Arsenal and Liverpool played out a Christmas cracker at Anfield as an enthralling encounter ended in a 1-1 draw.
Gabriel Magalhaes put the Gunners in the driving seat with an early header but the Reds hit back through Mo Salah’s fine solo strike before both sides went in search of a winner.
While clear-cut chances were few and far between, Gabriel Martinelli and Trent Alexander-Arnold won’t want to revisit their misses as the game flowed from end to end.
Here’s what the managers, players, stattos and pundits had to say at full time…
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Arteta on the match…
An unbelievable game of football. One of the most intense, hectic games that I have witnessed in 20 years in this league. I’m just really proud of the team because they really were at their best today. We have raised the level to the level that we needed to compete with them and have the chance to win it. What the boys have done in this ground today is phenomenal.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Jurgen Klopp on the match…
Oh my god, how strong are they? The good news is we are good as well. In a game like this, going down early to a set piece is tough, especially with the speed of Arsenal. But the game we played, how we started second half we should have scored. We pass instead of shoot, four or five times we do that, it’s a lesson. But generally, the game is great.
Source: BBC Sport
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
Arsenal didn't attempt a single shot on target after Gabriel Magalhães' fourth-minute strike, but they won't really care as they go into Christmas top of the league following this great point at Anfield. pic.twitter.com/ps3v0XRLJ5
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) December 23, 2023
William Saliba on the point…
It’s a good result, it’s tough to play here. We cannot say we are so happy to take a draw but it’s a point and we take it. they had the chance to win the game, we had the chance to win the game as well, it was 50-50 today. We’re happy, we stay at the top and hopefully we get three points in the next game. We know it’s tight, every team is close, we have to keep going, keep winning and we have to hate losing.
Source: Viaplay Fotball
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Arteta on Declan Rice…
He’s phenomenal. He was outstanding today again, the balance and the personality and the presence he gives us in the middle of the park is something different class.
Source: Viaplay Fotball
1 – @Arsenal will start Christmas Day top of the English top-flight table in consecutive years for just a second time, after doing so in 1932 and 1933. Stars. pic.twitter.com/N90qBqcOsP
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 23, 2023
Arteta on why the game was so hectic…
They are the best team in the world at doing that. The ball goes out of play, you have a good chance with Gabriel Jesus, then in five seconds the ball is in your box. Look what happens in the corner [we had], you have a corner, set-piece, we discussed that, great, big chance to score and in six seconds, [it’s] five [players] on one. But they are so good and they’ve been doing it for many years and they are exceptional. It’s a great team, they are a great team.
Source: Sky Sports
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Virgil van Dijk on an intense game…
Very good game to play in. We had our moments, them too as they are a good team. An intense game for both sides, we got one point, but now not much time to dwell on it so much. City are a very good team as well, but Arsenal will be up there, we hope to be up there. We will really push them.
Source: BBC Sport
Arsenal have scored more headed goals than any other team in the Premier League.#ARSLIV
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) December 23, 2023
Bukayo Saka on Arsenal being stronger defensively compared to last season…
Yeah, I’d say 100 per cent. There was times today where you saw how great our defence is, our midfielders were helping to defend us, but yeah, the centre-back pairing, Willy, Gabby, I thought they were really good today. Special shout-out to them, they were top. They dealt with the threat Liverpool had loads of times, so that did help us out a lot.
Source: Sky Sports
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Gabriel Magalhaes on the match and his goal…
It was a really intense game. It’s so hard to play here against a big team. Of course we wanted three points, we came back with one point, but the team played very well and yes, we need to relax now and come back strong. I’m so happy to score my first goal this season and help the team, and thank the fans for their support for this.
Source: Arsenal.com
11 – Gabriel Magalhães is the highest-scoring defender in the Premier League since he joined Arsenal in September 2020 (11 goals). His goal is Arsenal's earliest in the Premier League at Anfield (3:27). Leader. pic.twitter.com/1075Jw2ApC
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 23, 2023
Theo Walcott on Liverpool claims for a penalty against Martin Odegaard…
I think he’s very lucky, but I can see why it’s not given.
Source: Sky Sports
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Jurgen Klopp on the Odegaard handball incident…
Yes, I have seen it. I am pretty sure someone will come to explain it to me why it was not a handball but I don’t know how?
Source: Sky Sports
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William Saliba on whether it was a penalty against Odegaard…
Yeah, of course, of course. It was a penalty, but I’m not the ref!
