Mohamed Salah’s late goal earned a point for Liverpool at Arsenal, as the Gunners dropped two points and lost two more defenders to injury in a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
[ MORE: Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings ]
Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino scored for Arsenal, who move onto 18 points and third place on the Premier League table, ahead of Aston Villa on goal differential.
Liverpool finish the weekend in second place with 22 points, one back of leaders Manchester City. Virgil van Dijk scored Liverpool’s other goal.
The Timber that broke the camel’s back
Arsenal entered the game without suspended center back William Saliba, big signing Riccardo Calafiori, and fullbacks Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney. But they still had Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White, and were happy to see Jurrien Timber muscle through injury to start. Both Magalhaes and Timber were magnificent. Both also left through injury, and Liverpool almost immediately tied the game through Salah, who Timber had done a nearly masterful job keeping in check. Mikel Arteta opted for teenage fullback Myles Lewis-Skelly instead of Oleksandr Zinchenko or moving Thomas Partey over, and that might well be the difference between 2-1 and 2-2.
Slot a wonderful change of pace to legendary Klopp
The Liverpool boss knows his team wasn’t great and was up against a very good team, but he pushed all the right buttons in getting the Reds back in the game. We’re at the point where you can almost expect a multi-goal game from his attack. You also know that Liverpool will have a measure of composure with and without the ball — a change from Jurgen Klopp’s last two seasons — and that there won’t be too many gilt-edged chances for the opposition. When you score two, it should get you at least a point. And if Alisson Becker was healthy and starting instead of still-green Caoimihn Kelleher, perhaps the Reds might’ve found a way to win. Probably not, but maybe against an Arsenal missing names like Martin Odegaard, Saliba, and Calafiori.
What’s next?
Arsenal go to Preston in the League Cup on Wednesday, then visit Newcastle at 8:30am ET Saturday.
Liverpool get two looks at the Fabian Hurzeler experience, visiting Brighton in the League Cup on Wednesday before welcoming the Seagulls to Anfield at 11am Saturday.
How to watch Arsenal vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Sunday (October 27)
Venue: Emirates Stadium — London
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Arsenal vs Liverpool final score: 2-2
Bukayo Saka 9'; Virgil van Dijk 18'; Mikel Merino 43', Mohamed Salah 81'
Arsenal vs Liverpool live updates — By Nick Mendola
Bright from the Gunners
Oh this is decent stuff between Nwaneri, Havertz, Trossard, and then Jesus.
But Gabriel Jesus’ shot at the back post from an acute angle is blocked by Curtis Jones for a corner kick.
The set piece? Partially-cleared to the top of the box. Jesus settles it, shakes a defender and hits a hard shot right to Kelleher.
2-2, 88'.
Mohamed Salah goal! Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool (81st minute)
Guess we jinxed you, Gooners.
Trent Alexander-Arnold cues up a chance down his right side, and it’s on Ben White and Lewis-Skelly to deal with Darwin Nunez and Salah.
The Egyptian had been on lock down most of this game, but now he’s on the score sheet five minutes after Timber left with an injury.
Another Arsenal back line injury: Jurrien Timber goes off
It’ll be Myles Lewis-Skelly against Mohamed Salah the rest of the way as Jurrien Timber is hurt.
Good luck, kid.
Hits and hopes nearly inspire equalizer
Darwin Nunez sends Salah on a long errand into the corner.
The Egyptian tracks down the ball and serves a cross into danger with no apparent intended target.
It ends up with Curtis Jones, whose shot is blocked by the right side of Arsenal’s back line.
2-1 Gunners, 72'.
Liverpool trying to scrap together a finish
The Reds are fighting for the ball in Arsenal’s third, and Trent Alexander-Arnold has dragged one shot wide and had another blocked out for a corner kick.
Andy Robertson serves that in but Arsenal clear the danger. Half-hour left at the Emirates.
Diaz runs into post, keeper; Gabriel injury
Luis Diaz’s dizzying dribble is too much for Thomas Partey and then White, but David Raya keeps his cool and collects the ball as the Colombian attacker clatters in his leg and the post.
Now Mo Salah drives a chance but the ball misses the goal. Gabriel goes down and looks to want a change.
Arsenal will have Ben White and Jakub Kiwior at the heart of the back line with Gabriel injured and William Saliba serving a suspension.
