With Manchester City having dropped two points in a scoreless draw against a good Crystal Palace side on Monday night, Liverpool went into the game with Arsenal two days later with the chance to close to within one point of the league leaders.
An enormous night, therefore, for the Reds at the Emirates against one of the league’s in-form outfits that has seen the Gunners rise to fourth and the last, coveted Champions League spot.
Of the 10 league games left in their season, after the Man City clash due on 10 April, this was seen by many as the most difficult challenge facing Liverpool, the one where we would find out the seriousness of the Reds’ title aspirations.
And, indeed, in the first half the magnitude of the occasion seemed to have got to Liverpool, who were nervous, passive and intimidated by Arsenal’s energy and the passion of the home crowd, which, after years of seeing their side in the doldrums, are now optimistic that the successful Wengerian years are on the way back.
Yet, for all Arsenal’s good play in the first half, their chances were few and far between and they had no shots on target. Still, the Gunners seemed more likely to score than Liverpool, for whom the half-crocked Mo Salah, their top goalscorer, only started on the bench. It was a relief for Liverpool to go in at the break with the scores level. Surely, Jurgen Klopp wouldn’t allow his players to get away with similar levels of performance in the second period?
And, indeed, within a minute of the restart, Sadio Mané, latching onto a through ball from Jordan Henderson, slid the ball passed Aaron Ramsdale into the Arsenal goal, only for the linesman to correctly judge the Senegalese striker offside.
The game turned decisively in the 50th minute. A terrible back pass from Thiago Alcantara – Klopp excused the Spaniard after the game by suggesting the skilful midfielder simply couldn’t tolerate to clear the ball haphazardly and was always looking for a team-mate – found itself not at the feet of Alisson Becker but Alexandre Lacazette. The French striker laid the ball to Martin Odegaard, who blasted it goal-wards only for Alisson to make a brilliant block that sent the ball over the bar.
Klopp had seen enough and prepared to bring on Salah and Roberto Firmino.
In the meantime, the lucky Thiago threaded the ball through the eye of a needle into the path of Diogo Jota in the Arsenal area. Despite being wide, the Portuguese got off a hopeful shot, which squeezed passed Ramsdale, not covering his near post properly, to put Liverpool one up.
It was Jota’s last action. Having made a decisive contribution he was, along with Luis Diaz, hooked.
Again, Klopp’s prompt substitutions were just what was required. A goal in front and with Salah and Firmino on – reviving the classic Salah, Firmino, Mané upfront triumvirate – Liverpool never looked back and took complete control of the game.
A second goal came seven minutes later. Great pressing from Firmino ended with Salah and then Andy Robertson having shots blocked by a desperate Arsenal defence.
The industrious Robertson chased his block to the touchline and retrieved the ball after Bukayo Saka had blasted it against him in a vain attempt at a clearance. The Scot dribbled to the goal line, crossed into the path of Firmino who brilliantly flicked the ball passed the despairing Ramsdale. At no point, thereafter, did Liverpool’s lead look in jeopardy, nor did they press significantly for a third goal. The last half hour of the game was, as Liverpool would have wanted, a tame affair.
Next up for Liverpool is an FA Cup quarter final clash away at Championship high-flyers Nottingham Forest, who knocked out Arsenal and holders Leicester in previous rounds.
It won’t be an easy game but even with a Wembley semi-final spot on the line, Klopp is sure to make significant changes to the lineup.
An international break follows, then Liverpool are up against relegation-threatened Watford, a win or draw against the Hornets will put Liverpool on top of the table before Manchester City play against Burnley at Turf Moor.
An enormous night, therefore, for the Reds at the Emirates against one of the league’s in-form outfits that has seen the Gunners rise to fourth and the last, coveted Champions League spot.
Of the 10 league games left in their season, after the Man City clash due on 10 April, this was seen by many as the most difficult challenge facing Liverpool, the one where we would find out the seriousness of the Reds’ title aspirations.
And, indeed, in the first half the magnitude of the occasion seemed to have got to Liverpool, who were nervous, passive and intimidated by Arsenal’s energy and the passion of the home crowd, which, after years of seeing their side in the doldrums, are now optimistic that the successful Wengerian years are on the way back.
Yet, for all Arsenal’s good play in the first half, their chances were few and far between and they had no shots on target. Still, the Gunners seemed more likely to score than Liverpool, for whom the half-crocked Mo Salah, their top goalscorer, only started on the bench. It was a relief for Liverpool to go in at the break with the scores level. Surely, Jurgen Klopp wouldn’t allow his players to get away with similar levels of performance in the second period?
And, indeed, within a minute of the restart, Sadio Mané, latching onto a through ball from Jordan Henderson, slid the ball passed Aaron Ramsdale into the Arsenal goal, only for the linesman to correctly judge the Senegalese striker offside.
The game turned decisively in the 50th minute. A terrible back pass from Thiago Alcantara – Klopp excused the Spaniard after the game by suggesting the skilful midfielder simply couldn’t tolerate to clear the ball haphazardly and was always looking for a team-mate – found itself not at the feet of Alisson Becker but Alexandre Lacazette. The French striker laid the ball to Martin Odegaard, who blasted it goal-wards only for Alisson to make a brilliant block that sent the ball over the bar.
Klopp had seen enough and prepared to bring on Salah and Roberto Firmino.
In the meantime, the lucky Thiago threaded the ball through the eye of a needle into the path of Diogo Jota in the Arsenal area. Despite being wide, the Portuguese got off a hopeful shot, which squeezed passed Ramsdale, not covering his near post properly, to put Liverpool one up.
It was Jota’s last action. Having made a decisive contribution he was, along with Luis Diaz, hooked.
Again, Klopp’s prompt substitutions were just what was required. A goal in front and with Salah and Firmino on – reviving the classic Salah, Firmino, Mané upfront triumvirate – Liverpool never looked back and took complete control of the game.
A second goal came seven minutes later. Great pressing from Firmino ended with Salah and then Andy Robertson having shots blocked by a desperate Arsenal defence.
The industrious Robertson chased his block to the touchline and retrieved the ball after Bukayo Saka had blasted it against him in a vain attempt at a clearance. The Scot dribbled to the goal line, crossed into the path of Firmino who brilliantly flicked the ball passed the despairing Ramsdale. At no point, thereafter, did Liverpool’s lead look in jeopardy, nor did they press significantly for a third goal. The last half hour of the game was, as Liverpool would have wanted, a tame affair.
Next up for Liverpool is an FA Cup quarter final clash away at Championship high-flyers Nottingham Forest, who knocked out Arsenal and holders Leicester in previous rounds.
It won’t be an easy game but even with a Wembley semi-final spot on the line, Klopp is sure to make significant changes to the lineup.
An international break follows, then Liverpool are up against relegation-threatened Watford, a win or draw against the Hornets will put Liverpool on top of the table before Manchester City play against Burnley at Turf Moor.
