Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool (Oct 27, 2024) Match analysis

Mohamed Salah's late equalizer earned Liverpool a 2-2 draw against rivals Arsenal in an entertaining Premier League game at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, while Gabriel Magalhães limped off the pitch, compounding the Gunners' injury woes.

Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal the lead in the ninth minute when he ran Ben White's ball over the goal line, cut through Andy Robertson and fired past Caoimhín Kelleher at his near post, scoring his 50th goal in the Premier after his return from injury League scored.

Virgil van Dijk, who was perhaps lucky to avoid a card for a malicious kick on Kai Havertz in the opening period, equalized nine minutes later by turning Luis Díaz's shot home from a corner.

“I think coming back twice is a good thing and if we get the point we move on,” Van Dijk told Sky Sports.

Arsenal responded positively and wasted several half-chances, with Saka firing a shot over the bar and Havertz unable to control Gabriel Martinelli's dangerous ball over the goal.

The home fans wanted a penalty just after the half-hour when Ibrahima Konaté brought down Martinelli with a clumsy foul, but referee Anthony Taylor felt he had had enough of the ball and Havertz fired a volley over the ball in the aftermath.

John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

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Mikel Merino scored his first Arsenal goal just before half-time when he parried Declan Rice's free-kick with a header that was ruled offside after a lengthy VAR check.

Liverpool improved after the break and Díaz went close five minutes after the restart after a great run down the touchline.

Gabriel limped off the pitch at the start of the second half and was replaced by Jakub Kiwior as Arsenal suffered another injury to a key player.

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta hopes to soon be able to welcome back captain Martin Ødegaard, who has been out due to injury since September. Arteta said in the matchday program notes that he was close to a return.

The hosts had to withstand considerable pressure at times, but were dangerous on the counterattack as Liverpool left gaps at the back.

Salah leveled the game in the 81st minute with a calm cross from a selfless cross from Darwin Núñez, putting the Egyptian winger eighth on the all-time list and level with Robbie Fowler on 163 Premier League goals.

The momentum seemed to be in Liverpool's favor to secure a comeback victory, but Arsenal had the ball in the net when Havertz decided, even though referee Anthony Taylor had already committed a foul.

The draw leaves Liverpool in second place with 22 points from nine games, one point behind Manchester City, and Arsenal move up to third with 18 points.

Arteta told reporters he was “very disappointed” that his team didn't win, but said: “Very proud of the team, especially given the situation we are going through at the moment.”

He added that he would rather be five points ahead of City than five points behind, although he said: “The team is alive, the team wants it.”

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said he was pleased overall: “Going behind twice against a very strong and good Arsenal team and then getting a point is pleasing.”