Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool (Oct 27, 2024) Match analysis

Mohamed Salah's late equalizer earned Liverpool a 2-2 draw against rivals Arsenal in an entertaining Premier League game at the Emirates on Sunday, while Gabriel Magalhães limped off the pitch, compounding the Gunners' injury woes.

Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal the lead in the ninth minute when he ran Ben White's ball over the goal line, cut through Andy Robertson and fired past Caoimhín Kelleher at his near post, scoring his 50th goal in the Premier after his return from injury League scored.

Virgil van Dijk, who was perhaps lucky to avoid a card for a malicious kick on Kai Havertz in the opening period, equalized nine minutes later by turning Luis Díaz's shot home from a corner.

Arsenal responded positively and wasted several half-chances, with Saka firing a shot over the bar and Havertz unable to control Gabriel Martinelli's dangerous ball over the goal.

The home fans wanted a penalty just after the half-hour when Ibrahima Konaté brought down Martinelli with a clumsy foul, but referee Anthony Taylor felt he had had enough of the ball and Havertz fired a volley over the ball in the aftermath.

John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

---

Mikel Merino scored his first Arsenal goal just before half-time when he parried Declan Rice's free-kick with a header that was ruled offside after a lengthy VAR check.

Liverpool improved after the break and Díaz went close five minutes after the restart after a great run down the touchline.

Gabriel limped off the pitch at the start of the second half and was replaced by Jakub Kiwior as Arsenal suffered another injury to a key player.

The hosts had to withstand considerable pressure at times, but were dangerous on the counterattack as Liverpool left gaps at the back.

Salah leveled the game in the 81st minute with a calm cross from a selfless cross from Darwin Núñez, bringing the Egyptian winger level with Robbie Fowler, who has scored 163 Premier League goals in his career.

The momentum seemed to be in Liverpool's favor to secure a comeback victory, but Arsenal had the ball in the net when Havertz decided, even though referee Anthony Taylor had already committed a foul.

The draw leaves Liverpool in second place with 22 points from nine games, one point behind Manchester City, and Arsenal move up to third with 18 points.