Mohamed Salah rescued Liverpool because the Egypt star’s late equaliser earned a pulsating 2-2 draw towards title rivals Arsenal on Sunday. Arne Slot’s facet had been on the point of solely their second defeat this season till Salah netted with 9 minutes left on the Emirates Stadium. Liverpool had fallen behind to Bukayo Saka’s early opener and, though Virgil van Dijk equalised, Mikel Merino put Arsenal again in entrance earlier than half-time. Salah’s eighth aim in 13 video games in all competitions this season was aided by Arsenal’s newest rash of accidents, with defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber each pressured off within the second half. Manchester Metropolis had been the actual winners on Sunday because the attract north London ensured they completed the weekend on prime of the Premier League.
Unbeaten Metropolis, who beat Southampton 1-0 on Saturday, are one level forward of second-placed Liverpool, with third-placed Arsenal sitting 5 factors adrift of prime spot.
It was solely the second time Liverpool had didn’t win since Slot changed Jurgen Klopp within the close-season, beginning his Anfield reign with 12 victories from 13 video games in all competitions.
Even so, Liverpool will probably be happier with the purpose after exhibiting spectacular resolve to twice come from behind towards a fellow title contender.
Arsenal had been left to lick their wounds after the defensive accidents that left them fatally uncovered.
They had been already with out Riccardo Calafiori, sidelined by an harm suffered towards Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek, whereas William Saliba served a suspension following his dismissal in final weekend’s loss at Bournemouth.
Mikel Arteta‘s facet have now gone two league video games and not using a win, leaving them with solely three victories of their final seven top-flight matches in a serious setback to their hopes of a primary title since 2004.
Saka, again from two video games out with harm, had given Arsenal the proper begin within the ninth minute.
Ben White’s elegant lengthy go despatched Saka surging down the fitting flank earlier than he deftly reduce into the Liverpool space, leaving Andrew Robertson trailing in his wake as he lashed a fierce close-range strike into the roof of the online.
Merino almost gifted Liverpool a direct equaliser when he carelessly let the ball run to Salah, who rifled his shot simply huge from the sting of the realm.
So typically during the last two seasons, Arsenal have been useless ball masters because of their set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, however for as soon as they had been uncovered as Liverpool drew stage within the 18th minute.
Luis Diaz beat Kai Havertz to flick on Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s nook and Van Dijk bought in entrance of Thomas Partey because the Dutch defender stooped to move dwelling from close-range.
However Arsenal’s prowess from set-pieces enabled them to regain the lead within the forty third minute.
Declan Rice‘s teasing free-kick arrowed into the Liverpool space and Merino was completely positioned to thump his header previous Caoimhin Kelleher from six yards.
A prolonged VAR test adopted to substantiate Merino was simply onside because the Spain midfielder celebrated his first aim since his close-season arrival from Actual Sociedad.
Arsenal keeper David Raya plunged to his proper to maintain out Alexis Mac Allister’s header on the ultimate seconds of an exhilarating first half.
Arteta’s already makeshift defence suffered one other blow when Gabriel limped off with a knee harm after a problem from Darwin Nunez early within the second half.
With out their first selection centre-back, Arsenal adopted a extra cautious method and Raya was booked for time-wasting with over 20 minutes to play.
However the Gunners misplaced Timber to an harm within the closing phases as their defensive points reached disaster level and handed Liverpool a lifeline.
With simply 9 minutes left, Arsenal’s under-manned rearguard was ruthlessly uncovered as Alexander-Arnold’s lofted go despatched Nunez away from teenage substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Nunez slipped within the unmarked Salah and he slotted dwelling as Arsenal slumped to the turf in frustration.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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