Trent Alexander-Arnold reaction as Liverpool pull a draw with Arsenal: We take the point, but we know it could have been three

Trent Alexander-Arnold was pleased with Liverpool’s struggle in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal but expressed disappointment that they didn’t take all three points.

The Reds bounced back from a two-goal deficit at Anfield to earn a share of the spoils of a thrilling Premier League encounter.

The league leaders were 2-0 up after 28 minutes thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.

But the hosts fought back, Mohamed Salah equalizing just before the break when Alexander-Arnold slotted in Roberto Firmino’s header in the 87th minute.

After the match, the No.66 spoke to Sky Sports to reflect on a thrilling encounter – read on to see what he had to say… At stake…

Intense. A very, very beautiful football match. I think both teams have played very good football at times. We never started out the way we wanted. Two behind at home is never good, but we showed character, got into the game, equalized late on and in the end had a huge chance to win. We take the point, but we know there could have been three.
About what was missing at the beginning of the game.

Probably a little confidence to play, lacked the intensity we wanted, not compact enough as a team. There were a few things but I think towards the end of the first half we started playing the way we wanted and in the second half we definitely did. I think we had the upper hand throughout the second half, limited their chances and could have scored a few goals. Against a team like that you get punished if you don’t start a game fast enough and that happened today.

Speaking of his performance…

Goals have to come from either side or from the centre, so that’s how football works. You play against a quality player, Martinelli, and their forward line is quality everywhere, as is the team, which is full of quality. These are necessarily threats and they aim. But we stayed in the game and tried to put the pressure on, especially towards the end of the second half. We also missed a pin – I had forgotten about that, it was a highlight – but we stayed inside and got it late. It’s just the struggle that we really have.

What the second half can give the team… They are one of the top two teams in the league: them and City. We want to get three points in every game. A little disappointed not to get him today but there were lessons that we can play and have the confidence to play against a quality side like Arsenal. We gave them two good games – we gave them a great game in the Emirates and here again. We have shown on numerous occasions that we can compete with the best in the championship.

Also.. 

Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal: Late Roberto Firmino leveller blows title race wide open, free match coverage and highlights

Free match coverage and highlights as Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus sack Arsenal to come close to a first Anfield win since 2012 before Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino earned a point for Liverpool in the thriller; Salah missed the penalty before Aaron secured Ramsdale’s final heroic point

Roberto Firmino’s late header earned Liverpool a 2-2 draw against leaders Arsenal as the Premier League title race was wide open in a pulsating encounter at Anfield.

The top Gunners looked ready to endure the toughest assessment of their title with a first win at Anfield since 2012 when Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus scored in an imperious opener in the 28th minute.

Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool a lifeline before the break, but his second-half missed penalty looked to have given Arsenal the win they needed to restore their eight-point lead at the top.

But Liverpool’s persistence was rewarded with three minutes remaining when Arsenal nemesis Firmino leveled the game with a header – his 11th Premier League goal against the Gunners.

This is a limited version of the story, so unfortunately this content is not available. The drama continued in a thrilling final as Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale made two sensational saves to deny Salah and Ibrahima Konate the injury-time winners while Arsenal saved a first point at Anfield in seven seasons, this could prove invaluable should their title ambitions come to fruition.

Arsenal remain six points clear at the top of the Premier League and still have their fate in their hands, but the sight of their seven-game winning streak will only comfort champions Manchester City, who have played one less game and host the Gunners at the Premier League’s name Etihad Stadium on April 26.

This is a restricted version of the story, so unfortunately this content is not available. Open full version

Player ratings

Liverpool: Alisson (6), Alexander-Arnold (6), Konaté (7), Van Dijk (6), Robertson (6), Henderson (6), Fabinho (6), Jones (6), Salah (6), Jota (5), Gakpo (5).

Replacements: Thiago (6), Firmino (7), Nunez (6). Arsenal: Ramsdale (8), White (6), Holding (6), Gabriel (7), Zinchenko (6), Partey (6), Xhaka (6), Odegaard (6), Saka (7), Jesus (8 ), Martinelli (8).

Subs: Tierney (N/A), Kiwior (5), Trossard (5).

Man of the match: Aaron Ramsdale.

Arsenal loved the Anfield thriller

With Liverpool losing just once at home all season, the prospect of Arsenal suffering more trouble at Anfield remained, despite the hosts’ inconsistent campaign.

But it took the Gunners eight minutes to ease their nerves when Bukayo Saka’s quick run sparked panic and allowed Martinelli to exploit Liverpool’s more suspicious defense with a skillful low shot into the corner. Team News

Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo returned as Liverpool made five changes after drawing 0-0 at Chelsea.

