Article body analysed
Football
Liverpool
vs Arsenal. Premier League.
4: 30pm, Sunday 11th May 2025.
Anfield.
Report and free match highlights as goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino saw Arsenal come from two down to draw with Liverpool at Anfield; Merino was later sent off; Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz scored; Trent Alexander-Arnold booed by own fans
Comment and Analysis
@ghostgoal
Sunday 11 May 2025 20: 15, UK Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Arsenal came from two goals down and finished with 10 players in a 2-2 draw with champions Liverpool on a strange but compelling afternoon at Anfield. Two goals in 87 first-half seconds put Arne Slot's side in control as Cody Gakpo nodded in the opener from close range before Luis Diaz slid in to double the advantage but headers from Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino changed the mood after the break. The introduction of Trent Alexander-Arnold when the scoreline was still 2-1 was roundly booed by Liverpool supporters in the Kop, infuriated by his decision to depart in the summer, and it seemed to be a distraction as Arne Slot's side saw the game wrestled from them. Merino's red card altered the flow again with Alexander-Arnold - of all people - coming close to finding the winner. There was even the drama of Andy Robertson having a stoppage-time goal disallowed following a foul by Ibrahima Konate. The draw means Liverpool can no longer reach the 90-point mark this season, while Arsenal stay second, edging closer to securing a top-five finish. Liverpool: Alisson (7), Bradley (6), Konate (7), Van Dijk (6), Robertson (6), Gravenberch (7), Szoboszlai (8), Jones (6), Salah (7), Diaz (7), Gakpo (7).
Subs: Nunez (5), Mac Allister (6), Alexander-Arnold (6), Jota (6), Elliott (6).
Arsenal: Raya (7), White (6), Saliba (6), Kiwior (6), Lewis-Skelly (7), Partey (6), Merino (6), Odegaard (7), Saka (6), Trossard (8), Martinelli (8).
Subs: Tierney (6), Calafiori (6), Zinchenko (n/a).
Player of the Match: Gabriel Martinelli. Liverpool appeared to have more energy in the first half with Conor Bradley's combative performance at right-back well received by the home crowd, seemingly justifying his inclusion ahead of Alexander-Arnold. The Reds threatened to run away with the game. Mikel Arteta had suggested that Liverpool had been fortunate to be confirmed as champions despite not yet overhauling Arsenal's points total of the previous two seasons but this looked an awkward afternoon for him after his side's European exit.
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Eliminated from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, the Gunners boss was taunted with chants of 'Where's your European Cup? ' and 'Best team in Europe, you're having a laugh' from a jubilant Kop as Liverpool were rampant. But it was a different game in the second half. Bradley stepped off Leandro Trossard as he crossed for Martinelli's goal and Arsenal were value for their equaliser - Merino latching onto a rebound after Alisson parried Martin Odegaard's shot onto the bar. Merino's red card checked their momentum and the game was denied its thrilling denouement when Liverpool's winner was disallowed. But the aftermath of this entertaining - if relatively low-stakes contest - will be dominated by one man… Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "That's the story of the game, " Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports when asked about the crowd's reaction to Alexander-Arnold's introduction. "That's what we will be talking about after the game, and the back pages of every newspaper tomorrow. "I'm surprised how many. When you're in a crowd of 60, 000, there's no doubt there's a lot of unhappy people at Liverpool about the situation. And I've said that's understandable. "But for me, I said it before the show and said the same away at Leicester where there were a few boos in the away section, I don't believe any player putting that red shirt on going out there to get them three points or winning titles who goes on to win trophies should be being booed. "I understand, there's a lot of ill-feeling. And some people outside of Liverpool won't be able to understand that. I do. Booing one of your own players while they're playing is not for me. " Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Liverpool head coach Arne Slot speaking to Sky Sports: "In general and life, the good thing about living in Europe, everyone can have their opinion. That's the same here in Liverpool. "There were people who were not so happy, there were people who were happy for him. They clapped for him. A few of them booed. "Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Towards the end, a few of them got more and more positive. But for me, it's simple. I owe it to the team, to the fans, to play a team that can win a game of football. "Trent showed it because he had two or three incredible balls. We were so close to winning it, partly because of him. "For me, it's not that difficult. And for the fans, they can have the reaction they want. I will always back my players, the ones I lead and wear the red shirt. " Slot insisted afterwards that Alexander-Arnold's introduction was not a distraction at Anfield, even getting into an exchange with a journalist in the press conference discussing the percentage of supporters who booed the departing full-back. The Liverpool coach found himself making a point about the relative decibel levels of booing compared to clapping. Probably the point at which one might have to accept that the reaction to Alexander-Arnold coming on had become a bit of a sideshow. Slot's calculation regarding the player - who has confirmed he will leave the club at the end of his contract this summer - is coldly logical. He started Bradley because he is the future. He brought Alexander-Arnold on as he thought he could help win the game. But Liverpool is a club fuelled by emotion and those emotions ran high at Anfield on Sunday. Slot seemed to regard the chants for Bradley and Steven Gerrard as a positive thing but they clearly represented a pointed response to Alexander-Arnold's decision. Mohamed Salah flung an arm towards the Kop in disgust at the boos, applauding his team-mate onto the pitch, while Robertson told Sky Sports that it was "not nice to see a friend get booed" so it is naïve to think this does not detract a little from the mood. Slot insisted afterwards that nothing can take the edge off this Premier League title win. And yet, here he was answering questions about Alexander-Arnold rather than his team. It is an unfortunate way for Liverpool's magnificent campaign to be coming to an end. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaking to Sky Sports: "What we did in the first half, the first 20 minutes was nowhere near the level. So to do it after, it's too late. We reacted, great. But those 20 minutes were unacceptable. "It's about action, not reaction. "When you fight for trophies, you might win it or lose it, but then there's another one [match] and another one. So that's the level we have to assess ourselves. If not, you just accept things. For me, not acceptable. "It's not about winning. Nobody can promise that you win. "It's about doing the basics, the simple things where you can dominate. " Elaborating in the press conference, he claimed the fact Arsenal reacted "makes it worse" because it showed they could do it. On Arsenal's title prospects next season, he added: "For sure, don't play six times in a season with 10 men, because if that happens, we won't win it next season, for sure. " Correctly predict six scorelines for a chance to win £250, 000 for free. Entries by 3pm Saturday. Tom from Southampton became a millionaire for free with Super 6! Could you be the next jackpot winner? Play for free!
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