2-1 Arsenal, 53'.
Halftime — Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool
Liverpool have come out with a physical edge, but Arsenal have played the better football.
The hosts are shading possession and have attempted six of the game’s eight shots.
Mikel Merino goal! Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool (43rd minute)
Oh it’s a splendid free kick and matching finish to restore Arsenal’s lead.
Declan Rice’s service from the right is swept toward a sea of bodies.
Mikel Merino, who had been far from perfect early, gets his head on the ball and thumps it past Kelleher.
VAR review is looking at another tight offside or onside call.
Van Dijk’s blue boot sets the line and... Merino is behind it!
Arsenal want a penalty, Havertz wants a do over
Gabriel Martinelli’s dribble is cut off by Ibrahima Konate, and the Brazilian gets sandwiched and turned over by Konate and Alexis Mac Allister.
He wants a penalty, but that will have to wait for review until Kai Havertz has a side volley lash from the center of the box, a yard or two inside the spot.
He hammers it over the goal. It could, and maybe should, be 2-1 to the Gunners.
Virgil van Dijk goal! Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool (18th minute)
Hey now!
Trent Alexander-Arnold sweeps a corner kick from the right and Luis Diaz leaps to nod it further across goal.
Ibrahima Konate can’t reach it but a stooping Virgil van Dijk crouches to head home and we’re level at the Emirates!
Salah just wide
Mikel Merino falters with his first touch in a dangerous place, and Liverpool’s best player pounces on the chance.
Salah rips a left-footed curler that swirls dangerously but wide of the near post.
Bukayo Saka goal! Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool (9th minute)
Ben White sweeps a long pass over the top of the defense, and Bukayo Saka roasts Andy Robertson.
Saka still has Caoimhin Kelleher to beat, but he makes it look so easy as the Liverpool keeper goes tube man waving at the hard left-footed shot.
Van Dijk lucky
Virgil van Dijk is tangled with Kai Havertz. Neither of them have the ball as Van Dijk twice stamps his legs around Havertz.
Referee Anthony Taylor signals to Van Dijk that he saw it, which begs the question of why the Dutchman was not cautioned by the HR.
Arsenal lineup
Raya, Partey, White, Gabriel, Timber, Rice, Merino, Trossard, Saka, Martinelli, Havertz
Liverpool lineup
Kelleher, Robertson, Konate, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Diaz, Salah, Nunez
Arsenal team news, focus
With left back Riccardo Calafiori coming off with an injury with 20 minutes to go in midweek, plus full backs Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu struggling and star center back William Saliba suspended, Arsenal have a lot of problems defensively. Left back Oleksandr Zinchenko has been recovering from an injury too and youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly came on ahead of him in midweek in the Champions League. Could the youngster start? At right back, Ben White was hooked off at half time in midweek but will surely start as he continues to battle issues with form. If he isn’t good to go then Partey could slot to right back with Kai Havertz or Leandro Trossard playing deeper in central midfield and Gabriel Jesus up top. Jakub Kiwior is likely to start alongside Gabriel at center back and this is a big game for the Polish center back. Captain Martin Odegaard is out and star player Bukayo Saka could be absent so the pressure is on Declan Rice, Partey and Mikel Merino to use all of their experience in midfield to get control of this game. Gabriel Martinelli and Raheem Sterling need big games out wide and Gabriel will do his best to hold things together at the back.
OUT: Kieran Tierney (thigh), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Martin Odegaard (ankle), William Saliba (suspension) | QUESTIONABLE: Jurrien Timber (other), Bukayo Saka (thigh), Riccardo Calafiori (knock)
Liverpool team news, focus
Diogo Jota could be missing after coming off against Chelsea. That could have Darwin Nunez set to start. Andy Robertson and Curtis Jones were rested in midweek for the win in Leipzig but are likely to come straight back into the lineup. Luis Diaz could also start but Cody Gakpo appears to have the left wing spot for now.
OUT: Harvey Elliott (foot), Alisson Becker (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Diogo Jota (chest), Federico Chiesa (other), Conor Bradley (undisclosed)
Arsenal vs Liverpool prediction
This feels like an opportunity too good to miss for Liverpool and Salah will likely have a lovely day against this makeshift Arsenal defense. It will be close but this will be a statement win for Slot. Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool.
