Arsenal remain on top of the Premier League table heading into Christmas after an exciting 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield. The north Londoners will be the happier of the two sides as they pick up a point to savour away from home. Gabriel opened up the scoring in the opening five minutes as he put a free header past Allison between the sticks before a moment of individual brilliance from Mohamed Salah drew the home side level. Here, Express Sport gives you the main talking points from the game, none of which bode well for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Alexander-Arnold fluffs sitter
Trent Alexander-Arnold had his head in his hands on the quarter-way mark as he fluffed a crucial moment to put Liverpool ahead for the first time in the game. The Englishman was threaded through on goal by Salah as Liverpool poured forwards in a four-on-one scenario.
Salah committed the final defender centrally as Alexander-Arnold broke free to his right but the full-back put too much into his shot. David Raya was sent the wrong way as Alexander-Arnold rifled his shot across the keeper and onto the bar.
Klopp was left in utter disbelief on the touchline that the ball didn’t sail into the back of the net.
Liverpool’s injury woes worsen
Liverpool’s backline is looking remarkably thin after Konstantinos Tsimikas was forced off injured in the first half. The Greece international went hurtling into Klopp following a 50-50 with Bukayo Saka on the edge of the pitch and was seen clutching his shoulder as he made way for Joe Gomez.
The Reds are now without a natural left-back with Andy Robertson also nursing a shoulder injury that is set to keep him out until next year. This is a nightmare scenario for Klopp who is already without Joel Matip for the rest of the season. To make matters worse, Luis Diaz hobbled off in the final quarter.
Odegaard escapes penalty
Klopp and Co will feel hard done by that they didn’t get a penalty in the first half after Martin Odegaard handled the ball inside the visitor’s box. Salah skipped past the Norweigan superstar but his advance was halted by his adversary’s hand as the Arsenal skipper lost his footing and made contact with the ball.
When a replay of the incident was shown on Sky Sports, Manchester United legend Gary Neville said: “I think he’s lucky but it might be that his foot gives way which means he puts his arm down to try and rebalance and that saves him. Because he slips, his hand goes back at the same time as a counterbalance.”
