Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal LIVE! Premier League result, match stream, latest updates today
Arsenal's title credentials were given a thorough examination at Anfield as the leaders squandered the chance for a first win since 2012 but emerged just about unscathed from a 2-2 draw that opened the door for rivals Manchester City. Having taken a comfortable 2-0 lead inside half-an-hour through Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, Granit Xhaka's inexplicable decision to clatter into Trent Alexander-Arnold off the ball lit the fuse and turned what had been something of a procession into a fiery encounter.
Mohamed Salah's goal just before the break posed a few questions for Mikel Arteta's side and while they were fortunate the Egypt international missed an early second-half penalty, Roberto Firmino's late equaliser meant the Gunners' lead over City was reduced to six points over the weekend having played a game more.
The pressure looked like it was starting to tell on Arsenal as Salah, twice, and Ibrahima Konate all had chances to snatch a winner late on, but they managed to leave with a vital point Read back all the action at Anfield with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Simon Collings.
Liverpool vs Arsenal latest news
GOAL! Firmino heads home late equalier
PENALTY MISSED! Salah sends it wide
GOAL! Salah pulls one back!
GOAL! Jesus rises on Easter Sunday
GOAL! Martinelli slots home for early lead
Score prediction
Liverpool FC 2 - 2 Arsenal FC
Ramsdale to Sky Sports
18:48 , Alex Young
"I've enjoyed playing today. There's no better games to be playing in than these that mean so much to both teams. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the three points but at least my saves helped us out.
"One point is a lot better than none. We'll digest it over the next few days."
Simon Collings at Anfield
18:36 , Alex Young
“What a bonkers game. Arsenal superb for the first 30 minutes and in control, but then Liverpool roared back and snatched a draw late on.
“Arsenal now six points clear of Man City with eight games to go. City have a game in hand and they both play each other.”
Full-time!
18:30 , Alex Young
96min: The game of the season.
18:29 , Alex Young
95min: Konate simply has to score in the final seconds but Ramsdale saves on the line as he falls back into the goal!
18:23 , Alex Young
91min: Alexander-Arnold fizzes a shot from the edge of the area over the bar.
18:21 , Alex Young
89min: Will we see a winner? Six minutes added on!
GOAL!
18:19 , Alex Young
87min: They've done it! Firmino heads home with three minutes to play!
Alexander-Arnold nutmegging Zinchenko in the build-up was glorious, before standing up a perfect cross.
18:18 , Alex Young
85min: Saka looks to have the edge on the Liverpool defence with a superb twist and turn inside the area to carve out some space, but his cut back is to no one.
18:12 , Alex Young
82min: Nunez has to score!
He runs through on goal with just Ramsdale to beat, but the keeper makes a great save.
18:11 , Alex Young
81min: Arsenal bring on Trossard and Kiwior. Jesus and Odegaard make way.
18:09 , Alex Young
79min: Firmino is on for Fabinho. Klopp is going for this.
18:09 , Alex Young
78min: Simon gets his answer: Trossard is being readied.
Simon Collings at Anfield
18:08 , Alex Young
“About now is when Arteta would throw on Rob Holding and go backs to the wall. He doesn’t have the option today, so it’s intriguing to see what he does.”
18:08 , Alex Young
77min: Firmino being readied.
18:06 , Alex Young
75min: Odegaard tries his luck from distance, but it’s easy for Alisson.
18:05 , Alex Young
74min: Martinelli again gets free down the flank and looks to find Saka across goal, but Alisson juuuuust about cuts out the pass.
18:01 , Alex Young
69min: It feels like this game is being played in Arsenal’s six-yard box. Liverpool winning all the crosses before Arsenal hack the ball clear.
17:58 , Alex Young
65min: Arsenal haven’t done too much this half but Jesus uses all his muscle to release Martinelli down the flank. It comes to nothing but gives Arsenal a reprieve of sorts.
17:51 , Alex Young
60min: Darwin is also on.
17:50 , Alex Young
59min: Thiago is set to come on for Liverpool.
17:48 , Alex Young
57min: Salah denied by Ramsdale!
The forward shapes inside the area, on the right-hand side, and forces a full-stretch stop.
Simon Collings at Anfield
17:46 , Alex Young
“This game is mad. Can see now why Arteta called the Anfield atmosphere a jungle.”
17:45 , Alex Young
54min: Salah MISSES!
What on earth. What a let off for Arsenal!
PENALTY!
17:43 , Alex Young
53min: Holding takes down Jota. So clumsy.
17:40 , Alex Young
48min: Liverpool have come out of the traps very quickly here.
Second half
17:37 , Alex Young
46min: Back under way.
17:36 , Alex Young
Erm... Sky Sports cameras seem to show that one of the linesman elbowing Robertson in the face!
17:29 , Alex Young
A Liverpool player was booked as they went off at half-time. At first glance it looked to be Jones but now may be Robertson.
Half-time!
17:21 , Alex Young
49min: A frantic first half comes to a close.
17:19 , Alex Young
48min: So close to an equaliser!
Jota heads back across goal and Henderson runs onto it but sends his shot over from 18 yards.
