Liverpool headed into the game with very little to play for this season as Champions League football is all but out of reach.
As for Arsenal, they are still on course to lift the Premier League for the first time since 2004.
However, after Manchester City beat Southampton 4-1 on Saturday, the gap between the pair was reduced to just five points. And as Manchester City have a game in hand and still need to play Arsenal this season, a loss vs Liverpool could have proven catastrophic to the Gunners’ title hopes.
When all was said and done at Anfield, the points were shared.
Arsenal started the brighter of the two sides with Gabriel Martinelli causing Trent Alexander-Arnold issues. However, the right-back was also playing as a midfielder when Liverpool had possession in a similar role to Oleksandr Zinchenko and Joao Cancelo when he was at Manchester City.
But it was Arsenal who took the lead just eight minutes in. Martin Odegaard’s pass to Bukayo Saka was deflected to Gabriel Martinelli by Virgil van Dijk before the Brazilian stabbed an effort past Alisson.
MARTINELLI! 🇧🇷
What a start! Arsenal LEAD at Anfield! 💪 pic.twitter.com/oZXQzciHkf
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 9, 2023
Liverpool had a good chance to equalise a few moments later when a Fabinho ball found Andy Robertson free in the box but he put his shot wide.
Arsenal eventually got their second of the day shortly before the half-hour mark. Martinelli picks up the ball out wide and is not tracked by Trent before crossing to a free Gabriel Jesus who headed in.
GABRIEL JESUS DOUBLES ARSENAL’S LEAD! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7PXqE2GZgU
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 9, 2023
But just when it looked like Arsenal were set to run away with the game, a loose ball fell to Mohamed Salah in the Arsenal box, which the Egyptian poked past Aaron Ramsdale.
Liverpool sprang to life after that goal but could not add a second before the break. However, Rob Holding then gave away a stupid penalty six minutes into the second half by fouling Diogo Jota, but Salah missed.
Salah nearly redeemed himself moments later but Ramsdale made a good save to keep it at 2-1. Liverpool went on to dominate the majority of the second half but could not find a second goal. Mikel Arteta then took off Martin Odegaard for Jakub Kiwior as he looked to see out the final 10 minutes.
Seconds after that change, Salah slipped in Darwin Nunez who should have scored but his shot was poor.
Gabriel came close to making it 3-1 from a corner late on but he put his free header straight at Ramsdale. Liverpool made Arsenal pay for their poor second half as Firmino headed in a Trent cross 87 minutes in.
Salah should have won the game in injury time but he put an effort over the crossbar before then being denied shortly after by Ramsdale.
📰 Table Of Contents
Player ratings
Liverpool
- GK: Alisson (5.5)
- RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (5.5)
- CB: Virgil van Dijk (5)
- CB: Ibrahima Konate (6)
- LB: Andy Robertson (6)
- CDM: Fabinho (6)
- CM: Curtis Jones (5)
- CM: Jordan Henderson (5.5)
- RW: Mohamed Salah (6)
- ST: Cody Gakpo (5.5)
- LW: Diogo Jota (5.5)
Substitutes
- Thiago (5.5)
- Darwin Nunez (5)
- Roberto Firmino (6)
Arsenal
- GK: Aaron Ramsdale (7.5)
- RB: Ben White (6)
- CB: Rob Holding (4.5)
- CB: Gabriel (5.5)
- LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko (
- CDM: Thomas Partey (6)
- CDM: Granit Xhaka (5)
- CAM: Martin Odegaard (6)
- RW: Bukayo Saka (6)
- LW: Gabriel Jesus (6.5)
- ST: Gabriel Martinelli (7)
Substitutes
- Leandro Trossard (4)
- Jakub Kiwior (4)
- Kieran Tierney (N/A)
Match reaction
Trent popping up in midfield? Sign of things to come? #LFC
— Charlotte Coates (@CACoates96) April 9, 2023
What a great start for Arsenal but Liverpool so bad defensively again. #LIVARS
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) April 9, 2023
Van Dijk assist and Trent trying to hold Martinelli’s hand.
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) April 9, 2023
Gabriel Martinelli has now scored more goals against Liverpool than any other club in his senior career. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YzDEJ0RH6b
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 9, 2023
Gabriel Martinelli has now scored more league goals this season (14) than any other Brazilian player in Europe’s top five divisions.
Baller. 🇧🇷
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) April 9, 2023
How the F was that a yellow card for Ben White? Referee couldn’t wait to give that despite getting the ball completely. #LIVARS
— HonestGunner (@GatlingGunz) April 9, 2023
Another Treant mistake, I dont know how Klopp had this much patience 😂#LIVARS #ArsLiv pic.twitter.com/lmMDTfBPsP
— James (@JMSCTNY24) April 9, 2023
trent doesnt follow his winger…. and then vvd…. seriously if we finish top 8 it will be a miracle
— José enrique (@Jesanchez3) April 9, 2023
25 – Gabriel Martinelli’s opener was his 25th goal in the Premier League, joining teammate Gabriel Jesus as the only other South American player to reach this tally while 21 or younger. Samba. pic.twitter.com/ecfVNF6TIo
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 9, 2023
Mohamed Salah against big 6
48 GOALS
16 ASSISTSWTF man, this is insane pic.twitter.com/U9aGprSMZ8
— Dr Yash (@YashRMFC) April 9, 2023
This was all of our undoing, we keep giving Anfield opportunities to rise
— Rimedi (@r1medi) April 9, 2023
What is wrong with Salah and a penalty recently, it used to be a gimme 😭
— Liam 💫 (@LiamMLFC) April 9, 2023
RAMSDALE AGAIN!!!!! WHAT A PERFORMANCE
— Renato (@rehnato) April 9, 2023