Bukayo Saka replaced Leandro Trossard in Arsenal’s only substitution after their 4-1 win over Leeds.

Arsenal could have been out of sight before Liverpool had a chance to react to his free start. Oleksandr Zinchenko forced a save from Alisson Becker and Jesus deflected Saka’s cross past the back post before Andy Robertson fired wide past the post.

Arsenal’s dominance was underscored even before the half-hour mark when Jesus got up unmolested in the Liverpool box to head in Martinelli’s superb cross.

Thoroughly overplayed in the opening 40 minutes, Liverpool grabbed a lifeline three minutes before the break when Salah regrouped at the back post after Curtis Jones and Robertson found Jordan Henderson together in the Arsenal area. Ramsdale denied Diogo Jota, while Henderson cleared the rebound, while Arsenal held their lead until half-time, where Liverpool full-back Robertson appeared to have been elbowed in the face after an altercation with linesman Constantine Hatzidakis.

Assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis appears to elbow Andy Robertson in the face at half-time at Anfield.

The incident set Liverpool alive in the second period and seven minutes into the restart they had a chance to equalize when Rob Holding fumbled Jota in the box, but Salah sent his penalty wide just as he had at March Bournemouth.

Ramsdale prevented substitute Darwin Nunez from leveling the game after being released in goal, but were helpless as Firmino headed in Alexander-Arnold’s cross for his 11th goal in all competitions against the Gunners.

And after looking for a big win, it saw Arsenal hold on to a point in the closing stages as Salah and Konate were hampered by superb saves from Ramsdale just as the Anfield Gunners curse threatened to reappear. FPL Stats: Liverpool vs Arsenal

GoalsMartinelli, Jesus, Salah, FirminoAssistsMartinelli, Henderson, Alexander-ArnoldBonus pointsMartinelli (3), Alexander-Arnold (2), Jesus, Firmino (1)

Klopp: Super important point for Arsenal

Jurgen Klopp had mixed feelings after Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal. Klopp was disappointed with the way Liverpool started the game but praised their efforts to get back into the game and were ultimately unsure how they won.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on Sky Sports: “It’s been a bit typical for us this season and for Arsenal too, it was a totally open game. They scored with the first situation and soon after , they scored second and our problems were pretty big but we made them bigger.

“But the reaction was good, in the end it was a spectacular game. How we can’t win it, I don’t know, with the chances we had.

“It’s a point and a good reaction to the two goals we conceded, it’s positive, but I’m in the middle. I have no problem with a draw and for Arsenal it’s a super important point because when you play these kind of draw matches, you have a good chance to be champion.

“You can’t always be super, super, super convincing. They were good, but they agreed they could or should have lost this game today. They haven’t, so the point is probably better for them.”

What do you know about Robertson’s accident? “Nothing. I know it happened, but I didn’t see it because in these situations the pictures probably speak for themselves.”

Arteta: We have to get the point

Mikel Arteta reflected on Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool and felt the Gunners lost control of the game after a good start and said the draw was a fair result.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to Sky Sports: “Wow. A very intense match. We started well, controlled the game and scored the first goal, and the second goal was a great decision. The game was under control until we conceded a very sloppy goal. Then the game changed pace.

“We lost control after half time, lost way too many easy balls and it became a very open and chaotic game which they love. They could have scored three or four goals, missed a penalty and Aaron (Ramsdale) made some great saves. But we had some very good breakaways and could have scored two or three. In the end the result is right.

“The lesson comes from the first 35 minutes and from how we played on a pitch like this and what we did. But we have to keep doing it regardless of the crowd and the result to look for the third and fourth goals.”

On Liverpool’s solid home form: “I haven’t seen anyone this Premier League season, anyone. They’ve beaten all the big teams here and could have been 4-0 against Real Madrid after 20 minutes, so it’s “is extremely difficult. They are there, there will be moments and we took care of it, our goalkeeper played a big role.

“We could have taken three points – if we had played another 15 minutes like we did [at the start] the game would have taken a different turn – but we didn’t and we have to take the point.” “We will go on and try to convince them to play like they did in the first 35 minutes and we will win a lot of games.”

Arsenal can’t crack the Anfield code – Opta Stats

Arsenal are winless in 10 visits to Anfield in the Premier League, drawing three times and losing seven while conceding at least two goals in each game.

Liverpool have lost just one of their last 37 Premier League games at Anfield (S27 U9), that loss to Leeds United in October.

184 goals have been scored in Premier League games between Liverpool and Arsenal, making it the highest scoring game in the history of the competition.

Arsenal have dropped points from a top position for only the third time this season, including against Southampton at St Mary’s and at home to Brentford.