PREMIER – Arsenal-Liverpool 3-1, Arteta beats Klopp and reopens the Premier League thanks also to Alisson’s errors

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Arsenal reopens the Premier League: the Gunners beat Liverpool and beat the Reds 3-1. Arteta’s men dominate the match, with Klopp’s boys trying to defend themselves and restart but without success. Odegaard and Rice dominate in the middle of the pitch and dictate the timing and rhythm of the game. Bukayo Saka finds the opening goal, although a misunderstanding between Raya and Saliba causes Gabriel Magalhaes’ own goal at the end of an unfortunate carom. In the second half, Liverpool returned from the changing rooms with more aggression but two gross errors by Alisson decided the match. The Brazilian goalkeeper first comes out unexpectedly and gives the goal to Martinelli; then, in full recovery, he was beaten by a not irresistible shot from Trossard. With this success, Arsenal move back to -2 behind Liverpool, meanwhile Manchester City are rejoicing: the Citizens have two games in hand and if they had full spoils they would go to the top of the table.

Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on February 04, 2024 in London, England

The scoreboard

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko (45′ Kiwior); Rice, Jorginho; Saka (78′ Nelson), Odegaard (c), Martinelli (74′ Martinelli); Havertz. Coach: Arteta.

LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold (58′ Robertson), Konaté, van Dijk (c), Gomez (85′ Thiago); Jones, Mac Allister, Gravenberch (58′ Elliott); Diaz, Gakpo (58′ Darwin Nunez), Jota. Allenatore: Klopp.

GOALS: 14′ Saka, 45’+3′ Gabriel (AG), 67′ Martinelli, 90’+2′ Trossard.

WARNING: 25′ Gomez for a foul on Havertz, 30′ White for repeated wasting of time. 55′ Konaté for a foul on Havertz, 57′ Gabriel for a foul on Gakpo, 70′ Kiwior for a foul on Diogo Jota, 90′ Darwin Nunez for protests, 90’+1′ Saliba for wasting time, 90’+3′ Rice for foul on Jota, 90’+5′ Havertz for protests.

SENT OFF: 88′ Konaté for a double yellow card (the second for a foul on Martinelli)

NOTE: in the 32nd minute interruption of a couple of minutes due to problems with Taylor’s equipment, in the 78th minute Saka comes off due to muscle problems, recovery +3′, +7′.

The news in 4 key moments

14′ ARSENAL GOAL, SAKA UNBLOCKS IT! Exceptional pass from Odegaard for Havertz’s cut: Alisson saves, but Saka pounces on the rebound, making no mistakes this time and putting the Gunners ahead.

45’+3′ OWN GOAL BY GABRIEL! Liverpool equalized in the craziest way possible: Diaz was preceded by Saliba, who protected Raya’s exit, but this didn’t happen and a carom was triggered which ended in the net after Gabriel Magalhaes’ own goal.

67′ GOAL FROM MARTINELLI! Van Dijk anticipates Martinelli, then Alisson comes out unexpectedly and Martinelli himself puts Arsenal back ahead.

90’+2′ TROSSARD CLOSES IT! On the restart Trossard scores, running down the left wing and putting in after an assist from Kiwior, Alisson also doing poorly here, perhaps deceived by a slight deflection from van Dijk.

The social moment of the match

The best

SAKA: today it is really difficult to find a man of the match given the great game played by Arsenal, but Bukayo Saka opens the scoring and in defense he never forgets to come back and make himself heard. His match was worth remembering, it’s a shame about the injury that forced him to leave the pitch.

The worst

ALISSON: He has huge blame on two of Arsenal’s three goals. A duck and a reckless exit give the Gunners three points.

Klopp: “The transfer market in Arabia lasts 3 weeks longer. UEFA and FIFA intervene”