Liverpool and Arsenal staged a gritty, tense, and passionate 1-1 draw at Anfield on Saturday, and the Reds will be left to rue the missed chances that keep the Gunners atop the Premier League table.
[ MORE: JPW’s player ratings from Liverpool vs Arsenal ]
The Gunners exit the day where they entered it, one point ahead of the second-place Reds, who are level on points with Aston Villa.
Gabriel Magalhaes put Arsenal ahead after just four minutes, but Mohamed Salah leveled the score line before halftime.
WATCH LIVERPOOL vs ARSENAL FULL MATCH REPLAY STREAM
A quirk of scheduling will see the Gunners and Reds meet again in just five matchdays, a February 4 clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Fine margins keep Liverpool off the top
Arsenal can be happy to take a point from Anfield, and should be fine with the point. First place is first place, and this has been a brutal venue for the Gunners in recent history.
But Liverpool’s going to leave a second-straight home game against a big name opponent with a draw, performances that saw the high-powered Reds collect a total of one goal.
Yes, the Gunners have excellent defenders and Declan Rice was tremendous in the center of the park. Yes, Man United effectively shut up shop last weekend. Still, something’s just not right about the Reds right now.
Liverpool managed less than a full xG on the day, but it will feel like more after Trent Alexander-Arnold cranked a 5v2 break off the cross bar in the second half.
Alexander-Arnold was otherwise the Reds’ Man of the Match, cueing up Mohamed Salah’s goal with a spectacular pass, so it’s not a slight of the fullback.
Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz both struggled, and Darwin Nunez was better off the bench but couldn’t provide a goal. Maybe Klopp got it wrong in starting Gakpo over the Uruguayan center forward but either way, these two points instead of six (or four) may haunt the Reds come June.
What’s next?
Liverpool are off to Burnley at 12:30pm ET on Boxing Day, then host Newcastle on New Year’s Day.
Arsenal host West Ham on Thursday, Dec. 28 before going to Fulham on New Year’s Eve.
Liverpool vs Arsenal final score: 1-1
Goal: Gabriel (4'), Salah (29')
Liverpool vs Arsenal player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Liverpool vs Arsenal player ratings (fotmob.com)
Liverpool vs Arsenal player ratings (fotmob.com)
Liverpool vs Arsenal halftime: 1-1
Even feels fair here, though Arsenal will likely feel it deserves to be ahead at Anfield.
Liverpool’s had more of the ball but Arsenal’s produced six shots to the hosts’ three.
And the danger’s been on Arsenal’s side, though Liverpool’s found some joy down the left side.
Mohamed Salah goa (video)l
Trent Alexander-Arnold spots Mohamed Salah on the right flank and pings a long diagonal ball right onto the Egyptian’s right foot.
Salah’s 1v1 with Oleksandr Zinchenko and on this occasion it turns out to be a horrible mismatch. Salah cuts onto his left foot with so much ease and slices a shot past David Raya for 1-1.
Too easy.
Gabriel goal (video)!
Arsenal lead after just four minutes off a free kick as Ibrahima Konate loses Gabriel Magalhaes, and Cody Gakpo can’t save the defender blushes.
Gabriel uses a header to turn Martin Odegaard’s lofted free kick inside the near post, and the Gunners are up 1-0!
Liverpool, Arsenal odds to win Premier League title
(odds via Bet MGM)
Arsenal +250
Liverpool +275
Manchester City remain betting favorites to win the 2023-24 Premier League title, at +125.
Liverpool vs Arsenal head-to-head record
Liverpool: 94 all-time wins (25 in PL)
Arsenal: 82 all-time wins (17 in PL)
Draws: 63 all-time (20 in PL)
Liverpool vs Arsenal recent Premier League results
Last 10 PL meetings
Liverpool: 6 wins
Arsenal: 2 wins
Draws: 2
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal (April 2023)
Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool (October 2022)
Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool (March 2022)
Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal (November 2021)
Arsenal 0-3 Liverpool (April 2021)
Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal (September 2020)
Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool (July 2020)
Liverpool 5-5 Arsenal (October 2019)
Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal (August 2019)
Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal (December 2018)
How to watch Liverpool vs Arsenal, stream link, TV channel
Kickoff: 12:30pm ET Saturday
Odds: Liverpool (+135) vs Arsenal (+180) | Draw (+260)
TV Channel: NBC
Stream: Watch online via NBC.com and online via Peacock Premium
Liverpool lineup
The Reds to take on Arsenal 📋🔴#LIVARS
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 23, 2023
Arsenal lineup
🟡 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 🔵
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 23, 2023
💪 Saliba at the back
⚖️ Rice in the middle
🙌 Jesus leads the line
Let's go, Gunners 👊 pic.twitter.com/3PIWqD80aY
Focus on Liverpool, team news
OUT: Alexis Mac Allister (knee), Diogo Jota (undisclosed), Joel Matip (torn ACL - out for season), Andrew Robertson (shoulder), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Thiago Alcantara (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Ryan Gravenberch (thigh)
Focus on Arsenal, team news
OUT: Thomas Partey (thigh), Jurrien Timber (torn ACL - out for season), Fabio Vieira (hip), Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf) | QUESTIONABLE: Jorginho (foot), Mohamed Elneny (thigh)