(Football news) Three defensive mishaps occurred in North London as Bukayo Saka’s easy finish gave Arsenal the lead before a bizarre own goal by Gabriel Magalhaes gave Jurgen Klopp’s team a way back into the match.
Though Mikel Arteta’s team moved to within two points of the league leaders, Gabriel’s blushes were spared when Gabriel Martinelli restored the hosts’ advantage due to an unusual mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, who were also responsible for an injury-time Leandro Trossard strike.
Both managers were forced into unwanted changes for the mouthwatering encounter, which neither Gabriel Jesus nor Dominik Szoboszlai were passed fit for, while Conor Bradley also missed out for the visitors due to his father’s death.
Kai Havertz and Jorginho were brought into the first XI for the hosts, who started on the front foot and arguably should have been ahead in the 11th minute, as Martinelli left Ibrahima Konate in his wake with a blistering run and crossed for Saka, who could not direct his header on target.
Just a couple of moments later, Liverpool had their first sighter of goal when Alexis Mac Allister slipped in Cody Gakpo – who was being played onside by Arsenal’s full-backs – but the Dutchman dragged his shot wide.
Arsenal were quickly in the ascendancy again, though, and with 14 minutes gone, Odegaard played a delicate pass into Havertz – who lost his one-on-one battle with Alisson – but Saka was there to pick up the pieces and finish into an empty net.
Van Dijk was somewhat at fault for Saka’s opener – being dragged out of position and leaving acres of space for Havertz to run in behind – but it took a crucial block from the Dutchman to deny Odegaard doubling Arsenal’s lead in the 21st minute after Trent Alexander-Arnold was caught in possession.
Arsenal’s urgency went down a tad as the half progressed, but the Gunners were still comfortably stifling a disjointed Liverpool side, who were evidently feeling the absences of Szoboszlai and Darwin Nunez while also being dominated by Declan Rice and the impressive Jorginho in the midfield.
A rare strike from Gabriel from the edge of the box in the 38th minute saw Alisson make a simple save, but the former was then guilty of a farcical own goal at the other end of the field, as Liverpool levelled against the run of play on the stroke of half time.
With a chipped ball over the top, Ryan Gravenberch tried to locate Luis Diaz, and William Saliba, under pressure from the Colombian, attempted to return the ball to David Raya. But the Spaniard froze, and Diaz poked the ball into the mixer, where Gabriel mistakenly used his hand to turn it into his own net.
After Liverpool’s unjustifiable equalizer, neither Raya nor Saliba—who chose not to boot the ball into touch—had covered themselves in glory. Arteta then substituted Jakub Kiwior for Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back as his squad exited for the second half.
