Arsenal maintained their Premier League lead at Christmas after a thrilling 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.
- Arsenal struck first: Gabriel headed in a free-kick just 4 minutes in, giving the Gunners a dream start.
- Liverpool equalized before halftime: Salah pounced on a long ball from Alexander-Arnold, driving a powerful shot past Raya in the 29th minute.
- Tight second half: Both teams created chances, but neither could find the winner. Alexander-Arnold came closest, hitting the bar late on.
- Points shared: The draw keeps Arsenal top with Liverpool a point behind.
Key details:
- Lively encounter with several yellow cards.
- Liverpool made three substitutions in the second half, Arsenal one.
- Tense finish with both teams seeking the win.
Overall, the match showcased the intense battle for the Premier League title between these two top contenders.
ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL — Arsenal ensured they will sit top of the Premier League on Christmas Day as they played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Liverpool.
Gabriel gave the Gunners a dream start at Anfield when he headed in a Martin Odegaard free-kick with just four minutes on the clock.
But the hosts responded before the break, Mohamed Salah powerfully driving in after being found over the top by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
An engrossing contest followed, with Alexander-Arnold coming closest to winning it for either side when he struck the bar on the break.
However, neither team could find the breakthrough, ensuring Arsenal top the table at Christmas with Liverpool in second just a point behind.
Liverpool vs Arsenal final score
| Fulltime | Goalscorers | |
| LIV | 1 | Salah (29) |
| ARS | 1 | Gabriel (4) |
Lineups:
Liverpool lineup (4-3-3): Alisson (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas — Szoboszlai, Endo, Jones — Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.
Arsenal lineup (4-3-3): Raya (GK) — White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko — Odegaard, Rice, Havertz — Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
Liverpool vs Arsenal updates, highlights, and commentary
FULLTIME: LIVERPOOL 1-1 ARSENAL
The whistle sounds to mark the end of an engrossing clash between two title contenders at Anfield. No team could find the winner in the end but we saw plenty of evidence that these two teams will be engaged in a nip and tuck battle for supremacy across the remainder of the season.
90th min: Five minutes to be added on. Plenty of time for a winner!
89th min: Anfield is raging after Saka catches Endo late but replays show the Englishman slipped and so it looks a good call not to show him a card.
84th min: Salah kicks the ball away in frustration after being pulled up for a foul on Nketiah and earns himself a booking.
81st min: A quick VAR check for a penalty after a coming together between Alexander-Arnold and Havertz but noting comes from it.
78th min: A change for Arsenal now as Nketiah replaces Jesus up top. Can he be the hero?
72nd min: Off the bar!!!
Liverpool nick the ball off Odegaard and hare up the pitch through Salah, who waits until the final moments to pick out the onrushing Alexander-Arnold.
The defender looks all set to take the roof off Anfield but smashes his effort onto the crossbar. He should have scored.
69th min: Luis Diaz is down hurt after what looked like a clash of knees with Bukayo Saka.
Jurgen Klopp is using the break in playing to make three changes, with Darwin Nunez, Harvey Elliott and Ryan Gravenberch entering the fray in place of Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones.
Arsenal, meanwhile, swap out Gabriel Martinelli for Leandro Trossard.
60th min: Zinchenko fires over moments after Saka sends a delicious low cross right across the face of the Liverpool goal.
Arsenal have weathered the storm early in this second half and are starting to threaten again.
54th min: Joe Gomez arrives late into the box to latch onto a Diaz pass and curls a shot inches wide of the far post.
That would have been a good time to get his first ever Liverpool goal.
52nd min: Salah gets away down the right before feeding Diaz but his attempt is a horrible miscue that dribbles wide.
Liverpool looking improved in the early stages of this second half.
49th min: Rice climbs all over Gakpo as he attempts to run towards the Arsenal goal and that'll be another booking.
We have had a few of those today!
KICKOFF: LIVERPOOL RESTART THE GAME
HALFTIME: LIVERPOOL 1-1 ARSENAL
45th min (+3): And now another booking, this time for Kai Havertz for dragging Endo down as he looked to drive forward.
45th min (+2): Wataru Endo now sees yellow for a cynical drag back on Martinelli as he attempts to break.
45th min: Four minutes to be added on at the end of this half.
41st min: The ball falls to Martinelli in the box after Saka bursts in behind but he can only direct his attempt wide of the post.
There may have been an offside in the build-up so it's not clear whether that would have counted.
38th min: Saka cynically trips Jones as he attempts to drive through midfield and sees the game's first yellow card.
34th min: Tsimikas is tripped by Saka as the pair battle for a ball on the touchline and goes bundling into Klopp, knocking the German over.
It's a sore one for Tsimikas, so much so that he has to be replaced by Joe Gomez and leaves the field clutching his shoulder. A blow for the hosts.
29th min: GOAL!!! LIVERPOOL LEVEL IT UP FROM NOWHERE!
The hosts haven't really got going yet but they are somehow back in this game.
Their equaliser comes from Mohamed Salah, who latches onto a sumptuous Trent Alexander-Arnold ball over the top and cuts inside Zinchenko before unleashing a thunderous effort that gives Raya no chance.
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