Mohamed Salah scored in the 81st minute to rescue a 2-2 draw for Liverpool against Arsenal in a Premier League encounter at the Emirates. Bukayo Saka, absent from Arsenal’s last two games with a hamstring injury, scored the opener after just nine minutes before Virgil van Dijk hauled Liverpool level. Merino then restored his side’s lead, but Salah converted Darwin Nunez’s cross to deny the home side a win.
In the past four league meetings between the heavyweights, Arsenal had opened the scoring within the opening 15 minutes, leaving the visitors on the ropes. Ben White, operating at centre-back in place of the suspended William Saliba, played a long ball over the top of Liverpool’s defence, and in a foot race between Saka and Andy Robertson, there was only one winner. Saka took one touch to control White’s pass before using a second to put himself in position to blast past a helpless Caoimhin Kelleher with his third.
The Reds delivered an emphatic reply just nine minutes later. Luis Diaz shook clear of Kai Havertz at the near post to flick on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner before Van Dijk outmuscled Thomas Partey to head home. Arsenal assumed control with just two minutes of the first half remaining, and Merino headed home his first goal in Arsenal colours.
Arsenal’s injury problems took another twist when Gabriel limped off with a knee problem. Jakub Kiwior replaced the Brazilian to form a first-time partnership with White at the heart of Arsenal’s defense. Liverpool were eager to exploit, with Alexander-Arnold firing two shots from range but both failed. Jurrien Timber was substituted with 15 minutes remaining to provide teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly with only his second Premier League outing.
Arsenal’s untested backline was exposed as Liverpool’s pressure took its toll, and Nunez’s pull-back found Salah, who coolly slotted home. Gabriel Jesus fired down Kelleher’s throat in the 88th minute before the Brazilian had the ball in Liverpool’s net two minutes later.
Seven minutes of stoppage time followed, but both teams had to settle for a draw, with Liverpool likely to be the happier of the two sides.
(Livescore)
