Liverpool vs Arsenal LIVE: Boos for Alexander-Arnold as Gunners fight back in four-goal draw
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal: The Gunners trailed at half time but responded well to claim a point
Arsenal battled from two goals down to salvage a point at Premier League champions Liverpool as Trent Alexander-Arnold endured a mixed reception at Anfield and the hosts had a late winner disallowed.
Liverpool looked rampant in the first half and struck twice in 80 seconds through Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz to leave Arsenal trailing at half time and heading for another disappointing result after Wednesday’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals.
But Arsenal showed commendable spirit to claw themselves level in the second half, as Gabriel Martinelli headed in Leandro Trossard’s cross and Mikel Merino nodded in after Martin Odegaard hit the crossbar.
There were some boos as Alexander-Arnold, playing his first game at Anfield since announcing his departure at the end of the season, replaced Conor Bradley, while Arsenal had to play the final 10 minutes with 10 men after Merino was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge.
Liverpool thought they had won it when Andy Robertson scrambled in from a corner deep in stoppage time, but a foul was given for a Ibrahima Konate push on Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Arsenal held on to claim a morale-boosting point, even if their place in next season’s Champions League is still not secure with a visit from third-placed Newcastle, who are two points behind them, to come next week.
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Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
77 mins: Two changes for Arsenal. Trossard looks to have picked up a knock and he goes off, along with White. Calafiori and Tierney are on.
While Jota replaces Nunez for Liverpool.
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
73 mins: A comeback that scarcely felt feasible at half-time. Arsenal nevertheless merit credit. Trossard has been excellent on the left. Alisson was forced to make a couple of fine saves even before pushing Martin Odegaard's shot on to the post, only for Mikel Merino to head in the rebound. Arsenal have shown some character here.
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
71 mins: Alexander-Arnold was playing Merino onside. The right back is being booed and cheered with every touch. It’s all quite strange.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal (MERINO 70')
WOW! Arsenal are level! Odegaard unleashes a stunning strike that Alisson tips onto the post. But Merino follows in and nods into an empty net to get Arsenal back level. They have responded in style!
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
66 mins: Trent Alexander-Arnold is coming on for Liverpool, along with Darwin Nunez and Alexis Mac Allister.
And there are boos for Alexander-Arnold. There’s some applause too. But it’s safe to say that’s a mixed reception.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
65 mins: How has that stayed out?! Arsenal got short from the corner and Saka’s clip to the back post looks certain to be headed in by Saliba. But Konate is there to block on the line.
Anyway, it looks like Saka was offside from the short corner.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
64 mins: Ooooooh. Big challenge from Bradley in the box to deny Martinelli, who threatens Liverpool again. The forward made a diagonal run to try and get onto the end of a Trossard pass. Bradley tracked it and slid to ground to win the challenge.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
61 mins: CLOSE! Trossard takes the free-kick low and towards the front post. It falls to Martinelli but his snapshot is straight at Alisson from six yards out.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
59 mins: Bradley is booked after barging into Lewis-Skelly, who had skipped past him to potentially reach the byline. It’s been a tough 15 minutes or so for Bradley and Alexander-Arnold is warming up.
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