Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are back on top of the Premier League after winning a five goal thriller against Liverpool at a packed and passionate Emirates.
The Gunners scored in the first and last minute of the first half, through Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, while Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez scored in between to make it 2-1 at the break. Roberto Firmino climbed off the bench to make it 2-2 but a 75th minute penalty converted by Saka claimed all three points.
On his seventh anniversary as Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp had hoped for more but the latest Premier League 2022 betting odds have as good as written off the Reds who finished the weekend in tenth place and 14 points off the lead.
Highlights of the game
Arsenal started the game at SBOTOP odds of 2.35 and within a minute those odds had plummeted as the hosts set off at an astonishing pace; and with just one minute on the clock they were ahead in brilliant style. Saka raided down the right before sliding the ball across to Martin Odegaard and he put Martinelli through on goal. The young Brazilian made no mistake, slotting past Alisson and the Emirates erupted.
Gabriel Jesus spent the first half tormenting the Liverpool defence, but the Reds hung on and gradually worked their way into the game and, on the half hour Aaron Ramsdale made a great save to stop his own defender William Saliba turning a dangerous cross into his own net. But the visitors were level minutes later when Luis Diaz squared for Nunez who fired home from close range.
That goal seemed to lift the Reds; but they were knocked back down on the stroke of half time. Referee Michael Oliver waved play on when Martinelli was impeded and he raced forward, eventually putting the ball on a plate for Saka to restore Arsenal’s advantage.
What a half!
And the Gunners started the second period as they had begun and ended the first, but this time Liverpool survived as Odegaard fired straight at Alisson with the goal gaping. That would have made the score 3-1… but soon enough it was 2-2.
Roberto Firmino had been brought on to replace Diaz just before half time and it turned out to be a masterstroke as the Brazilian forward scored his sixth league goal of the campaign, firing home from a tight angle after Diogo Jota had slipped him through on goal.
Jesus had been quiet day in front of goal but he continued to stretch the Liverpool defence, and when he beat Thiago to a loose ball the Liverpool midfielder caught him and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Saka, who suffered the torment of missing England’s final penalty in the Euro 2020 shootout with Italy is a confident lad, and rightly so as he beat Alisson to win the game.
Key statistics
Arsenal started and ended the fist half in explosive fashion but the stats tell a story of Liverpool’s progress between those two moments. With 61 per cent possession and five shots to three the Reds may have felt unlucky to be behind, but the Gunners were more clinical with three shots on target to two… and two to one in the net!
Firmino’s leveller was his tenth goal against Arsenal, more than he has scored against any other club.
But the Gunners deserved their win as they finished with 11 shots to eight and seven to three on target.
What’s next?
Manchester City fans will have been looking at Sunday’s Premier League 2022 updates with a keen eye on this one after the Sky Blues went top of the table thanks to a 4-0 thrashing of Southampton. But Arsenal supporters can proudly say they are still top of the league.
Elsewhere, the early Sunday kick offs saw Crystal Palace beat Leeds United 2-1 and a resurgent West Ham recorded a third successive victory with a 3-1 win over Fulham. And the late match pits Everton and Manchester United together in a game which could shape either club’s campaigns. The Toffees are trying to avoid another relegation battle under Frank Lampard, while the Red Devils want to make a serious tilt at a top four place. Back to back wins have lifted Everton to 11th while the Red Devils are currently four points adrift of a Champions League spot.
Next up the Gunners have a Europa League match away to Bodo Glimt before heading to Yorkshire for a tasty date with Leeds United at Elland Road. Meanwhile, Liverpool travel north for a Champions League clash against Rangers, who they beat 2-0 last week and then there is a monster of a game to look forward to…
Liverpool vs Manchester City in the Premier League, at Anfield.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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