LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 9, 2023: Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates after scoring the second goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal: Firmino the hero in wild Anfield draw

There were incredible scenes at Anfield on Sunday, as Liverpool went down 2-0 only to battle back for a 2-2 draw with Roberto Firmino the late hero.

Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

Premier League (29), Anfield
April 9, 2023

Goals

Martinelli 8′
Jesus 28′
Salah 42′ (assist – Henderson)
Salah missed pen 54′
Firmino 87′ (assist – Alexander-Arnold)


It took Arsenal just eight minutes to break the deadlock at Anfield, with Bukayo Saka driving past an Andy Robertson slip, and after Virgil van Dijk‘s deflected clearance, Gabriel Martinelli was on hand to tuck it home.

Having only won three of their previous 18 after conceding first the odds were against Liverpool, with a comedy of errors summing up their malaise.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 9, 2023: Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli scores the opening goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

A smart move gave the Reds a chance as Fabinho lofted the ball over the top, but running onto it was Robertson, who shanked his shot wide.

The decision to play Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield and vacate the right-back role allowed Arsenal to exploit the space, and it was Martinelli’s cross from the left that allowed Gabriel Jesus to head in.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 9, 2023: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Hope sprang, though, from a well-worked move led by Curtis Jones, whose flick found Diogo Jota and, after a pullback from the No. 20, Jordan Henderson‘s poke diverted into the path of Mo Salah for the finish.

Arsenal looked to disrupt the game whenever possible, to a cacophony of boos from the Kop, with limp referee Paul Tierney falling for it every time.

HT: Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 9, 2023: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah reacts as he misses a penalty kick during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

An elbow from linesman Constantine Hatzidakis on Robertson at half-time – which got the left-back booked, somehow – gave Liverpool the motivation to fight back into the tie.

They almost levelled within seven minutes of the restart, with Jota brought down in the box, but Salah stepped up and blazed a second consecutive penalty wide.

A double change on the hour saw Klopp finally take a proactive approach with his substitutions, sending Thiago and Darwin Nunez on for Jones and Jota.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 9, 2023: Liverpool's Roberto Firmino scores the second goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The atmosphere was fervent, with the Kop jeering every Arsenal touch and roaring Liverpool on whenever they reclaimed the ball.

There were big chances wasted by Salah and Nunez, leaving it up to old reliable to send Anfield in rhapsody, Firmino rising high to head past Aaron Ramsdale and make it 2-2.

Liverpool could – and should – have won it late on, but heroics from Ramsdale denied Salah and Ibrahima Konate with the two sides left to share the points.


TIA Man of the Match: Roberto Firmino

Referee: Paul Tierney

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho (Firmino 78′), Henderson, Jones (Thiago 60′); Salah, Jota (Nunez 60′), Gakpo

Subs not used: Kelleher, Gomez, Matip, Tsimikas, Milner, Elliott

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard (Kiwior 80′), Martinelli; Jesus (Trossard 79′)

Subs not used: Turner, Tierney, Walters, Jorginho, Smith Rowe, Vieira, Nelson

Next match: Leeds (A) – Premier League – Monday, April 17, 8pm (BST)