Liverpool fought back from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, leaving the Reds happier with the point than their title rivals.
Despite injuries forcing Arsenal to field an unfamiliar back four, they would have felt confident of maintaining control, especially after a strong finish to the first half.
However, they will be disappointed to have let a 2-1 lead slip away.
In the first half, Arsenal effectively targeted Liverpool’s left side, employing tactical moves that put pressure on Virgil van Dijk. Kai Havertz frequently drifted wide to support Bukayo Saka, creating challenges for Liverpool’s defense.
Leandro Trossard also played a key role, exploiting space as a false nine and causing Liverpool problems.
Arsenal’s pressing game further disrupted Liverpool’s rhythm, forcing them into long balls and resulting in lost possession. This made Liverpool appear uneasy on the ball and vulnerable when Arsenal was in possession.
To adjust in the second half, Liverpool manager Arne Slot pushed Trent Alexander-Arnold into a more central role, creating an overload in midfield.
He also dropped his midfielders deeper to facilitate better ball progression. Meanwhile, Arsenal, after Gabriel’s injury, opted to drop back defensively rather than maintain their aggressive pressing.
Liverpool’s plan focused on retaining possession and waiting for Arsenal to lose concentration, but they struggled to break through. Although they enjoyed 63% possession after the break, much of it was in less dangerous areas, with Arsenal content to defend and allow Liverpool to play sideways.
Ultimately, Arsenal’s defensive discipline was tested only a few times, and it was one of those moments that allowed Liverpool to equalize.
Despite not having his best performance, Alexander-Arnold provided the assist for Liverpool’s second goal, while Darwin Nunez’s clever cut-back set up Mohamed Salah, who finished calmly. This highlighted how a momentary lapse in focus can lead to costly consequences in high-stakes matches.
Arsenal will rue the opportunity to secure the win, especially after taking a lead into the second half. Although a draw is a decent result for Liverpool, particularly as they were trailing late in the match, they will be aware that conceding two goals marks a shift in their defensive record, having previously allowed only four in the twelve games since Slot took over.
Looking ahead, both teams will need to address their defensive vulnerabilities, especially with tougher matches on the horizon.