Source: Viaplay Fotball
"I'm amazed that one wasn't given" ❌
Jamie Redknapp & Theo Walcott discuss Liverpool's potential penalty against Arsenal. pic.twitter.com/QgjTVLKSWn
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 23, 2023
Jamie Redknapp on the result for Arsenal…
This is a fantastic point for them, no doubt.
Source: Sky Sports
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Arteta on David Raya’s performance…
He was really composed and he played at a height that allowed us a lot of dominance and not having to defend other situations that maybe were necessary in the box. I think he was really good today.
Source: Sky Sports
That was a master class from the four centre backs on show today 🔥#LIVARS
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) December 23, 2023
Arteta on where Arsenal can improve…
There are certain things that we have to improve, especially killing games with the amount of dominance that we are showing, sometimes the results have been too close and we’ve had to dig in the last few minutes to maintain results. That’s it, nothing else. We’ve sustained that level with five key players out, we lost five very, very, very important players for us, and the team is still showing that [high level], so that’s something we have to maintain, the quality in the squad and how willing they are to do what they do every single day.
Source: Post-game press conference (via Hayters)
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Ian Wright on taking a point from Anfield…
I’ll take that point in the way we played today. I thought Declan Rice was magnificent. I didn’t feel we had a lot of fluidity in the game. I thought we defended well. Liverpool could’ve and maybe should’ve scored that goal but going to Anfield and taking a point is always going to be a good point.
Source: Premier League Productions
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For the second season in a row the team have gone to Anfield and given Liverpool a huge scare. Gone are the days Anfield was crossed off as 3 points lost.
Liverpool knew they were in a game tonight, unlike against Man U-shited. We do need to improve on the final action when we get in the opponents box. I think Martinelli needs a spell out the team, he is struggling.
Ya all fair and wrapped up very good point, keeps us on our toes and the facts remain we need a no9 and fullback cover and midfield too so if we only get one of them positions covered in Jan it’s a big help to a very good team.
Thought Raya and Kai were very good in addition to the super consistent lads we have . Gabi mart will learn from this but Jesus needs to settle himself and show more authority , needs to be getting thr odd tap in too but maybe he s just not that player
I have two suggestions for how we can improve :
We need to offload Haverts and get a quality player in.
Secondly we should move Zinchenko to a coaching role for his battling enthusiasm and get someone who is actually a good left back. Other than that we have the makings of title winning team.
Havertz was spot on
Agree
Oof, glad you’re not the manager and we have a competent one instead!
How is life treating you these days?
Nice one centurion. LOL
Hahaha..well done peedee07, 205 suckers giving you a thumbs down is a worthy score..
Timber. We signed Timber. Who is literally zinchenko but better st defending!
A point at Anfield is good any time for me. But……
It was obvious Salah v Zinch would be a problem for us and should have been catered for.
VAR on our side for a change – just imagine talk here if it had been at other end of pitch.
Imagine our two CBs with their two full backs.
VAR? that’s the thing that has been ” not given” in all games this season. Ball bounces and your arm is not above your shoulder. Against Villa ball comes off the defenders hand before marginally contracting Havertz hand and I understood the ball to hand and handball as per new rules. Same way I understood the ball to hand on Ø.would I have given it? Yes. I’d give both
This was totally a handball for mine too. I honestly have no fucking idea what a handball is. I’ve been trying for years to advocate for a simple rule on handballs: if the ball hits an arm/hand extended away from the body it is a handball (that includes if the ball bounce of your leg onto your extended arm), if the ball strikes an arm/hand that is held to the body, it is not a handball. Simple. All the grey area and confusion and bias is removed. End of story. There will be lots more handballs and penalties, particularly until… Read more »
2 penalties not given.
True, Tomiyaso silenced Salah last time out. But remember people, soon we will have Tomiyaso and Timber back. Our defence is equipped enough. I think the gaffers should start testing Kiwior against people of Salah’s quality as well.
Our two center backs yes, only one of their full backs, Trent inverted. But well we already have that in Zinny. Or almost.
In our games against high scoring teams Newcastle, Villa and Liverpool on the road we’ve held them all to one goal each (and the Liverpool goal was certainly controversial) and held Man City scoreless at home. If we can just start to put some more goals away we could run away with the league with the defense we have. Really impressive how we dealt with the intensity of the crowd and stood toe to toe with them all match.
think you meant Newcastle goal but agree with your sentiment.
happy holidays, table toppers
Yank here. Ex-gunner on commentary on US coverage. Lee f-cking Dixon. Constant apologies for dirty play by LPool and minimizes any good play by the lads. Just a jealous old has been!
