Klopp and Wenger shake hands at full-time. Richard Sellers
Richard Sellers
ON THE BALANCE of play, it was a fair result as Liverpool and Arsenal, just like Newcastle and Man United did last night, served up a thrilling Premier League clash.
Say what you like about the quality of the top-flight this season, there can be few arguments over its entertainment value. In the end, the spoils were shared as Joe Allen’s late goal salvaged a point for Liverpool.
It was a game which ebbed and flowed as both sides enjoyed periods of supremacy and fashioned several chances. Liverpool’s unrelenting pressure eventually told as Arsenal cracked in the face of a siege.
From the outset, there was a frenetic pace to the contest and it ultimately set the tone for what was to follow. These sides have a history of producing crackers and you couldn’t help but think back to the 4-4 draw in 2009 when Andrey Arshavin scored all four for the Gunners.
16 - Liverpool v Arsenal has seen more 90th minute or later goals than any other fixture in Premier League history. Drama.
On that occasion too, Liverpool scored a late leveler and credit must be given to Jurgen Klopp and his players for pushing until the very end. The introduction of Christian Benteke changed Liverpool’s method of attack and it paid dividends.
Arsenal will be disappointed to surrender two points at the death but it was also a hugely encouraging performance and result for Arsene Wenger’s men away from home.
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Liverpool need to plug defensive holes
Liverpool were cut open far too easily. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
They started and finished brightly and ultimately deserved their equaliser but Liverpool let themselves down defensively. Frailties at the back continue to undermine all the good they do at the other end and it was all too evident tonight.
After starting on the front foot, Liverpool were pegged back and found themselves behind in the blink of an eye. They were extremely vulnerable from set-pieces and Olivier Giroud’s first goal was an incredibly cheap goal to give away.
Klopp admitted afterwards that his side ‘had big problems’ and they gave Arsenal ‘two easy goals.’ The manager was clearly disappointed with his side’s enduring failure to deal with set-pieces and tendency to shoot themselves in the foot.
The 90 minutes were in fact indicative of Liverpool’s inconsistency this season. Explosive going forward but question marks surrounding the defence.
The German has overseen victories in just two of Liverpool’s last seven in the league as they drop down to ninth.
But there were positives.
There are certainly signs of Klopp beginning to stamp his mark on this side. The high pressing game they deployed from the start set the tempo and although they were unable to maintain it throughout, there is plenty to build on.
Firstly, however, the holes at the back need to be plugged. Whether that’s solved from within or the arrival of a new central defender remains to be seen. Man United are next up on Sunday.
The big man for the big occasion
Giroud was deservedly named man of the match. Richard Sellers
Richard Sellers
Olivier Giroud has now scored 11 goals in as many away games as his brace put Arsenal within minutes of a crucial three points in this hugely unpredictable title race.
The Gunners will be naturally disappointed with the concession of a late goal but considering their start, it wasn’t the worst outcome. Wenger rued missed chances and ‘big decisions’ in his post-match interview but his side showed incredible resolve to bounce back from the early setback.
In previous years an early goal would spark a collapse from the Gunners but this evening they stuck to the task and found a route back into the contest not once, but twice.
They controlled large portions of it and were in the driving seat until the last. Giroud was at the centre of it. The performances of Joel Campbell, Aaron Ramsey and Hector Bellerin deserve a mention but the Frenchman was imperious again tonight.
His second goal was almost Bergkamp-esque as he left Kolo Toure on his backside and fired clinically past the goalkeeper. He was a handful throughout and has developed into the goalscorer, and centre forward, the Gunners have missed in previous campaigns.
They remain top but missed the chance to extend their advantage at the summit. There was frustration from Wenger and it will be exasperated when he hears of Man City’s slip-up.
It was a great night for Leicester, who won it late at Tottenham to move level on points with Arsenal. On to the weekend and more of the same, please.
3 talking points as Liverpool leave it late in another Premier League classic with Arsenal
Another night of high drama in the Premier League
ON THE BALANCE of play, it was a fair result as Liverpool and Arsenal, just like Newcastle and Man United did last night, served up a thrilling Premier League clash.
Say what you like about the quality of the top-flight this season, there can be few arguments over its entertainment value. In the end, the spoils were shared as Joe Allen’s late goal salvaged a point for Liverpool.
It was a game which ebbed and flowed as both sides enjoyed periods of supremacy and fashioned several chances. Liverpool’s unrelenting pressure eventually told as Arsenal cracked in the face of a siege.
From the outset, there was a frenetic pace to the contest and it ultimately set the tone for what was to follow. These sides have a history of producing crackers and you couldn’t help but think back to the 4-4 draw in 2009 when Andrey Arshavin scored all four for the Gunners.
On that occasion too, Liverpool scored a late leveler and credit must be given to Jurgen Klopp and his players for pushing until the very end. The introduction of Christian Benteke changed Liverpool’s method of attack and it paid dividends.
Arsenal will be disappointed to surrender two points at the death but it was also a hugely encouraging performance and result for Arsene Wenger’s men away from home.
Liverpool need to plug defensive holes
They started and finished brightly and ultimately deserved their equaliser but Liverpool let themselves down defensively. Frailties at the back continue to undermine all the good they do at the other end and it was all too evident tonight.
After starting on the front foot, Liverpool were pegged back and found themselves behind in the blink of an eye. They were extremely vulnerable from set-pieces and Olivier Giroud’s first goal was an incredibly cheap goal to give away.
Klopp admitted afterwards that his side ‘had big problems’ and they gave Arsenal ‘two easy goals.’ The manager was clearly disappointed with his side’s enduring failure to deal with set-pieces and tendency to shoot themselves in the foot.
The 90 minutes were in fact indicative of Liverpool’s inconsistency this season. Explosive going forward but question marks surrounding the defence.
The German has overseen victories in just two of Liverpool’s last seven in the league as they drop down to ninth.
But there were positives.
There are certainly signs of Klopp beginning to stamp his mark on this side. The high pressing game they deployed from the start set the tempo and although they were unable to maintain it throughout, there is plenty to build on.
Firstly, however, the holes at the back need to be plugged. Whether that’s solved from within or the arrival of a new central defender remains to be seen. Man United are next up on Sunday.
The big man for the big occasion
Olivier Giroud has now scored 11 goals in as many away games as his brace put Arsenal within minutes of a crucial three points in this hugely unpredictable title race.
The Gunners will be naturally disappointed with the concession of a late goal but considering their start, it wasn’t the worst outcome. Wenger rued missed chances and ‘big decisions’ in his post-match interview but his side showed incredible resolve to bounce back from the early setback.
In previous years an early goal would spark a collapse from the Gunners but this evening they stuck to the task and found a route back into the contest not once, but twice.
They controlled large portions of it and were in the driving seat until the last. Giroud was at the centre of it. The performances of Joel Campbell, Aaron Ramsey and Hector Bellerin deserve a mention but the Frenchman was imperious again tonight.
His second goal was almost Bergkamp-esque as he left Kolo Toure on his backside and fired clinically past the goalkeeper. He was a handful throughout and has developed into the goalscorer, and centre forward, the Gunners have missed in previous campaigns.
They remain top but missed the chance to extend their advantage at the summit. There was frustration from Wenger and it will be exasperated when he hears of Man City’s slip-up.
It was a great night for Leicester, who won it late at Tottenham to move level on points with Arsenal. On to the weekend and more of the same, please.
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