LONDON, ENGLAND - Friday, December 22, 2017: Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring the third goal to equalise the score at 3-3 during the FA Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Arsenal 3-3 Liverpool: Christmas cracker at Emirates as top-4 rivals share the spoils

Liverpool and Arsenal played out a stunning 3-3 draw on Friday evening, as the Reds blew a two-goal lead but then salvaged a late draw.

Arsenal 3-3 Liverpool

Premier League, Emirates Stadium
Friday, December 22, 2017

Goals

Coutinho 26′ (assist – Salah)
Salah 52′ (assist – Firmino)
Sanchez 54′ (assist – Bellerin)
Xhaka 56′ (assist – Iwobi)
Ozil 58′ (assist – Lacazette)
Firmino 58′ (assist – Salah)


Jurgen Klopp made two alterations to the team that beat Bournemouth 4-0 away last Sunday, with Emre Can and Sadio Mane coming in for Gini Wijnaldum and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

That meant Liverpool’s much-praised ‘Fab Four’ all started at the Emirates, with Mane under scrutiny a little following some below-par recent displays.

Jordan Henderson joined Can and Coutinho in midfield, while the Reds’ fit first-choice defence of Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren, Ragnar Klavan and Andrew Robertson were all in the team.

Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Alexandre Lacazette were all involved for the hosts—an attacking trio capable of hurting any team in Europe on its day.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, December 10, 2017: Liverpool's Sadio Mane during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton, the 229th Merseyside Derby, at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

  • Fab Four all start at the Emirates
  • Henderson limps off early
  • Coutinho heads home 11th of the season to make it 1-0
  • Three goals in five minutes see Liverpool capitulate
  • Game of the Season contender at the Emirates
  • Firmino equalises in astonishing Premier League clash

The game started at a predictably frenetic pace, and it was Arsenal who arguably settled the quicker of the two sides.

Henderson left the field with just 10 minutes on the clock, with the skipper looking to be hampered by a hamstring problem. James Milner replaced him.

A neat move involving Coutinho and Robertson saw the latter play in a dangerous low cross, but Laurent Koscielny did well to clear the danger.

Firmino was denied by Petr Cech with a back-post header and then narrowly missed the target, as the Reds started to boss proceedings in north London.

In the 26th minute, Liverpool’s good performance paid dividends, as Coutinho looped home a header after Salah’s cross deflected into his path.

It was his 11th goal of the season, and the 16th he has been involved in his last nine away games.

Firmino bent a superb effort just over the bar shortly after, as Klopp’s men looked to go for the kill against the struggling hosts.

Salah had wonderful chance to score his 21st of the campaign after being sent clean through, but Cech made the save. Mane then acrobatically volleyed over from the rebound.

It had been a thrilling first half, but the Reds missed some unbelievable opportunities to double their lead.

LONDON, ENGLAND - Friday, December 22, 2017: Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho Correia celebrates scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Salah was denied by Cech after a blistering breakaway with Mane, as the second period started in similarly relentless fashion.

The Egyptian didn’t have to longer much to find the net, however, as he finished via a deflection to send Liverpool into dreamland.

Frustratingly, Arsenal got a goal back straight away, with Sanchez heading home after a dreadful defensive lapse by Gomez.

It was then 2-2 just minutes later, after Granit Xhaka’s long-range effort flew past the woeful effort of Simon Mignolet.

Groundhog Day for the Reds, as yet more defensive errors proved costly.

A galling slip for Liverpool was complete when Ozil dinked an effort over Mignolet, as an astonishing turnaround was complete.

Firmino made it 3-3 with 20 minutes left, as a quite ridiculous game of football continued, with the ball just making its way into the net after Cech had done his best to keep it out.

The final exchanges were full of tension, tired legs and half-chances, but in the end both Liverpool and Arsenal had to settle for a point apiece.

That’s now 27 goals in the last five meetings. and given the way the match panned out, both Klopp and Arsene Wenger will probably just about take it.


TIA Man of the Match: Roberto Firmino

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Next Match: Swansea City (H) – Premier League – December 26

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