Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal: Gunners pull back two goals as Merino nets & sent off

Arsenal fought back from 2-0 down to salvage a 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League, despite finishing the game with 10 men following Mikel Merino's late sending-off.

Match Report

Arsenal, who are still fighting to ensure a second-place finish, gave Liverpool a guard of honour before kick-off and were equally welcoming with their defending early on.

Two goals in the space of 87 seconds had Liverpool cruising, with Cody Gakpo heading in the first in the 20th minute, having been left totally unmarked to meet Andy Robertson's cross at the near post.

The second came following a delightful pass from Mohamed Salah to Dominik Szoboszlai, who squared for Luis Diaz to tap into an empty net.

However, Arsenal came roaring back after half-time, with Gabriel Martinelli glancing Leandro Trossard's cross home to give them hope in the 47th minute.

Arne Slot introduced Trent Alexander-Arnold for his first appearance since announcing he will leave Liverpool in the 67th minute, and his every touch was booed by many of those present at Anfield.

And Alexander-Arnold played a part in Arsenal's 70th-minute equaliser, playing Merino onside for a diving header into an empty net, after Alisson pushed Martin Odegaard's long-range strike onto the post.

Merino would not finish the game, though, as, having already been booked, he lunged into two ill-advised challenges on Darwin Nunez and Szoboszlai and received his second yellow card in the 79th minute.

Odegaard fired wide on the break, but Liverpool went closest to a winner, with Robertson's close-range finish chalked off due to Ibrahima Konate's foul on Myles Lewis-Skelly, with the on-field decision to disallow the goal confirmed by the VAR.

The point keeps Mikel Arteta's men 15 behind Liverpool and two clear of their next opponents, Newcastle United, and a victory in that game next Sunday will ensure the Gunners qualify for the Champions League.

Data debrief: Merino's mixed bag

Merino could have gone from hero to villain in this game, but his Arsenal team-mates dug deep to hold onto their point late on.

Merino's red card was Arsenal's sixth in the Premier League this season, only receiving more in the competition in 1998-99 (seven). 

The Spaniard is the fourth player to both score and be sent off in the same game for Arsenal in the competition.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (in January 2020 against Crystal Palace), Arteta (in October 2013 against the same opponents) and Ian Wright (in December 1996 against Nottingham Forest) were the first three.

Arsenal's fightback meant Liverpool failed to win a Premier League game in which they were two or more goals ahead at half-time for the first time since a 4-3 defeat at Bournemouth in December 2016.

It was the first time they had been pegged back from 2-0 up at Anfield in the competition since a 2-2 draw with Newcastle in April 2016.

Match Events

0' Arsenal's players line up to make a guard of honour for champions Liverpool

0' Match Event for Liverpool vs Arsenal

2' A painful one for Merino as he lands badly in a challenge with Bradley

3' What a chance for Saka! He comes from deep but strikes his shot wide

6' Match Event for Liverpool vs Arsenal

8' Salah squares it to Diaz but his low strike is saved by David Raya superbly

13' Odegaard in need of a new top as his current one has a massive rip

15' Jones loses the ball to Partey, but the Gunners are unable to work it well

17' Match Event for Liverpool vs Arsenal

20' GOAL! Gakpo heads home from Robertson's cross! Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal

21' 2 goals in 3 mins! Diaz slides it into unguarded net! Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal

23' Jones has the skill to spin on the edge of the penalty area but Raya saves it

24' Match Event for Liverpool vs Arsenal

29' Match Event for Liverpool vs Arsenal

31' Highlight from Liverpool vs Arsenal

33' A tackle form Merino wipes out Bradley, which hands him a deserved yellow card

35' Match Event for Liverpool vs Arsenal

37' Match Event for Liverpool vs Arsenal

43' Highlight from Liverpool vs Arsenal

47' GOAL! Martinelli pulls one back for the visitors! Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal

53' Leandro Trossard spins and shoots but sends it over the top

54' White charges into the box and shoots low across goal, but Alisson saves it

56' Szoboszlai tries his luck from 30 yards out but Raya block it

60' Highlight from Liverpool vs Arsenal

61' Martinelli can't put enough fizz on the shot and Alisson makes a routine save

64' Martinelli is just about to strike but Bradley makes a last-ditch challenge

65' A triple change for Liverpool and there are boos for Alexander-Arnold

71' GOAL! Merino gets the rebound and heads it home! Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

76' Highlight from Liverpool vs Arsenal

77' Match Event for Liverpool vs Arsenal

78' Jota comes on to replace Diaz

79' RED CARD! Merino picks up a second yellow card for fouling on Szoboszlai

82' Match Event for Liverpool vs Arsenal

83' Match Event for Liverpool vs Arsenal

84' Match Event for Liverpool vs Arsenal

Line-ups

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Salah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Konate, Gakpo, Szoboszlai, Luis Díaz, Curtis Jones, Gravenberch, Conor Bradley

Subs: Endo, Tsimikas, Jota, Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Mac Allister, Nunez, Elliott, Quansah

Arsenal XI: Trossard, Partey, David Raya, Ødegaard, Merino, Ben White, Martinelli, Saliba, Saka, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly

Subs: Neto, Sterling, Zinchenko, Tierney, Timber, Calafiori, N. Butler-Oyedeji, Jack Henry-Francis, Nwaneri