Big Match Recap: Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool
Report, reaction, stats and takeaways.
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Virgil van Dijk and Alisson combined to gift Arsenal as the Gunners overcame Premier League leaders Liverpool 3-1 to throw the title race wide open.
Having squandered a lead late in the first half with a bit of calamitous defending of their own, Arsenal benefit from two big errors from two of Liverpool’s most experienced players at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
First, it was Martinelli who pounced when, in the 67th minute, a bit of indecision between Van Dijk and Alisson saw the ball break free in front of an open goal.
Liverpool’s hopes of mounting a comeback were dealt a blow after Ibrahima Konate saw red, and Leandro Trossard took full advantage to put the result beyond all doubt.
Arsenal went ahead through Bukayo Saka, who converted on the rebound after Alisson had denied Kai Havertz.
The Gunners were well on top before the break, having eight shots and accumulating 1.94 xG to Liverpool’s 0.1, yet firmly against the run of play, Jurgen Klopp’s visitors — shorn of the injured Mohamed Salah — levelled when Gabriel bundled into his own net following a mix-up between David Raya and William Saliba. At that stage, Liverpool had not even had a shot on target.
Arsenal’s appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears when Havertz took a tumble under pressure from Alexis Mac Allister, yet the home fans were able to celebrate moments later as Van Dijk and Alisson contrived to gift Martinelli.
Liverpool’s frustration was only compounded when Konate received his marching orders for a second bookable offence late on, having cynically dragged down Reiss Nelson, and Trossard swiftly took advantage of the vacated space.
Having spun clear of Harvey Elliott, Trossard was given the time and space to pick his spot, with a slight knick from Van Dijk helping his finish fool the hapless Alisson.
TAKEAWAYS
A BAD DAY AT THE OFFICE
Martinelli has now scored five goals against Liverpool, which makes the Reds his joint-favourite opposition, along with Crystal Palace. Indeed, no player has been directly involved in more Premier League goals against Liverpool since the start of last season than the Brazilian (five).
Not that he had to work particularly hard for his goal, and the calamity duo of Alisson and Van Dijk were back at it for Arsenal’s third.
Van Dijk, whose future at Liverpool is in doubt, was sluggish to close down Trossard, whose shot from a tight angle then squeezed through Alisson’s legs after taking a slight deflection.
Klopp will not throw two players who have helped Liverpool, who were hoping to go eight points clear at the top, to such glory under the bus, but they contributed massively to his team’s downfall.
BACK IN THE THICK OF IT
With Manchester City not back in action until Monday, Mikel Arteta’s team needed a victory to cement themselves as true title contenders.
And frankly, bar that moment of madness at the end of the first half, the Gunners were well in control of this contest.
Liverpool might have the fairytale ending to Klopp’s tenure to chase, but they were firmly second best, with Arsenal racking up 3.52 xG to the Reds’ 0.41.
Sure, the Gunners — who were without Gabriel Jesus — benefitted from some incredible lapses in concentration, but it was about an emphatic a victory as you’re likely to get in the circumstances.
QUICK QUOTES
Declan Rice to Sky Sports:
“We knew the importance of the game today, the small margins in football, whether we’d won or lost, the gap would have become either smaller or bigger. The only focus was to win, to get three points, and from the training through the week it’s been really positive. I think you could feel that.
“We’ve got people like [Jorginho], the skipper, myself, to drive it on. It was a kick in the teeth to concede so late in the first half but we knew we had such a big 45 minutes in our season. One goal couldn’t effect that.
“When you’re competing for titles, every game is so important. We’ve slipped up in some games as of late, but to do it in the way we did [today] — these are the moments we live for, as kids we dream about these moments.”
Virgil van Dijk to Sky Sports
“Eventually a very tough day, definitely. The second goal, I take full responsibility for that, but it’s a big turning point in the game. I should have done better there, and it hurts. It hurts for me and the rest of the team.
“Before that, especially after the break, we were good, we had opportunities, we were dominant. They were becoming a bit more nervous. We were very dominant in the second half and the turning point is my responsibility. I should just try and clear it and I make a split-second, wrong decision. Unfortunately these things happen in football sometimes. That doesn’t take away that it hurts, it’s a tough one. I’ll recover from this, but take the responsibility.”
MATCH STATS