What a game.
17:16 , Alex Young
45min: Four minutes added on.
17:15 , Alex Young
44min: The Anfield crowd is pumping and Alexander-Arnold may be the most pumped of the lot.
GOAL!
17:13 , Alex Young
42min: Salah pulls one back!
He’s at the back post to tuck home Henderson's effort after good work by Jota on the left.
Game on!
17:08 , Alex Young
38min: Saka’s delivery is headed clear by Alexander-Arnold, but barely. Liverpool push out at the second attempt.
17:07 , Alex Young
37min: Jesus wins a free kick near the corner flag. Saka is standing over it.
17:05 , Alex Young
34min: Holding sees his pass cut out by Fabinho and Salah is immediately released into the area. This is his bread and butter, but his touch is a tad heavy and Ramsdale is able to make the save.
17:02 , Alex Young
32min: Frustrations evident as Van Dijk just wipes Jesus out for a deserved booking.
GOAL!
17:00 , Alex Young
29min: Jesus heads home! Martinelli with a peach of a cross, my word.
Jesus just eight yards out, unmarked. Easy.
Game over?
16:56 , Alex Young
24min: It’s end to end. Liverpool frantic, Arsenal trying to keep control.
White goes into the book for a foul on Fabinho - it looked harsh - and suddenly Liverpool break as Alexander-Arnold send a fizzing cross forward which Jota can’t get on the end of.
16:51 , Alex Young
20min: Robertson has to score!
White is in no man’s land, which allows the left-back to be released over the top, running into the area but drags his shot wide.
A sitter.
16:50 , Alex Young
19min: Arsenal, on the other hand, look like they are playing in their own back garden.
16:49 , Alex Young
17min: Almost a second for Arsenal as Saka finds Jesus at the back post, ignoring Martinelli in the centre who was perhaps the better option, but the forward can’t direct a shot on target.
Liverpool don’t know what to do.
Simon Collings at Anfield
16:47 , Alex Young
“Gabriel is almost man-marking Salah it seems. Following him when he drops deep and pressing him really high. Arsenal basically playing a back-three out of position.”
16:46 , Alex Young
14min: Liverpool are so nervous, but Salah is trying to make things happen; pinging balls left, right and centre and taking on Arsenal defenders.
Not much coming from it yet.
Simon Collings at Anfield
16:43 , Alex Young
“Huge goal for Arsenal. That should settle them down. The Kop is silenced and the away fans are making themselves heard.”
GOAL!
16:41 , Alex Young
8min: Martinelli slots home after just eight minutes!
Liverpool's defending - not for the first time this season - was non-existent as Arsenal drove into the area. Both Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk and Robertson doing nowhere near enough.
16:37 , Alex Young
5min: First sight of goal of the match and it falls to Gakpo, cutting inside and bending a shot a good five yards wide of Ramsdale’s goal.
16:33 , Alex Young
2min: Early corner for Arsenal after a mistake by Alexander-Arnold, but it comes to nothing.
Kick-off!
16:31 , Alex Young
1min: Here we go!
16:25 , Alex Young
Here come the teams.
Arteta to Sky Sports
16:25 , Alex Young
“We will have to be at our best, be strongly competitive and good in both boxes.
“We know the dynamism and competition that is required when you play here. It’s true that we haven’t won here [for a while] so that’s an opportunity.
“There is a long game for sure so there will be opportunities to change personnel.”
16:21 , Alex Young
The teams are back in their dressing rooms. It’s almost time.
Last time
16:10 , Alex Young
This game last season got a lot of focus over the summer after it was revealed that Mikel Arteta made his squad training at London Colney as ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ blared out of some speakers.
They lost 4-0.
How will they get on this time?
Saka is also back
15:56 , Alex Young
Arsenal have been boosted by the return of their own talisman in Bukayo Saka.
The winger was on the bench for last week’s win over Leeds due to illness and replaces Leandro Trossard in attack.
But William Saliba remains sidelined, despite Mikel Arteta's not-so-subtle hints of a possible return. Mind games, perhaps?
The centre-back has been out since March 16 with a back problem, but is nearing a return.
Salah is back
15:51 , Alex Young
Mohamed Salah is back in the Liverpool team as Jurgen Klopp makes five changes from the draw at Chelsea.
Cody Gakpo, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson also come back in as the Reds go full strength against the title favourites.
Darwin Nunez has dropped to the bench after illness during the week.
Simon Collings checks in
15:41 , Alex Young
Our man is at Anfield.
"An absolutely massive game in the title race."
Will Arsenal today make amends for so many bad results and performances at Anfield and finally win here after 11 years?
Here's @sr_collings.#LIVARS pic.twitter.com/c7nyOZmgNl— Standard Sport (@standardsport) April 9, 2023
Arsenal XI
15:31 , Alex Young
As reported below.
⚫️ 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚡️️
🧱 White at the back
🔙 Saka returns
💪 Jesus in attack
Let’s do this - together! pic.twitter.com/n7mlX1qjQC— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 9, 2023
Liverpool XI
15:31 , Alex Young
Here’s how the hosts look.
