Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal - PLAYER RATINGS: Who had a tough afternoon for Gunners?

Arsenal fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with champions Liverpool.

Licking their wounds after their Champions League knockout at the hands of PSG, Mikel Arteta's side were rocked after conceding two goals in the space of a minute.

Cody Gakpo nodded home Andy Robertson's inch-perfect cross to open the scoring before Luis Diaz stretched to prod home Dominik Szoboszlai's ball just seconds later.

But the visitors emerged from the half-time restart as a different team and halved the deficit when Gabriel Martinelli steered a neat header into Alisson's far corner.

They then ensured a share of the spoils, Mikel Merino reacting quickest to nod home a rebound after Alisson clawed Martin Odegaard's powerful strike onto the post. Merino was then sent off before Robertson saw a last-gasp winner disallowed.

Mail Sport's LEWIS STEELE was at Anfield to rate both sets of players...

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1)

Alisson - 6

Could do little about Arsenal's goals, especially the second one when he made a fantastic save to tip an Odegaard shot on to the bar but could do little about the rebound.

Conor Bradley - 7.5 (Booked)

Was excellent in the first half, starting with a crunching tackle on Martinelli after 46 seconds and then some marauding runs down the right flank. Not fully fit so could only play 66 minutes.

Ibrahima Konate - 7

His distribution is getting better by the game and made some canny interceptions here but was statuesque and let Martinelli walk free and score a goal for 2-1.

Virgil van Dijk - 6

Stood up well to the challenge of Trossard in the first half but Martinelli as a No 9 after the break gave Liverpool some problems.

Andy Robertson - 7

Rolled back the years in the first half with some threatening runs down the left flank and set up Gakpo for his opener. Will have his eyes on Alexander-Arnold's record for most assists from a defender.

Ryan Gravenberch - 6.5

Classy performance as ever with some clever touches.

Curtis Jones - 7

Started the game extremely well with a beautiful pass to Salah. Nearly was punished for messing around with the ball in his own box on 15 minutes.

Mohamed Salah - 6

Nothing he tried came off despite the fact he kept trying. Not his day in front of goal and sometimes took one touch too many.

Dominik Szoboszlai - 7.5

Did the hard work to make it 2-0 to Liverpool in the first half and never stopped running otherwise. Another pleasing performance.

Cody Gakpo - 7

Missed some big chances in the opening stages with poor finishing but made up for it to put Liverpool 1-0 up. Quiet in the second half.

Luis Diaz - 7

In the right place at the right time to make it 2-0 and had a very pleasing performance, especially in the first half.

Substitutes

Alexis Mac Allister (for Gakpo, 66min) - 6

Trent Alexander-Arnold (for Bradley, 66min) - 6

Darwin Nunez (for Jones, 66min) - 5

Diogo Jota (for Diaz, 78min)

Harvey Elliott (for Gravenberch, 83min)

Not used: Caoimhin Kelleher, Wataru Endo, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas.

Manager

Arne Slot - 6.5

First half was one of the best of the season. Second half was one of the worst.

ARSENAL (4-3-3)

David Raya - 6

Could do nothing about Liverpool's goals and made some other big saves to keep his side in the contest. Distribution was poor.

Ben White - 5

Had a tough afternoon up against Gakpo and Diaz who often interchanged positions.

William Saliba - 6

Switched off and allowed Gakpo to sneak free and make it 1-0. Better after the break.

Jakub Kiwior - 7

Had a pleasing performance up against Liverpool's multiple forwards, especially covering for Lewis-Skelly to double up on Salah.

Myles Lewis-Skelly - 6 (Booked)

Some nice touches and stood up to Salah well.

Martin Odegaard - 7.5

Could have won the game in the 95th minute but pulled a shot wide. A brilliant performance otherwise, though, especially in the second half.

Thomas Partey - 6

Fumbled his lines after 15 minutes when presented with a golden opportunity in the penalty area.

Mikel Merino - 6 (Sent off)

Booked early on for a nasty challenge on Bradley then was shown a second yellow after the break for two fouls in the same incident. His goal, though, was like a typical No 9 – in the right place at the right time with a clinical finish.

Bukayo Saka - 7.5

Could have opened the scoring with the first set-piece of the game – a supremely clever one at that – but fluffed his lines and fired wide. Gave Robertson a tricky test all afternoon.

Leandro Trossard - 7

Like Partey, he should have scored after 15 minutes. Had some nice moments otherwise, though, such as the cross for Martinelli's goal.

Gabriel Martinelli - 7.5

A sumptuous header for 2-1 and put in a great shift as a No 9 in the second half. Poor in the first 45 minutes, though.

Substitutes

Riccardo Calafiori (for White, 78min)

Kieran Tierney (for Trossard, 78min)

Oleksandr Zinchenko (for Saka, 88min)

Not used: Neto, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, Jack Henry-Francis, Ethan Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling, Jurrien Timber.

Manager

Mikel Arteta - 7

His tactical tweaks and substitutions helped Arsenal fight back and then see out a draw.