Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool - the fans' verdictpublished at 11:54 28 October
11:54 28 October
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Liverpool.
Here are some of your comments:
Arsenal fans
Bruno: I think we did OK considering how much was at stake, with regards to keeping up with Manchester City and not having a fully fit squad. Two seasons ago, we would have lost this and we had a poor record against the top six teams. Mikel Arteta has built a solid platform and stability which allows us to compete against good teams like Liverpool.
Andy: I was impressed to see that the absence of key players didn't stop the Arsenal way. We played good football and it was a great game to watch. The referee Anthony Taylor did well and kept it flowing, which feels unusual after recent weeks. The home crowd were excellent.
George: Arsenal fought well with a depleted team. Martinelli was responsible for the second goal and he should have been taken off earlier. He seems frightened to take on big defenders like Ibrahima Konate and he is feather light overall.
John: If you want to win the Premier League and you are 2-1 up at home against a very good Liverpool team, find a way to win the game! Yet again Arsenal seemed to run out of ideas! Achilles heel.
Liverpool fans
Tom: Liverpool should be very pleased with an away point against a tough opponent. There are lots of positives to take, with many of the substitutions having an impact. Momentum is a useful tool in a season and this game will only help the confidence continue to grow.
Alison: We were lucky to get a draw. Gabriel going off was a blessing for us. Our defenders need to look at themselves. Virgil van Dijk isn't beyond criticism - he needs to stop strolling around as if he is on holiday. Ibrahima Konate is our rock in defence.
Barry: I think that is an opportunity lost but, overall, a point away at Arsenal could be pivotal in our season. Konate was outstanding at the back and we showed resilience right up until the end. I think Mikel Arteta will be happier than Arne Slot on this occasion, which speaks volumes for our chances lost, but it is another step towards the title.
Mick: Overall, I am disappointed as we had far too many players off form, we never really had control of the game, and showed no urgency to win after getting an equaliser. That is despite all of Arsenal's injury woes! In short, we got away with one there.
Are Arsenal or Liverpool capable of dethroning Man City?published at 11:30 28 October
11:30 28 October
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Radio 5 Live's chief football correspondent John Murray spoke about what we learnt from Arsenal's draw with Liverpool on Sunday: "The question is - after that, are we any wiser about Arsenal and Liverpool's hopes of unseating the champions Manchester City?
"What we do know is that even without Rodri long term, and without Kevin de Bruyne at the moment, and without Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish on Saturday, Manchester City are the Premier League's only remaining unbeaten team this season and lie one point ahead of Liverpool and five ahead of Arsenal with almost a quarter of the league season played.
"We felt we would know more about Liverpool's credentials after Sunday, but I'm not sure we do. However, the feeling was that after the last international window we would find out more what Arne Slot's team are made of and they've come through a testing run of Chelsea at home, Leipzig away and Arsenal away with two wins and a draw.
"For them though, those tests keep coming match after match with two games against Brighton, then Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa, plus Real Madrid and Manchester City not long after that.
"For Arsenal, yes they have been severely hit with absentees in defence and on Sunday they ended up with a back four of Thomas Partey, Ben White, Jakub Kiwior and Myles Lewis-Skelly. None of them are first-choice in those positions, and it was then Liverpool found a way through to make it 2-2.
"There will be an anxious wait now for Mikel Arteta to find the extent of the knee or ankle problem that meant Gabriel could not run and forced him off. What is sure is that Arsenal will have to make do and mend, and with tricky away matches coming at Newcastle and Chelsea, they cannot afford to slip much further behind."
Good point for both sides?published at 09:54 28 October
09:54 28 October
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal fan Joel Beya and Liverpool supporter Neil Atkinson joined BBC Radio 5 Live to reflect on Sunday's 2-2 draw at the Emirates.
"I'm glad we played well considering all of the injuries," said Gunner Beya. "It was entertaining but we want to be winning our home matches. We had such a brilliant first-half but Liverpool were just too resilient.
"I'm not too happy with the point but I'll take it. You don't win the league or lose it in October so I am happy.
"We just have to stick together and do what we can. This is why we also have players that can play in different positions."
Reds' fan Atkinson added: "I'm happy with the point. It was our hardest game of the season so far, so to go there and come back from behind twice shows we are not going anywhere.
"I am happy for Manchester City and Arsenal fans to keep talking about the title race whilst we take points. We are handily placed at the minute."
Gossip: Reds identify potential Alexander-Arnold replacementpublished at 07:42 28 October
07:42 28 October
Paris St-Germain have joined Real Madrid in the race to sign Liverpool's 26-year-old England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external
Liverpool, meanwhile, have enquired about RB Salzburg's 22-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina right-back Amar Dedic, as a potential replacement for Alexander-Arnold. (Caught Offside), external
AC Milan are interested in offering 27-year-old Liverpool and Italy winger Federico Chiesa a route back to Serie A. (Caught Offside), external
'From open play, we weren't dominant at all' - Slotpublished at 19:50 27 October
19:50 27 October
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been speaking to Match of the Day after his side managed to claw back a draw against Arsenal: "Two times behind and it is pleasing to see that we can come back into the game, especially with one day less to recover. To be stronger in second-half than first-half, pleases me.
"You come here to win but maybe a draw was a result we can take with us, especially after the first-half. Coming here, you know that they have many quality players and you can have difficult moments in the game.
"It pleased me to score from a set-piece. We needed that because from open play we weren't dominant at all. They deserved to be up 2-1 at half-time, but the way we showed up in the second-half was impressive."
On Liverpool's second goal: "Two minutes before the second goal, Trent [Alexander-Arnold] was closer to the 18-yard box and he got a bit of criticism for the pass. The good thing about Trent is that he tried again and it led to a great team goal.
