Arsenal dampens Anfield party with fightback
Arsenal fought back from 2-0 down to salvage a 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League, despite finishing the game with 10 men after Mikel Merino's late sending-off.
Arsenal, still fighting to ensure a second-place finish, gave Liverpool a guard of honour before kick-off and was equally welcoming with its defending early on.
Two goals in the space of 87 seconds had Liverpool cruising, with Cody Gakpo heading in the first in the 20th minute, having been left totally unmarked to meet Andy Robertson's cross at the near post.
The second came after a delightful pass from Mohamed Salah to Dominik Szoboszlai, who squared for Luis Diaz to tap into an empty net.
However, Arsenal came roaring back after half-time, with Gabriel Martinelli glancing Leandro Trossard's cross home to give them hope in the 47th minute.
Arne Slot introduced Trent Alexander-Arnold for his first appearance since announcing he will leave Liverpool in the 67th minute, and his every touch was booed by many of those present at Anfield.
Alexander-Arnold played a part in Arsenal's 70th-minute equaliser, playing Merino onside for a diving header into an empty net, after Alisson pushed Martin Odegaard's long-range strike onto the post.
Merino would not finish the game, though, as, having already been booked, he lunged into two ill-advised challenges on Darwin Nunez and Szoboszlai and received his second yellow card in the 79th minute.
Odegaard fired wide on the break, but Liverpool went closest to a winner, with Robertson's close-range finish chalked off due to Ibrahima Konate's foul on Myles Lewis-Skelly, with the on-field decision to disallow the goal confirmed by the VAR.
The point keeps Mikel Arteta's men 15 behind Liverpool and two clear of their next opponents, Newcastle United, and a victory in that game next Sunday will ensure the Gunners qualify for the Champions League.
