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Progress for Arsenal, but Diogo Jota helps relentless Liverpool fight back to victory

Jason Burt
·21 min read
Sadio Mane opens the scoring
Sadio Mane opens the scoring

Stop press. Liverpool are not going relent; not going to let up – not going to stop pressing, in fact. The ‘mentality monsters’ are even more determined and psychologically tougher than last season as they overwhelmed Arsenal who arrived at Anfield in form, unbeaten, organised and with a new-found belief under manager Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal even had the audacity to take a shock lead but – nine minutes later - were behind. That they stayed in the game until the 88th minute, when Liverpool’s new £45million signing Diogo Jota scored on his Premier League debut, was an indication of their undoubted progress. But it is also a sign of how superior Liverpool are that Arsenal were largely grimly hanging on until then.

For periods this was simply brilliant from Liverpool; a perfect match of industry and imagination; of power and poetry. For 30 minutes in the first-half they were almost untouchable; producing the best and most sustained period of play so far this season by any Premier League team.

It is a rare form of aggressive art and, certainly, Jurgen Klopp was not having anyone say otherwise as he snapped back at Sky pundit Roy Keane after overhearing him claim some of Liverpool’s play had been sloppy. There was no relenting from the manager either, then.

Having beaten Leeds United – who have won both their games since that opening fixture – and triumphed away at Chelsea, this was a third impressive result as Liverpool begin their title defence and there is already an ominous sense of gathering momentum as Manchester City stumble and other ‘Big Six’ clubs appear unconvincing.

Alisson Becker of Liverpool saves the day from Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal - Getty
Alisson Becker of Liverpool saves the day from Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal - Getty

This meeting was billed as one that would show whether Liverpool had the desire or Arsenal could themselves be contenders. In the end it proved to be a bit of both – at least for Arsenal there are markers that they can be a top-four side again, although there were clear reminders that they need to improve defensively.

Predictably, manager Mikel Arteta effectively played a back-five and while he will point to a spurned chance by Alexandre Lacazette, who was clear on goal with the score still 2-1 only to be denied by the alert reactions of Alisson, the reality is that they were fell far short of the remarkable standards set by Liverpool.

Chris Bascombe's Liverpool briefing
Chris Bascombe's Liverpool briefing

Liverpool dominated every aspect: possession (66 per cent), shots (21) and even that little bit of devilment which was summed up by the relentless Sadio Mane, who caught Kieran Tierney with his arm in the opening minutes and left the Arsenal defenders harassed throughout.

And yet they fell behind. In fairness, it was a calamitous and rare mistake from Andrew Robertson that led to it as Arsenal broke down their right with Ainsley Maitland-Niles eventually crossing, attempting to find Lacazette. It appeared to be a routine clearance – or was it an attempted pass? - for Robertson, except he miscued and the ball spun behind him to Lacazette, who swivelled and beat Alisson. It was Arsenal’s first touch in the Liverpool penalty area and Lacazette could not quite believe it as he scored.

The ultra competitive Sadio Mane comforted by Jurgen Klopp after being subbed off - Telegraph Pool
The ultra competitive Sadio Mane comforted by Jurgen Klopp after being subbed off - Telegraph Pool

As if affronted, Liverpool quickly equalised as Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Mane combined. Salah did the work as he forced his way past Tierney to shoot from a tight angle with Bernd Leno palming the ball into the path of Mane who quickly touched it home.

For Robertson – who sums up that strength of character - there would be redemption before half-time was even reached and, once again, both Liverpool full-backs were involved. The ball was worked down the right before eventually Trent Alexander-Arnold swung in a deep cross that flicked off Rob Holding’s head. It landed at Robertson’s feet but he still had to adjust to gain control before poking the ball past Leno. Quite where Hector Bellerin had gone is something Arteta will have wanted to know.

Klopp’s players were all winning their individual battles but there was stickability to Arsenal even if they were fortunate when Alexander-Arnold’s fierce low shot ricocheted off Bellerin and clipped the crossbar. Nevertheless they could have drawn level when David Luiz sent a raking long pass forward that picked out Maitland-Niles, and undid Liverpool’s high defensive line, only for the wing-back to fail to control the ball. Otherwise he would have been clear.

And that, along with simply holding on in there when, on previous occasions, they would have capitulated and been blown away by now, was Arsenal’s hope and so Liverpool re-doubled their efforts with Mane shooting over, and turning and twisting and sending the ball wide as Firmino also screwed an effort past the post.

Sam Dean's Arsenal briefing
Sam Dean's Arsenal briefing

For Arsenal there was the chance – the big chance – when substitute Dani Ceballos released Lacazette. Alexander-Arnold had played the striker onside and he had time and space, or so he thought, only for Alisson to hurry him into taking his shot which was blocked by the goalkeeper.

