Liverpool 2–2 Arsenal: Gunners fight back from two down as top-five race remains in the balance | OneFootball

Liverpool raced into an early two-goal lead at Anfield but were pegged back by a resilient Arsenal side, who held on for a 2–2 draw despite going down to 10 men in the closing stages. Goals from Cody Gakpo and Luis Díaz put the champions firmly in control, yet Gabriel Martinelli’s header and Mikel Merino’s rebound strike earned Mikel Arteta’s side a vital point in the race for Champions League qualification.

As it happened

It took just 20 minutes for Liverpool to take the lead, with Gakpo heading home Andrew Robertson’s cross at the near post. Barely a minute later, Dominik Szoboszlai pounced on a loose ball and squared for Díaz to double the advantage from close range, leaving Arsenal reeling and Anfield rocking.

The visitors struggled to respond in the first half, with only Leandro Trossard showing any intent in possession. Liverpool, meanwhile, came close to a third through Curtis Jones and Díaz again, but David Raya stood firm.

However, Arsenal emerged a different side after the break. Within two minutes of the restart, Trossard found Martinelli unmarked with a floated cross, and the Brazilian guided his header into the bottom corner. Buoyed by the goal, The Gunners pushed on and eventually levelled in the 70th minute. Martin Ødegaard’s long-range effort was tipped onto the woodwork by Alisson, but Merino reacted quickest to dive in and head home, just about kept onside by substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Merino’s afternoon took a sharp turn soon after, as two fouls in quick succession saw the midfielder dismissed for a second yellow card with 10 minutes to play. Yet Arsenal refused to yield, and could have snatched a dramatic winner through Ødegaard in stoppage time, only for the Norwegian to fire just wide.

Liverpool thought they had won it even later, as Robertson found the net from close range – but VAR chalked it off for a Konaté foul on Myles Lewis-Skelly in the build-up.

Both teams ultimately settled for a point. Liverpool extended their unbeaten run at Anfield, while Arsenal kept their top-five hopes alive – but with Manchester City and Newcastle United both in hot pursuit, The Gunners know that even the slightest slip could cost them.

The lineups

LIV: Alisson; Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; DíazARS: Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Ødegaard; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli; Merino