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Liverpool got here from behind to keep away from defeat to league leaders Arsenal, however missed the possibility to high the desk at Christmas, with Trent Alexander-Arnold ruing a late miss.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
Premier League (18), Anfield
December 23, 2023
Targets: Salah 29′; Gabriel 4′
One other worrying damage
Harm to Kostas Tsimikas, when the Greek was barged off the pitch by Bukayo Sako in an intense first half, leaves Liverpool extraordinarily quick at full-back.
Liverpool’s bench, who had been, fairly actually, proper on the incident, knew instantly that Tsimikas wanted to go off and he walked down the tunnel clutching his shoulder earlier than heading instantly to hospital.
With Andy Robertson already sidelined with a dislocated shoulder, Joe Gomez is now the one senior possibility.
Gomez himself was glorious, however he refused an outstanding alternative within the first half, then nearly curled one in within the second half…
As a substitute his aim drought continues – however certainly it’s going to finish quickly!
How wasn’t {that a} penalty?!
Jurgen Klopp had requested for extra from Anfield and positively obtained it.
Whether or not these had been regulars or followers who had been kindly given their tickets by supporters who in some way navigated the ticketing system to donate them because the boss had prompt, the noise was large and boisterous, encouraging and demanding.
There was incredulity on the pitch and within the stands, although, as referee Chris Kavanagh, aided by VAR David Coote, waved away a transparent handball from Martin Odegaard within the field.
Fairly how Coote – who has had a number of incidents with Klopp alongside the years – didn’t even ship the referee to the monitor to evaluate the handball, is unfathomable.
Yet one more farcical determination.
Throughout Sky Sports activities’ broadcast it was speculated that Odegaard was let off as he appeared to slide and try to stability himself with the hand that struck the ball.
However that was seemingly not the case – it was one of many clearest handballs Anfield has seen, and Liverpool had been denied an apparent penalty.
Trent into the document books…however with a expensive miss
At full-time, Trent Alexander-Arnold instantly put his head in his arms. He knew that his missed likelihood with quarter-hour to go was what proved expensive.
Liverpool broke with Mo Salah, and had a five-on-two scenario. Salah performed it to Trent, however quite than slot the ball low previous the ‘keeper he tried to carry it over and the ball hit the bar.
It was the possibility of the sport and Liverpool didn’t actually create one other one thereafter.
The correct-back does, nevertheless, deserve credit score for his help for Salah’s beautiful equaliser, displaying his magnificent propensity to modify play with huge accuracy.
Mo did the remainder, however it makes it 5 objectives or assists in Trent’s final 9 league appearances, whereas he additionally has three assists in two Carabao Cup video games and two assists in three within the Europa League in that point, all courting again to October 26.
Not unhealthy for 2 months’ work.
On a longer-term view, it was Trent’s 57th Premier League help – a joint-record. The participant he’s stage with in historical past is, after all, Robertson.
Konate stands tall in Matip absence
Amid a slew of spectacular performers, the most effective was maybe Ibrahima Konate – a real big on the again all sport, defending the best channel on his personal at instances and ideal nearly all through along with his challenges.
Twice within the first half he merely monstered Gabriel Martinelli off the ball because the Brazilian tried to go round him, whereas different challenges had been merely brilliantly timed to cease the Gunners swarming ahead.
Ibou’s passing out was spectacular, with out being dangerous, whereas he additionally made a extremely sturdy block on Oleksandr Zinchenko’s shot with 10 minutes to play.
Within the absence of Joel Matip, who has been in type this season, the Frenchman’s return to his greatest couldn’t have been higher timed.
Fast turnaround and ignore that league desk for now
There’s no time to dwell on this outcome because the Christmas fixture record leaves no time for it.
We’re straight again into motion on Boxing Day, this time with a visit to Burnley – our first notable away sport shortly after three on the bounce at Anfield, plus that dead-rubber in Belgium.
Burnley have been boosted by wins over Sheffield United and Fulham just lately; whereas we’d hope to be seen as a really totally different class of workforce, neither of these opponents made life straightforward for the Reds and the Clarets can be extra of the identical.
In the end, with a lot nonetheless to play for, high spot shouldn’t actually matter a lot come what may on a single day of the yr (apart from the final one!), and Klopp’s job is solely to focus minds and freshen our bodies throughout the subsequent two days.
Regardless of the end result ended up at Anfield, these groups – and Man City after all – can be ending up sorting the title between them anyway so its nearly profitable and profitable and profitable once more for the Reds, with three trophies very a lot on the road proper now.
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