Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead to ʙʟᴏᴡ their chance of a historic triumph at Anfield, and Roberto Firmino’s late equalizer completely changed the complexion of the Premier League title ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ.
Mikel Arteta’s leaders ultimately faltered on a day marked by remarkable ᴅʀᴀᴍᴀ, including Andy Robertson being elbowed by a linesman and Mohamed Salah ducking a penalty in front of The Kop.
Arsenal’s title hopes were dealt a last-minute ʙʟᴏᴡ by Liverpool.
Arsenal and Liverpool faced off in an eventful match at Anfield.
The Gunners held a 2-0 lead after 30 minutes thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, but on a stormy Anfield afternoon, Salah pulled one back and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s spectacular nutmeg set up Firmino’s goal to equalize.
It implied that Liverpool had given their fierce ʀɪᴠᴀʟ Manchester City permission to rejoin the title race.
Because of this outcome, Pep Guardiola’s champions, who are currently six points behind Arsenal, are in control of their own destiny because they have a game in hand and will face the league leaders at the Etihad on April 26.
In a magnificently wild incident, linesman Constantine Hatzidakis elbowed Robertson in the throat after the player had confronted him at halftime following a turbulent end to the first session.
Early in the second half, Salah failed from the penalty spot once more, delaying Liverpool’s bid at a comeback.
Martinelli scored the game’s first goal early on and gave Jesus a lovely assist.
There are three Gabriels in all on Arteta’s squad, but they are undoubtedly not angels as they used dark magic to manipulate the game and try to eat up the clock.
Liverpool’s chances of playing in the Champions League the next season are now all but gone as they are still 12 points out of the top four.
An older squad whose grandeur has been evaporating at an exceptional rate went up against a youthful club with a rapid upward momentum for the majority of the afternoon.
However, despite their ᴅʀᴀᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ decline in performance this year, Klopp’s team had constantly shown that they could raise their game for important domestic home games, with both Manchester United and Newcastle falling at Anfield.
They increased their intensity once more here, but Aaron Ramsalde ultimately stopped them from winning with two outstanding saves in stoppage time.
In ꜰᴀᴄᴛ, since 2016, none of Liverpool’s main domestic opponents have triumphed over them in front of a large crowd at Anfield.
Arsenal thought they won the match after Gabriel Jesus’ goal.
Mohamed Salah missed a penalty for Liverpool and wasted a chance to win.
Their extreme unreliability is highlighted by the ꜰᴀᴄᴛ that their historic 7-0 thrashing of United was one of just two victories in their previous eight games.
Following a moment of silence to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy, the guests swiftly got going.
Martinelli scored the game’s first goal in the eighth minute after skinning Alexander-Arnold in the first few seconds.
Following a rest against Leeds the previous weekend, Bukayo Saka returned to the starting lineup and dribbled inside to feed Martin Odegaard.
The Arsenal captain tried to make a return pass, but it was deflected off Virgil van Dijk, causing ᴄᴏɴꜰᴜsɪᴏɴ in the Liverpool defense and allowing Martinelli to outwit Alexander-Arnold once more and sᴛᴇᴀʟ the ball past Alisson.
Interestingly, it was the first Premier League goal Liverpool have given up at home this season.
Liverpool picked up a major point after Firmino’s equaliser.
Liverpool star Andy Robertson appeared to have been elbowed by the linesman.
The unbelievable incident took place during half-time.
This gave Arsenal more confidence to go for the throat. Alisson and Jesus pushed Oleksandr Zinchenko’s bending long-range shot wide.
Early on, Liverpool attempted to play out from the back but had mixed success while Arsenal were brash and lively.
Ben White lost control and was forced out of position when Robertson dragged a shot wide, but that was a warning shot for Arteta’s team.
Despite taking the ball from Diogo Jota with what, before football tried to abolish that technique, would have been considered a fine tackle, White was immediately booked.
However, Liverpool had been having a good run when Arsenal scored their second goal on a ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛᴇʀᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋ.
When Jesus slipped off Van Dijk and towered over Robertson to head home at the back stick like the true center-forward Guardiola never quite believed him to be, Martinelli was this time’s provider with a magnificent curling center.
Arsenal missed the chance to maintain a safe lead against Manchester City.
After being outpaced by Jesus and colliding with the striker, Van Dijk received a booking shortly after.
Anfield was quiet as Liverpool appeared to be in trouble, but then Granit Xhaka made the decision to elbow Alexander-Arnold. Alexander-Arnold ʜɪᴛ back, and both players were warned.
The Swiss midfielder’s self-defeating action ᴅʀᴀᴍᴀᴛɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ increased the tension, and soon Scouse bile was pouring down on the leaders.
A motivated home team quickly cut the deficit in half.
Jota cut back for Jordan Henderson after receiving a well-placed back heel from Curtis Jones.
Salah seized the opportunity at the back post after the captain appeared to misfire a shot.
The Premier League title race has intensified after Arsenal and Liverpool’s draw.
In the last seconds of the first half, Henderson missed a great opportunity to equalize as Alexander-Arnold began to applaud.
Robertson challenged the referee Hatzidakis at halftime after he elbowed the full-back in the throat.
The field was sᴜᴅᴅᴇɴʟʏ a sʜɪᴛʜᴏʟᴇ, and Arsenal were clearly ꜰʀɪɢʜᴛᴇɴᴇᴅ. Shortly after the restart, replacement center-back Rob Holding, who was widely regarded as Arteta’s weak link, tripped Jota from a corner, and referee Paul Tierney awarded a penalty.
For the second time in as many attempts, Salah missed his penalty ᴋɪᴄᴋ while Klopp opted to watch.
With a strike that required an excellent save from Ramsdale, the Egyptian came close to making amends.
Then, in a one-on-one situation, the Arsenal goalkeeper made a quick save to deny Darwin Nunez.
