…as Roberto Firmino heads home 87th-minute equaliser in Anfield THRILLER after Mo Salah missed penalty
A brilliant game featuring a comeback from two-down, a missed penalty and two great late saves ended with Arsenal leading Man City by six points.
Manchester City threw down the gauntlet with victory over Southamptonn on Saturday. 24 hours on, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were unable to pick it up and run with it as they let slip a two-goal lead to draw at Anfield. It could have been worse for Arsenal in a game full of controversy as Mo Salah missed a penalty for Jurgen Klopp’s Reds. They lead the table by six points.
Roberto Firmino headed a late equaliser as Liverpool hit back from a two-goal deficit to rescue a 2-2 draw and dent Arsenal’s hopes of laying down a statement of their title-winning credentials at Anfield.
The Gunners were irrepressible at times in the first half and swaggered into a 2-0 lead courtesy of clinical goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus inside the first 28 minutes, Eurosport reports.
Liverpool laboured but blew good opportunities through Andy Robertson and Mo Salah before the Egyptian forward gave the hosts a lifeline with a close-range finish just before the break.
The Merseysiders dominated in the second half and should have levelled on 54 minutes, but Salah rolled a penalty wide of the post.
Arsenal were forced to dig in and defend desperately as Liverpool poured forward, but they couldn’t hang on as substitute Firmino nodded home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross three minutes from time.
Aaron Ramsdale then produced a string of world-class saves in stoppage time to deny the Kop the victory they were baying for.
The result means The Gunners are now six points clear of second-placed Manchester City having played a game more.
Liverpool remain eighth but their hopes of finishing in the Champions League places took another jolt as they are now 12 points adrift of Manchester United in fourth spot.
