Arsenal vs Liverpool LIVE: FA Cup result and final score as Luis Diaz goal wraps up away win
Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: Diaz’s late strike added to Jakub Kiwior’s own goal as the Reds advanced to the FA Cup fourth round
Liverpool held Arsenal at bay to progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.
The hosts were again left to rue their profligacy as they fell short in a clash of two Premier League title rivals, squandering a series of chances across the 90 minutes.
Jurgen Klopp’s side struggled to contend with Arsenal’s pressing and vibrancy in forward areas in the first half, but a couple of tactical and position tweaks at half-time paid dividends for the Liverpool boss, with Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz given greater freedom to run in behind the Arsenal defence.
The visitors twice struck the crossbar before an inswinging Trent Alexander-Arnold free kick was diverted home inadvertently by Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior ten minutes from time to give Liverpool a late lead.
And with Mikel Arteta sending on forwards and Arsenal throwing bodies forward in pursuit of an equaliser, there was plenty of stoppage-time space for Luis Diaz to seal victory with a fine finsh past Aaron Ramsdale and ensure Liverpool will be in the hat for Monday night’s draw.
Re-live all the action from Arsenal vs Liverpool below and get the latest football odds and tips here:
Liverpool cruise through as Arsenal’s season threatens to derail
At a time when Arsenal just can’t seem to score, it is of course one of their own players that inadvertently sends Liverpool through to the fourth round of the FA Cup. Luis Diaz then showed them how to do it with a thumping finish and that without Mohamed Salah.
When it’s going against you, it’s going against you. That might not bother Mikel Arteta too much with this specific 2-0 third-round defeat given this is the one trophy he has already won at the club, but there are now growing greater concerns over whether their season might be derailing. This was a third successive defeat in all competitions.
Their attackers are certainly sending the ball anywhere but the back of the net, on the basis of this. There’s also the issue of whether this will further propel a burgeoning Liverpool side, who could well supersede Arsenal to again become Manchester City’s closest challengers.
Liverpool cruise through as Arsenal’s season threatens to derail
Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: The Gunners were left to rue a third successive defeat in all competitions
The Luis Diaz finish that changed Liverpool’s January plans
Eventually, Liverpool found their match-winners — even if the first goal came from a player in white. Without Mohamed Salah for the first time this month, it was a touch off Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior that ensured the Reds advanced into the FA Cup fourth round and avoided a replay against their title rivals, whose winless run extended to a fourth game.
It would have hardly been Jurgen Klopp’s plan — but as Luis Diaz rifled in a late second, it meant Liverpool can now enter a crucial phase of their season without their talisman bolstered by a big win.
The Luis Diaz finish that changed Liverpool’s January plans
Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: Without Mohamed Salah at the Emirates, it was Diaz who finally brought Jurgen Klopp’s side some composure in front of goal as they claimed a big win in the FA Cup third round
Ball numbers for FA Cup fourth round draw
And here are the all-important ball numbers for tomorrow night. Maidstone United will surely be eyeing a glamour game after shocking Stevenage yesterday.
1. Luton Town or Bolton Wanderers (replay)
2. Wrexham
3. Liverpool
4. Brighton & Hove Albion
5. Norwich City or Bristol Rovers (replay)
6. West Ham United or Bristol City (replay)
7. Tottenham Hotspur
8. Fulham
9. West Bromwich Albion
10. Southampton
11. Ipswich Town
12. Leeds United
13. Leicester City
14. Watford
15. Newcastle United
16. Sheffield Wednesday
17. Crystal Palace or Everton (replay)
18. Aston Villa
19. Nottingham Forest or Blackpool (replay)
20. Wigan Athletic or Manchester United (Monday)
21. Manchester City
22. Blackburn Rovers
23. Sheffield United
24. Swansea City
25. Chelsea
26. AFC Bournemouth
27. Coventry City
28. Brentford or Wolverhampton Wanderers (replay)
29. Plymouth Argyle
30. Maidstone United
31. Newport County or Eastleigh (replay)
32. Hull City or Birmingham City (replay)
Liverpool into the fourth round
Just one third round tie to be played this weekend, then, with Wigan hosting Manchester United in a tasty bit of Monday night business tomorrow. Liverpool - who take on Fulham in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday - will be pleased to have avoided a replay, which would have taken place next week.
They go into the draw for the fourth round, which will be held ahead of that game at the DW Stadium tomorrow evening.
FT: Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool
Arsenal will surely feel that is a game they should have won. To create the number of big chances they did and still come away scoreless again evidences their problems in front of goal - there were opportunities of all different kinds during the 90 minutes but Alisson’s goal remained unbreached. Is a high-price centre forward the answer?
Trent Alexander-Arnold speaks to the BBC after Liverpool progress to the fourth round
“It’s a huge win. We’ve got a lot of players missing, and a lot of injuries. We came here with one objective which was to get into the hat for the next round, and we did that with two late goals. We changed things around at half time, came out and played football and created chances. Those changes really made an impact for us.
“There were times in the first half where we were a little bit naive. They had chances from our mistakes. They are a high pressing team and are bound to do that. But we have an identity and want to play football. We wanted to get Harvey on the ball and get Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez in behind with their speed. We mixed it up and that really made a difference, using Darwin’s speed one-on-one with their full-back.
“We hit the woodwork a couple of times, so we did have chances, and near the end we put them away.”
FT: Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool
A seriously good win for Liverpool, away from home without a handful of key figures but able to withstand a siege and strike twice late on. That half-time switch of his forward line worked wonders for Jurgen Klopp, adding extra threat, but word too must go to Conor Bradley and Bobby Clark, both impressive off the bench to help out the heist.
Here’s what winning skipper Trent Alexander-Arnold thought of it all...
GOAL! Arsenal 0-2 LIVERPOOL (Luis Diaz, 90 + 5 minutes)
That certainly will!
Liverpool are going through! Luis Diaz makes totally certain of victory, finishing off a counter attack after excellent work from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota. Jota holds off Declan Rice and finds Diaz on the right, and the Colombian lashes past Aaron Ramsdale.
Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool, 90 + 3 minutes
Claimed by Alisson! Authoratative goalkeeping from the Brazilian. That might be enough.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies