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Salah’s strike helps Liverpool draw with Arsenal in the Premier League

Posted on by Bobb
Salah’s strike helps Liverpool draw with Arsenal in the Premier League

Mohamed Salah rescued Liverpool as the Egyptian star scored a late equalizer to earn a pulsating 2-2 draw with title rivals Arsenal on Sunday.

Arne Slot’s side were on the verge of only their second defeat this season until Salah scored nine minutes from time at the Emirates Stadium.

Liverpool fell behind to Bukayo Saka’s opener and although Virgil van Dijk equalized, Mikel Merino put Arsenal back in front before the break.

Salah’s eighth goal in 13 games in all competitions this season was helped by Arsenal’s recent run of injuries, with defenders Gabriel Magalhas and Jurrien Timber forced off in the second half.

Manchester City were the real winners on Sunday as the draw in north London ensured they finished the weekend top of the Premier League.

Undefeated City, who beat Southampton 1-0 on Saturday, are one point ahead of second-place Liverpool, while third-placed Arsenal are five points adrift of first place.

It was only the second time Liverpool had failed to win since Slott replaced Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season, starting his reign at Anfield with 12 wins from 13 games in all competitions.

Regardless, Liverpool will be happier with the point, having shown impressive determination to beat rival title contenders twice.

Arsenal were left to lick their wounds after defensive injuries left them mortally vulnerable.

They are already without Riccardo Calafiori, sidelined with an injury picked up against Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek, while William Saliba served a suspension after being sacked following last weekend’s defeat to Bournemouth.

Mikel Arteta’s side have already gone two league games without a win, leaving them with just three wins from their last seven top-flight matches in a major blow to their hopes of a first title since 2004.

PERFECT START SAKI

Saka, back from two games out of injury, gave Arsenal a great start in the ninth minute.

Ben White’s superb long pass saw Saka rush down the right flank before he deftly broke into the Liverpool area, leaving Andrew Robertson to follow as he fired a ferocious shot from close range into the back of the net.

Merino almost gave Liverpool an immediate equalizer when he carelessly passed the ball to Salah, who fired home from just inside the area.

So often in the last two seasons Arsenal have been dead on the ball thanks to their set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, but this time they were exposed as Liverpool equalized in the 18th minute.

Luis Dias beat Kai Havertz to head in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner and Van Dijk found himself in front of Thomas Partey as the Dutch defender stooped to fire home from close range.

But Arsenal’s mastery of set-pieces saw them regain the lead in the 43rd minute.

Declan Rice sent a free-kick into the Liverpool penalty area and Merino was in the perfect position to head past Caoimhin Kelleher from six yards.

A lengthy VAR check followed to confirm Merino was onside as the Spain midfielder celebrated his first goal since his move from Real Sociedad at the end of the season.

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya dived to his right to keep out Alexis McAllister’s header in the final seconds of a thrilling first half.

Arteta’s makeshift defense suffered another blow when Gabriel limped off the field with a knee injury after being challenged by Darwin Nunez early in the second half.

Without their main centre-back, Arsenal took a more cautious approach and Raya was booked for time-wasting with more than 20 minutes to play.

But the Gunners lost Timber to injury in the closing stages as their defensive problems reached crisis point and gave Liverpool a lifeline.

With nine minutes remaining, Arsenal’s undermanned rearguard was ruthlessly exposed when Alexander-Arnold’s high pass picked out Nunez from teenage substitute Miles Lewis-Skelly.

Nunez slipped on an unmarked Salah and headed home as Arsenal collapsed to the turf in despair.