Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal: Mohamed Salah cancels out Gabriel opener but Mikel Arteta's Gunners top of Premier League at Christmas

Report and highlights as Arsenal and Liverpool drew 1-1 in a thrilling Saturday Night Football encounter; Gabriel gave the Gunners a fourth-minute lead but Mohamed Salah equalised midway through the first half; Trent Alexander-Arnold struck the bar after half-time in a massive miss

Sam Blitz

Sunday 24 December 2023 07:15, UK

Arsenal ensured they will top the Premier League table on Christmas Day with a 1-1 draw at Liverpool - a game which Mikel Arteta described as "one of the most intense and hectic" games he has ever seen.

The Gunners made a very fast start at Anfield and Gabriel Magalhaes headed home Martin Odegaard's free-kick after just four minutes to silence Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp's side grew into the game and Mohamed Salah equalised midway through the first half after Trent Alexander-Arnold found him with a stunning pass, with the Egypt forward beating the vulnerable Oleksandr Zinchenko on his way to goal.

Both teams had their fair share of chances in the thrilling encounter that followed, the best falling to Alexander-Arnold who smashed the bar from close range as Liverpool spurned a five-versus-two counter-attack.

The result means Arsenal have a one-point gap over Liverpool and Aston Villa with the league one game away from the halfway point, with Tottenham and Manchester City, who have a game in hand, four and six points further back from the Gunners.

"It allows us to have a beautiful Christmas dinner with our families and come back to work the next day because we have to prepare against West Ham really well," said Arteta to Sky Sports after the game.

"We absolutely came through it, the boys were incredible. It was one of the most intense, hectic games I have witnessed in 20 years in this league. And that says a lot.

"It was two unbelievable teams that really raised the bar to a different level. Both wanted to win it and there were moments for each side even though at that end in the last 15 to 20 minutes our team really wanted to win the game and didn't find the right pass or quality moment at the end to achieve that."

How both sides could not be separated

Arsenal took just 30 seconds to get going at Anfield with Saka's cross palmed out by Alisson and Gabriel Jesus' shot deflected over.

From the resulting corner, Jesus hit straight at Alisson but Arsenal took the lead from their next set piece. Odegaard whipped in the free-kick and Gabriel was unmarked to nod past Alisson with ease, VAR confirming the defender was marginally onside.

The Anfield faithful, summoned by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp this week to make a good atmosphere, was not dampened by the early Arsenal goal and Salah benefited from Zinchenko's lapse in concentration in the box but could only hit the side netting.

Then came the first real contentious moment of the game as Odegaard appeared to handle inside the box under pressure from Salah, but VAR took a long look at the check and turned down the appeals.

Odegaard then joined Jesus in firing wide of the Liverpool goal on the break, before Liverpool clawed themselves back on the scoreboard. Alexander-Arnold played a glorious ball into Salah down the right channel and the Egyptian burst past Zinchenko with ease to blast past Raya.

Arsenal saw the opportunity to hang on until the half-time whistle but there was one remaining big chance for the visitors.

Jesus played Saka through on goal but Alisson distracted him as he tried to round him. Saka teed up Gabriel Martinelli who fired wide with the Liverpool goalkeeper and defence on the line.

Liverpool came out for the second half shooting into the Kop and immediately started forcing errors from the Arsenal midfield.

First, Odegaard was pickpocketed deep in his half and Salah saw a shot deflected into Raya's path. Then Zinchenko gave the ball away and only a last-minute interception from Declan Rice stopped a Liverpool second.

Liverpool kept on coming and substitute Joe Gomez, who replaced Kostas Tsimikas in the first half with a nasty shoulder injury after colliding with Klopp on the touchline, curled just wide of Raya's far post.

Arsenal managed to weather the storm by stepping on the ball a bit more - but did not create too many second-half chances. The same couldn't be said for Liverpool.

Substitute Harvey Elliott cut inside from the right and saw a deflected effort strike the outside of the post, but the best chance of the evening fell to Alexander-Arnold.

The chance came from an Arsenal corner where a mix-up between Zinchenko and Odegaard allowed Salah to break with five others. Salah found Alexander-Arnold inside the box but he could only crash the ball onto the bar, leaving the Kop aghast.

Gomez tested Raya's palms with a near post effort shortly afterwards, but Arsenal maintained their top spot - and status of the best defensive team in the league - by holding onto this point.

