taking the lead. 

Liverpool finding it impossible to play through the visitors' press and every time they give it away they look like they are about to concede.

8th min: GOAL! Arsenal take the lead at Anfield!

The Gunners work Saka into space just inside the Liverpool half, where he drives at an exposed defence before a Van Dijk tackle attempt only works the ball to Martinelli.

The Brazilian then does well to beat a raft of defenders to poke a low finish past Alisson.

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6th min: Gakpo works space cutting in off the left-hand side but his shot is over the bar and nothing for Ramsdale to worry about.

2nd min: Arsenal win a corner after Martinelli eases past Alexander-Arnold on the left but Liverpool use it to break away before Salah is foiled by Xhaka.

Lively start!

1st min: After an impeccably observed minute's silence for the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, the game gets under way.

5 mins from kickoff: All four sides of the ground in fine voice as the players emerge from the tunnel. Clearly, both sets of supporters know exactly how big a game this is.

20 mins from kickoff: How big a boost is the return of Bukayo Saka for Arsenal today? The Englishman has been the leading figure of this surprise title charge and is certain to have a big say on proceedings at Anfield.

40 mins from kickoff: A big day for Curtis Jones, who makes a second straight start in what has been a season wrecked by injury.

There's no doubting the youngster's talent, but this is a big test for him given his lack of football in recent months.

60 mins from kickoff: The team news is in! Nunez only on the bench for Liverpool, who name an unchanged midfield from that 0-0 draw with Chelsea.

Arsenal, meanwhile, welcome back Bukayo Saka, though they are without William Saliba in defence.

90 mins from kickoff: Some suggestions that Darwin Nunez might miss out for Liverpool today after not being spotted on their pre-match walk around the city.

We'll be sure to let you know as soon as anything concrete emerges regarding the Uruguayan's involvement.

115 mins from kickoff: Arsenal will be wearing black for their trip to Liverpool.

120 mins from kickoff: You can only wonder whether Mikel Arteta resorted to playing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' during training sessions this week, as he did last season. It didn't help at the time. The Gunners lost 4-0.

Liverpool vs Arsenal lineups

Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo make an immediate return to the starting line-up for Liverpool after missing out against Chelsea.

But Thiago Alcantara is only fit enough for the bench, meaning a second consecutive start for Curtis Jones in midfield.

Liverpool starting lineup (4-3-3): Alisson (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson — Henderson, Fabinho, Jones — Salah, Gakpo, Jota

Liverpool subs (9): Kelleher (GK), Gomez, Thiago, Milner, Firmno, Elliott, Tsimikas, Nunez, Matip

Bukayo Saka returns to the starting line-up after starting Arsenal's 4-1 win over Leeds United from the bench.

Meanwhile, Rob Holding continues to fill in for William Saliba, who is battling a back problem and misses out on the squad entirely.

Arsenal starting lineup (4-3-3): Ramsdale (GK) — White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko — Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka — Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

Arsenal subs (9): Turner (GK), Kiwior, Tierney, Nelson, Vieira, Jorginho, Trossard, Walters, Smith Rowe

MORE: Virgil van Dijk promises 'hard talking' as Liverpool face crunch Arsenal clash

Liverpool vs Arsenal live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch all of the action from Anfield in some of the major territories:

  Date Time TV channel Streaming
USA Sun, Apr. 9 11:30 EDT — Peacock
Canada Sun, Apr. 9 11:30 EDT — Fubo Canada
UK Sun, Apr. 9 16:30 BST Sky Sports Main Event,
Sky Sports Premier League		 Sky GO
Australia Mon, Apr. 10 01:30 AEST — Optus Sport
New Zealand Mon, Apr. 10 03:30 NZST Sky Sport Premier League Sky Sport NOW
India Sun, Apr. 9 21:00 IST Star Sports Select 2 Jio TV, Hotstar VIP
Hong Kong Sun, Apr. 9 23:30 HKT Now Premier League
(Ch. 620-621)		 Now Player
Malaysia Sun, Apr. 9 23:30 MYT Astro SuperSport 3

Astro GO, sooka

Singapore Sun, Apr. 9 23:30 SGT Hub Premier
(Ch. 221-223)		 StarHub TV+

UK: This match will be broadcast live in the UK via Sky Sports' TV and streaming platforms.

USA: This match will be streamed exclusively on NBC's Peacock with options to view in English and Spanish.

Canada: Every Premier League game this season is live streaming exclusively via Fubo in Canada.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport.

David Lynch

David Lynch Photo

David Lynch is a freelance football journalist primarily covering Liverpool FC. He has reported on the the Reds for over a decade for publications such as the Sunday Mirror and Evening Standard, carving out a reputation as a trusted voice on all things Anfield in the process. Having followed Liverpool across England and Europe over the course of his career, David has filed from illustrious venues such as Camp Nou, the Allianz Arena and the Estadio do Dragao, as well as from multiple Champions League finals.