The Reds to take on Arsenal 👊#LIVARS
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 9, 2023
15:21 , Alex Young
It sounds like, as expected, Bukayo Saka starts with Leandro Trossard making way.
William Saliba is not involved, despite Mikel Arteta’s not-so-subtle hints on Friday.
15:09 , Alex Young
Jurgen Klopp says Arsenal is a good example of a club benefitting from patience.
"I know people are always asking for time for managers," he told reporters this week. "I really think Mikel deserved each minute he got there when it was not going perfectly well.
"In the beginning, maybe the steps were not big enough for some people and stuff like this and now they are (in first place)."
He added: "Mikel is building this team for a few years now. Obviously the outcome is pretty impressive," said Klopp, who in his seventh season is currently the league's longest-serving manager. "The way they play is fun to watch. It's super lively, really good football, top players on the pitch, good match plans.
"It's not exactly what you can say about us at the moment."
14:53 , Giuseppe Muro
Mikel Arteta has admitted he could never have imagined he would one day be fighting old friend Pep Guardiola for the Premier League title.
Arteta played with Guardiola at Barcelona at the start of his career before later joining the Manchester City manager's coaching staff.
Asked about his relationship with Guardiola and how they have become title rivals ahead of today’s trip to Anfield, Arteta said: "I said before that I have wild dreams but, for sure, I could not imagine that one happening.
"It's a beautiful part of this game, of this industry, that it happens. He is a very close friend, we were together in Barcelona and then we separated our work and our careers. It's just beautiful."
Simon Collings at Anfield
14:47 , Giuseppe Muro
At Anfield for what feels like a huge day in the title race. Arsenal looking for their first PL win here since 2012. pic.twitter.com/gmKuujLcoi
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) April 9, 2023
Stats
14:42 , Giuseppe Muro
- Liverpool have won their last six home league meetings with Arsenal.
- Liverpool are winless in their last three league matches, failing to score in two of them.
- Arsenal have won their last seven league games, the longest winning streak by a Premier League club this season.
- Arsenal have won 14 away games this season, three more than any other Premier League side.
- Aaron Ramsdale could become just the third goalkeeper to reach 10 clean sheets away from home in a Premier League season, emulating Petr Cech and Ederson.
Latest odds
14:36 , Giuseppe Muro
Liverpool to win: 13/8
Draw: 5/2
Arsenal to win: 13/8
Odds via Betfair and subject to change.
How Mikel Arteta transformed Arsenal’s away form
14:30 , Giuseppe Muro
In seasons gone by, a trip to Anfield would be met with a sense of dread by Arsenal.
The Gunners have a miserable record at Liverpool, having not won a Premier League game there since 2012.
This weekend, however, Mikel Arteta’s side should travel optimistic that they can maintain their eight-point lead at the top of the table.
Arsenal boast the best away record in the League this season by some distance. They have taken 34 points from 14 games, which is seven more than the second-best team (Manchester City).
Click here to read how Mikel Arteta transformed their away form.
Premier League title race: How it stands
14:24 , Giuseppe Muro
Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City reduced the gap to Arsenal to five points with a comfortable 4-1 win at Southampton yesterday.
The two title rivals have played the same numbers of games but Arsenal, of course, are looking to re-establish an eight-point lead this afternoon.
Both clubs have nine games left and Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane, working at Anfield today, has said: “This is crunch time for Arsenal now.
“Arsenal have been outstanding this season and if they can get a win today it would be a huge three points. But it is a big ‘if’. The season starts now”.
Prediction
14:18 , Giuseppe Muro
Arsenal can expect to be given a huge test by Liverpool, even despite their problems. Still, they have answered almost every single test thus far.
Arsenal to win 2-1.
Early Liverpool team news
14:12 , Giuseppe Muro
Virgil van Dijk is set to return for Liverpool.
The defender missed Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea due to illness but has recovered and is available for the game at Anfield.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Andy Robertson are all expected to come back into the Liverpool team after starting on the bench against Chelsea.
Liverpool could have Thiago Alcantara available but Luis Diaz is more likely to return from a long-term knee problem against Leeds on April 17.
Early Arsenal team news
14:07 , Giuseppe Muro
Mikel Arteta has hinted at a possible return for William Saliba.
Arteta was cryptic with his team news on Friday afternoon, refusing to name a player who could make a comeback at Anfield.
Saliba has been out since March 16 with a back problem, while Eddie Nketiah has been sidelined since March 1 with an ankle injury.
Pressed on who the player was, Arteta replied simply: “I’m not going to tell you.”
Given Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu are both out for the season with knee injuries, Arteta could only have been referring to Nketiah or Saliba.
How to watch
14:01 , Giuseppe Muro
TV channel: The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.
Live stream: The Sky Go app will provide a live stream to subscribers.
Good afternoon!
13:59 , Giuseppe Muro
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Liverpool vs Arsenal.
This feels like a big one! Arsenal travel to Anfield on a huge afternoon in the Premier League title race. Manchester City closed to within five points of the Gunners with their 4-1 win at Southampton yesterday, now it’s over to them to respond.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 4.30pm BST on Merseyside.