Arteta: This is what our team is about

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to Sky Sports:

"They are the best team in the world at when the ball goes out of play, you have a good chance with Gabriel Jesus and within five seconds the ball is in your box! Look what happens in the corner, big chance to score and within six seconds it's five on one. But they are so good, they have been doing it for many years, they are exceptional and a great team.

"Absolutely, [fighting fire with fire] is the intention, this is what this team is about. One thing is to say it and another is to do it against a team who plays at that level in that atmosphere today. Huge credit to the boys, they made another big step to believe we can go to any ground and deliver these type of performances.

"We missed some big players last year when we came here. And with the game they propose, there are certain and crucial elements if you want to win the ball back well. Today we have done that very well. We were comfortable, we knew the game we had to play at times. And then there were other moments.

"It [being top at Christmas for two years in a row] shows the consistency. We have been doing it for two years now, being in the same position, being in a good position in the Champions League too."

Klopp: We shattered Arsenal in the second half

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Jurgen Klopp says Konstantinos Tsimikas will be out for 'a long time' after breaking his collarbone. He was also bemused that Liverpool weren't awarded a penalty when Martin Odegaard appeared to handle the ball.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to Sky Sports:

"First and foremost, after all the things I said last week, I wanted to say thank you Anfield. That was exceptional.

"They had a better start, with the corner and the free-kick, they do that really well but we should have done better. It was close, probably nearly offside. But after that we found a way into the game, and we were there and then after half-time we should have scored.

"If we would have won, I don't know but we should have scored. We had the moments, the high press was exceptional.

"They are really good but in those 15 to 20 minutes [in the second half], we shattered them slightly, they felt the system and were a bit shaky and we should have used that. We lost a bit of control, because if you open one space and they are ready to go. I respect that a lot. It's a 1-1 draw against a really strong side."

Can Arsenal stay top after Xmas? Nev and Carra's verdicts...

Sky Sports' Gary Neville at Anfield:

"From an Arsenal point of view, they'll be happy. It's a step forward, getting a point here.

"The question marks over the goalkeeper will subside slightly, he had a really good game - particularly second half. The question remains up top, have they got a centre-forward who will take them to the title?

"But [Mikel Arteta] will be proud of coming to this very difficult place, particularly where they were last season. They're where they want to be, they want to be in the title race again and they're on track to do that."

Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher at Anfield:

"Arsenal will be pleased coming away to Anfield and getting a point. They've only got a point from their last two away games here and at Aston Villa, but I've been really impressed with them in both.

"At times they lost the ball in dangerous positions, but they've got those two centre-backs and Rice in front, and they're very difficult to penetrate.

"Right now, they're the best team defensively in the league. There's a long way to go, but they're going to be right in the race."

Analysis: Zinchenko struggles provoke full-back question for Arsenal

Sky Sports' Sam Blitz:

Oleksandr Zinchenko was warned, twice. Once in April and then again on Saturday evening.

Arsenal's left-back was beaten too easily for Roberto Firmino's late leveller in the 2-2 draw between the Gunners and Liverpool as Mikel Arteta's side ultimately fell short in the title race. Then in the early stages of the same game this season, Zinchenko's lapse in concentration allowed Mohamed Salah a shot, but the Liverpool forward hit the side netting.

And good players do not let you off twice. Salah beat Zinchenko too easily down the right for his equaliser - the only blot from Arsenal's excellent defence that saw Gabriel impress in both boxes and William Saliba pick up man of the match.

Zinchenko was branded a "liability" by Gary Neville, who said he should have been "hooked off" as the defender's mistakes continued into the second half. One nearly led to a Liverpool winner, but Trent Alexander-Arnold spared him by hitting the bar.

Arsenal tried to bring in an improvement in the left-back area in the summer, but injuries to Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu mean Zinchenko has to play these big games when he is defensively suspect.

With doubts remaining over Jakub Kiwior, left on the bench at Anfield despite Zinchenko's shortcomings, Arteta needs to decide whether a full-back is at the top of their January transfer window list over any other position.

What's next?

Liverpool go to relegation strugglers Burnley on Boxing Day for their final fixture of 2023; kick-off 5.30pm. The Reds' then play on New Year's Day as they host Newcastle at Anfield, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 8pm.

Arsenal face two London derbies in their final games of the year as they first host West Ham at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday; kick-off 8.15pm. The Gunners then go to Fulham on New Year's Eve, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 2pm.

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