He was truly a terrible commentator for this game. Every foul by Arsenal was a yellow and Liverpool fouls which should have been yellows were not given. The crowd influencing the ref was painfully obvious to see but no comment from Lee. Don’t look forward to his punditry on Arsenal games.
Has Tierney got a January recall option on his loan deal ?, as much as i love Zinny it wasn’t his best game, overall we rode our luck and had enough chances to win at a difficult fixture for us, Willy & Gabi was immense for us tonight, also nice we are not talking about Raya, for once we got the rub of the green VAR wise on the penalty not given, thought the ref done well even if he gave us 5 yellows, overall a point gained than 2 lost, still top of the league with all games to… Read more »
KT is a really good player, but his technique isn’t good enough for the speed of our passing game. He’d just turn the ball over way too many times.
Apart from that I agree. And it should have been a tie on yellow cards to, not 2-5. Lot’s of tactical fouling and going through the backs of us from the scousers.
Liverpool’s press is just outstanding. They press from behind too and it caught Zinny and MO a couple of times. I even got nervous when Rice had the ball a couple of times ( silly me). We coped better than everyone else because our guys are getting so good at moving and creating angles but they do press well.
I think our press is just a notch below. It was funny to see Saliba up almost pressing Allisson at one point. Our press breaking is the best though at this point.
So your point is their press is the best ever but ours is the best ever? Great analysis,
Press & press breaking… had to read it twice 🙂
yes, that was the point I was making. Sorry it was made that well.
1 Point gained than 2 lost, we got lucky with Ode’s handball and even luckier with lthe 5 v 1 situation, that said after all Klopp was saying about how shit his supporters are we hit the ground running and could of been 2 nil up inside 5 minutes, not going to dwell on Zinnys performance but has Tierney a recall option on his loan deal ? could of lost this game but could of won it also, Kanote played Martinelli off the park, Jesus should of done better with his chances also, all in all we are a tough… Read more »
Yeah, but they are getting away with way too much at Anfield that would’ve been fouls in other grounds.
The one stat that isn’t mentioned anywhere is yellow cards. We got one every time we broke up a counter attack. Liverpool got 2 all game. Shambles from the ref baying to home crowd pressure
Not a shambles. maybe one or two harsh yellows for us but completely normal and acceptable refereeing.
Enzo could have had 5 yellow cards if he had arsenal shirt
Nah mate, go have a rewatch.
thought Saka’s yellow was harsh. He was at least attempting to get the ball and used no arms or hands to slow down the counterattack.
If we take 3 points next game its a great return. No shame in a point at anfield. Liverpool did not dominate us. Instead they were predictable and thus relatively easy to defend against. The ball over the top to salah and cody is so boring.
Yes its a good result for city but we focus on our games. Pool took 2 points at home against united and us. We have taken 4.
Can we also say what VVD did to try to get Saka a second yellow. Shows you how much help they needed from the ref.
Massive point. Second season in a row our left back beaten for what was the equalizer. But no shots on target after the 4th minute goal? Team needs to be more clinical to take pressure off the defense. Need more goals.
Good performance against a good Liverpool side. We could have tested Alison more and this was definitely not the strongest Liverpool side we have faced. This was our chance to beat them but a point away is not a bad result. I honestly feel if we had Tomi playing at Left Back we would have won this game. Zinchenko is great at LB against teams outside the top 6, but with the teams in the top 6, unfortunately he is our weakest link in defense and teams with quality will target us again. We have to somehow come up with… Read more »
Why are the pundits not discussing the ice-skating rink? Surely liverpool intentionally flooded the pitch.
Agree with you. Watch Sake’s slip cause Tsimikas to run into Clop are injure himself.
Agree with you. Watch Saka’s slip cause Tsimikas to run into Klopp are injure himself. Only themselves to blame.
West Ham is going to be tough and Havertz out is problematic. Hoping Tets doesn’t take Rice out of DCM to accommodate Jorginho. Would rather keep Rice there and play ESR. I would put Trossard at CF and Jesus on LW. Bring Marti on to terrorise in last 25 mins along with Nketiah as the change up.
Bit more outlandish would be moving Zinchenko to LCM and Kiwior at LB. Its a tricky conundrum overall.