ARSENAL will sit top of the Premier League at Christmas after a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.
Gabriel put the Gunners in front with a brilliant header after just five minutes but Mohamed Salah has since equalised with an epic solo goal before the game finished all square.
- Kick-off time: 5:30pm GMT
- Live stream: NOW TV
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League
- Liverpool XI: Alisson, Trent, Konate, Virgil, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai, Endo, Jones, Salah, Gakpo, Diaz
- Arsenal XI: David Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli
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Hand of Od goes unpunished
Liverpool fans will be wondering how they did not get a penalty in the game this evening.
There is no doubt that Martin Odegaard handled the ball in the box.
Weirdly, the VAR review decided there was nothing doing.
Granted you can see the Norwegian slipped but that does not detract from his stopping the ball with his hand.
The modern game has every football fan scratching their head nowadays, a simple rule complicated by too many cooks spoiling the broth.
You wonder if they use a magic-8 ball in the VAR studio to make some of these decisions.
It could also answer why their decisions take so long as they get ‘ask again’ and ‘maybe’ all too often.
Frustrating evening for Liverpool manager
While the draw is not the end of the world for Jurgen Klopp, he will be concerned how ineffective his front three were.
Mohamed Salah put in a good performance but Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz were non-existent.
It will be something he will want to address moving forward, wanting to get back to their high-tempo, free-flowing game.
FT: Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
Declan Rice covered a lot of ground for Arsenal today.
He offered a line of defence in the middle of the park to cut out the incisive play from Liverpool.
With Rice in the centre of the park, it made it far more difficult for Jurgen Klopp’s side to unlock The Gunners.
FT: Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
The stats show it was quite an evenly matched game.
Both sides huffed and puffed but nothing could separate the two sides.
Man City will be happy with this result however.
FT: Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
The referee brings the game to a close.
Mikel Arteta will be pleased with this performance.
Liverpool will be left wondering what could have been.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
90+4. If the result stays as we are, Liverpool would move up to second in the league.
Arsenal would then go back to the top of the table.
Aston Villa would drop to third after the results of the weekend.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
90+2. Elliott is shoved to the ground by Zinchenko.
It has all gone a bit quiet at Anfield now.
The hosts have failed to give their fans anything to get excited about in this last fifteen minutes.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
90. Liverpool seem to be either giving the ball away with loose passes or committing unnecessary fouls right now.
Neither will help them create that one chance they want to try and win the game.
It is more in Arsenal’s interest now to hold onto the ball and try and take the point.
They would remain top at Christmas then.
We are going to have five additional minutes.
Credit: EPA Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
88. We are into the final moments of the game.
It is anybody’s guess how much added time there will be.
There don’t seem to have been many stoppages but they must be picking out of a hat now to decide how much we will play.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
86. Nketiah turns with the ball and lunges in on Endo.
The Arsenal striker is shown a yellow card for his troubles.
It gives the Liverpool back line a little breather.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
84. Trossard looks to get down to the byline to cross.
Szoboszlai tracks him all the way, blocking at the expense of a corner.
Chance for the visitors to get their big men up for this.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
82. Salah is now playing as the main striker.
He seems less effective in the this position as he was getting some joy out of Zinchenko.
They need to play Nunez down the middle.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
80. Liverpool are just struggling to find that final pass.
The build up play looks good but when they try to unlock this Arsenal team, the attempt just seems to be picked off.
Havertz goes to ground looking for a penalty but the referee is not interested.
Credit: AFP Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
78. Nketiah comes on for Jesus for the visitors.
He will play more of a central role rather than the drifting we see all too often from Jesus.
Arsenal must be wondering whether to stick or twist right now.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
76. We are getting to that point of the game where the next goal wins it.
Alexander-Arnold whips in a corner and Nunez heads it over.
Liverpool just hope they get at least one more clear-cut chance to win this game.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
74. That was a massive chance for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Alexander-Arnold really should have buried that.
It may be a miss that Liverpool come to regret.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
72. Saka whips in the corner kick for the visitors.
Gomez heads it clear at the near post for Liverpool.
As The Reds break with real numbers, Salah lays it off to Alexander-Arnold who thumps it against the crossbar.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
70. Arsenal are starting to dominate possession again.
It is all about who wants to gamble more now.
The draw does neither team any favours.
Elliott tries his luck from distance, it deflects off Gabriel and clips the outside of the post.
Credit: EPA Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
68. Elliott, Gravenberch and Nunez all comes on for Liverpool.
Gakpo, Diaz and Jones make way for the trio.
Big chance now for the subs to make a name for themselves.
For Arsenal, Martinelli makes way for Trossard.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
66. Saka and Diaz have a coming together.
The Liverpool winger comes worse off as he stays on the ground in some pain.
Diaz is receiving some treatment from the physios.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
64. Odegaard is fouled by Endo.
The Liverpool player needs to be careful as he already has a yellow card.
Might be an idea for a substitution for Liverpool with his walking that tightrope.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
62. Arsenal are looking to box Liverpool in once again.
The Reds seem devoid of ideas when the defence have the ball at their feet.
Szoboszlai tries his luck from distance but drags it wide of Raya’s goal.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
60. Gomez is trying to get forward more and more.
When he offers some support down the left, The Gunners struggle.
With half an hour left of the game, it is impossible to pick a winner in this game.
Credit: PA Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
58. It is such a game of fine margins right now.
So many times Liverpool are a toes length from stealing the ball in the final third.
When Arsenal can play through the press they have numbers and really stretch the hosts.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
56. Martinelli has lots of space out on the left but runs into Szoboszlai.
Liverpool look to counter but their passing is still too scrappy and they give the ball away.
Whoever can take a grip of this game and get the next goal could be pivotal.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