"Darwin [Nunez] hasn't played that many games but he has to play every game now because we needed him for a goal. He kept going with the energy.
"In the first 10-15 minutes after half-time, we were better than in the first-half. But bringing on three quality players, they bring a lot of energy and that helped us to get the point."
Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool: Key statspublished at 18:58 27 October
18:58 27 October
Image source, Getty Images
Liverpool are unbeaten away from home across all competitions this season, winning six of their seven games (D1). Arne Slot is the first Liverpool manager to not lose any of his first seven away matches in charge since William Connell in February 1923.
Mohamed Salah has scored 11 goals in 15 Premier League appearances against Arsenal – only Harry Kane (14) and Wayne Rooney (12) have netted more often against the Gunners in the competition.
Meanwhile, 17 of Virgil Van Dijk's 23 goals in the Premier League have been headers and John Terry (27) is now the only defender to have netted more headed goals in the competition than the Liverpool man.
'We take the point and we move on'published at 18:46 27 October
18:46 27 October
Image source, Getty Images
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has been speaking to Sky Sports after drawing with Arsenal: "Listen, it is a very tough place to come. They have created a solid team and they make it difficult for everyone. To come back twice is a good thing. We take the point and we move on."
On the set-piece goals: "They are very solid in set-pieces and I think when I was marked by [Thomas] Partey, he only looked at me. It was a good flick from Lucho [Diaz].
"I try to just be important in every set-piece that we have, and I try to not concede like we did so that is very disappointing."
On the result: "You play here in London, they have the fans behind them and they created some momentum. You have to be ready to fight because you will have some tough moments. One point and we take it."
On his contract situation: "I'm very calm. Let's see what happens towards the end of the season. I'm enjoying my football, physically and mentally.
"Keep enjoying the game because it is a beautiful game that we play and I play."
Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool - send us your thoughts published at 18:31 27 October
Sutton's predictions: Arsenal v Liverpoolpublished at 11:00 27 October
11:00 27 October
Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.
For week nine he takes on rapper Nemzzz, who supports Manchester United.
Sutton's prediction: 0-1
Liverpool are not helped by having to travel back from RB Leipzig on Wednesday, but Arsenal have bigger problems.
Riccardo Calafiori was excellent against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday but he came off after falling awkwardly. I was at the Emirates and my hunch from seeing what happened is that he will not be fit for Sunday.
Arsenal already have William Saliba suspended, which is a massive loss, so they will have to reshuffle at the back.
There are rumours that Jurrien Timber could be fit to play at left-back, but if not and they go with Oleksandr Zinchenko against Mohamed Salah, you would fancy Salah to get the better of him.
Liverpool can exploit all of this and then you think about how Arsenal are missing players in an attacking sense too.
There’s a lot of talk about whether Bukayo Saka might be fit after missing the past two matches, but Martin Odegaard is still out.
Without them, Arsenal were unconvincing in front of goal against Shakhtar. Gabriel Jesus does so many good things for the team, but you would never back him to finish.
So I am basing this prediction on a combination of what I saw against Shakhtar -because Arsenal were really flat all round - all their injury doubts and Saliba’s absence.
If Saliba was playing, I wouldn’t be predicting a Liverpool win, but if Calafiori and Timber are not fit I don’t feel Arsenal have adequate cover.
This would be a huge win for Liverpool, and everyone is saying that, with the run of tough games they have coming up, we will find out more about them soon.
But they have beaten Chelsea and have enough nous and knowledge in their team to keep their good run going.
I know everyone reading this will go for a 1-1 draw, but I don't like to sit on the fence for big games like this, and neither should you.
Nemzzz's prediction: 2-3
I don't like either of these teams. I want to say Arsenal will win but Liverpool are top and playing really well.
The Football News Show: Arsenal v Liverpool previewpublished at 19:14 26 October
19:14 26 October
Media caption,
Sunday's headline event sees table-toppers Liverpool take on an Arsenal side without Wiliam Saliba, as they look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League after defeat to Bournemouth.
Ex-Reds keeper David James and former Premier League striker Jermaine Beckford join The Football News Sshow to discuss the weekend's match at Emirates Stadium.
How are Arsenal fans feeling about facing Liverpool?published at 16:17 26 October
16:17 26 October
Media caption,
Arsenal will be missing a handful of key players for this weekend's visit of Liverpool in the Premier League, including captain Martin Odegaard and centre half William Saliba.
Arsenal supporter Alex Moneypenny tells The Football News Show why he is nervous about facing Arne Slot's side but feels victory could provide the statement win to underline their title credentials.
'So far, it has worked'published at 16:00 26 October
16:00 26 October
Image source, Getty Images
Trent Alexander-Arnold says he is following Arne Slot's tactical instructions to be deployed in different roles this season.
The Liverpool full-back has been heavily involved in Slot's excellent start to life on Merseyside and will be seeking further success when travelling to title contenders Arsenal on Sunday.
"It depends on the game [how he's used] because if you think of Man United away, I played almost like a number 10," he explained. "I was higher up the pitch because of the way they pressed.
"In certain games, I'll be inside because of the way they [the opposition] press – sometimes they press differently. It all varies on how they press.
"The manager will dissect how they press so we can outnumber the way they press. If they press with three, we'll have four players around, so that we can play through them. If they press with a two then there'll be three players, et cetera. It's just about who those players are and where it works best.
"So, wherever the manager tells me to be, I'll be there because he'll tell me that's most likely where you'll get the ball. And if that changes, then he'll tell me during the game, 'You're not getting the ball there, try there and maybe surprise him in there and see if that works'.
"Throughout the game, there are a lot of things going on but if I understand it, then it'll work.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
