ARSENAL fought back from two goals down to secure a valuable point at Anfield.
Liverpool tore Mikel Arteta’s side apart in a blistering first 20 minutes after the Gunners wasted early chances.
But they showed their character to fightback and they are now almost certain to get Champions League football.
Here is how SunSport’s Alex Smith rated the Arsenal performances…
David Raya – 7
Liverpool ran riot in the first-half and carved Arsenal apart with ease, it could have been three or four if it was not for two brilliant saves from Raya.
He kept the score down by getting in the way of efforts from Luis Diaz and Curtis Jones. Proved to be the springboard for the Gunners’ comeback.
Ben White – 4
Did not cover himself in glory for Cody Gakpo’s opener. Started too high up the pitch and was never getting back for the ball over the top.
Then switched off and didn’t get back to the right-back position, completely caught out by Liverpool’s quick throw-in and Andy Robertson crossed from acres of space.
Does not look like the same player since returning from injury.
William Saliba – 5
Momentarily switched off for Diaz’s goal and it proved costly.
Strangely stopped tracking the Colombian, perhaps thinking the ball was running through to Raya. But Diaz didn’t stop moving and it was an easy tap-in for him.
Jakub Kiwior – 5
His days at Arsenal appear numbered and he was OK today.
Did get caught out by Liverpool’s direct balls and a tad slow to react for the goals, but his zipped passes were impressive.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 6
Tidy on the ball as usual and has a real knack of winning fouls when under pressure. Incredibly press resistant.
But the teenager needs to work on his one vs one defending if he is to remain at left-back. Booked for one of his classic panic fouls on Mo Salah – gets beaten and then drags the winger back cynically.
Thomas Partey – 3
Was tasked with trying to win the ball back high up the pitch, which he did before him and Leandro Trossard both bizarrely ran away from the ball.
The problem came when Liverpool played through Arsenal’s press or went direct – Partey did not have the speed or energy to get back in transition.
Have seen snails run back faster. Overran by Liverpool’s midfield.
Mikel Merino – 3
Are we sure he is a midfielder and not a striker?
Unconvincing and looked way too slow in the centre of the park. Really struggled with the pace and intensity of the Liverpool team.
Clumsily gave the ball away on the edge of his own box and then committed a bad foul in panic. Correctly red carded.
Showed his poacher’s instinct to follow in after Alisson palmed out Martin Odegaard’s shot.
Martin Odegaard – 7
Tidy in possession with some nice touches and he finally had a shot, which led to Arsenal’s equaliser.
Odegaard plays safe and sideways too often and it took until his team were 2-0 down before he started to play the passes we know he can play. Unlucky not to win it with his late effort.
Bukayo Saka – 6
His open goal miss against PSG may still have been in his mind when a huge chance fell his way when the score was 0-0.
A Nicolas Jover special set-piece created the chance for Saka, which he snatched at and pulled agonisingly wide.
Not as sharp as usual but always a threat when cutting onto his left foot. Liverpool got away with being overly physical with him, unlucky not to win free-kicks.
Leandro Trossard – 5
Was lively. Always looking to get on the ball and make something happen. Nice cross for Martinelli’s header.
But is simply not a striker and was only useful when drifting away from the typical No9 position.
He takes far too many touches, eventually getting crowded out and surrounded by Liverpool players. Frustrating.
Gabriel Martinelli – 7
Was on the scoresheet and works incredibly hard. Looked better when moving centrally in the second-half and made a couple of really nice runs.
Deserves a start down the middle to see what he can do as he is not a title-winning winger as he does not beat his full-back enough.
SUBS:
Riccardo Calafiori (for White, 78 minutes) – 6
Put himself about in the closing stages.
Kieran Tierney (for Trossard, 78 minutes) – 6
Good late tackle on Salah late on.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (for Saka 88 minutes) – 6
Arteta needed a fifth player on the pitch who could play left-back to see out the game.
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