It felt like a big moment and so Liverpool responded. On came Jota and a hat-trick of chances fell his way. Firstly, he was brilliantly picked out by Salah only to wastefully slam his shot into the side-netting. Then the ball fell to him again with Salah, maybe mindful of that miss, deciding to take it off his toes and made a hash of it himself. Finally, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers forward collected a loose clearance by Luiz on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area, steadied himself and volleyed low past Leno.

The relief for Liverpool was palpable, but there was no let up. As Arsenal threatened with the final act of the game, substitute Eddie Nketiah appeared to have a sight of goal, only for him to be crowded out in a flurry of defenders. It was celebrated almost as raucously as the goals.

08:53 PM

Full time: Liverpool 3 Arsenal 1

"We have waited 93 minutes, Aubameyang has finally had a chance to run in the left channel," says Nev. But he cannot do much with it, and that's the end of a committed, technical, tireless performance from Liverpool. Arsenal can be reasonably proud with how they stood up to the onslaught, especially in the second half. Had Lacazette slotted away a really good chance at 2-1, then who knows?

Funny on Sky: Roy Keane is doing his usual turn about how rubbish everyone is, and Klopp comes on for his interview: "Did Mr Keane say we are sloppy?" he demands. He is sort of joking but then he... sort of isn't. "Did he say we had a sloppy performance tonight? He must have been watching a different game. Nothing was sloppy. This game was exceptional."

Roy Keane says that he said SOME bits were sloppy. Klopp's not having a bar of it! "Did he say we were sloppy" he asks Klopp.

Keane eventually says that he actually didn't say those things and he's given lots of praise to the football club. Klopp is placated and goes off on a typically endearing and lengthy explanation of this, that and the other.

Keane at the end: "Jesus - very sensitive. Imagine if he'd lost!"

08:48 PM

GOAL! Liverpool 3 Arsenal 1 (Jota 88)

But Arsenal eventually break. Alexander-Arnold with a brilliant cross. Luiz tries to head clear but has instead just headed it to Jota. Jota does very well, controls it on his thigh, it rolls up near to his arm but evidently has just hit his chest. He volleys it as it drops into the corner and that is the game.

08:45 PM

86mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Liverpool break, Wjinaldum dinks it across and Jota is about to pull the trigger when Mo Salah nicks it off him and fluffs it. "That is the selfish side of Salah," says Gary Neville. "It is also why he scores so many goals. But it is not a particularly good look, that one."

Had he left it, Jota had every chance of controlling it and slotting it away.

08:44 PM

84 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Arsenal win a corner. Pepe totally wastes it again - failing to get it past the first man. Utterly maddening, when playing a better opponent not to make use of your dead ball situations. Why is Pepe not practising 100 of them after every training session?

08:42 PM

82 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Amazing run from Salah as he cuts inside form the right, looking like he is going to shoot on his left. instead he lays it to Jota, who fires into the side netting from a narrow angle. He should have either squared it to Firmino in the centre, or scored.

08:38 PM

80 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Keita and Mane come off. Milner and Jota on. Milner takes the armband.

And Sadio Mane takes the chance to complain to Klopp about being subbed off! Ha. Competitor.

08:36 PM

78 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

A good break from Arsenal, Robertson has to concede a corner. Very poor delivery from Pepe.

08:35 PM

76 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Liverpool keeper Alisson out very quickly to deny the onrushing Nketiah. And Liverpool attack direct from that, lightning break that sees Firmino shoot from the inside right channel. Deflected for a corner.

VVD fouls the Arsenal keeper thereform. 

08:32 PM

73 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Arsenal clear that dangerous situation as the freekick is chipped in. Nketiah comes on for Lacazette.

08:30 PM

71 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Liverpool zipping the ball about well. Mane down the left. WHAT a player that guy is. A constant menace. Ceballos shoves him over on the edge of the box.

08:28 PM

68 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Arteta can feel vindicated, so far, that his tactical changes have worked. Liverpool haven't had many chances this half, indeed the best opening of the second period was that Lacazette miss.

08:27 PM

67 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Bellerin booked for a foul.

08:24 PM

64 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

This doesn't really look like football a few years ago. Arsenal have the ball with their goalie, they play it to a centre back, Liverpool rush them. Arsenal try to play it through them. If they lose it, Liverpool will have a chance. 

08:23 PM

63 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Liverpool nearly fiddle their way through a seemingly packed tight defence and Mane dinks wide.

08:22 PM

60 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Lacazette has been put through twice! First one looked offside and was, second one I am not sure if he was on or off. Both times, he fluffed his lines and hit it straight at Alisson. Two weak finishes, one doesn't matter but one really did.

Ceballos, the sub, played him in for the second one. Willian played the first.

08:16 PM

57 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Fabinho clatters countryman Willian.

08:16 PM

56 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Arsenal have come out with a different approach and Liverpool are not having it all their own way. Gary Neville says it is because Arsenal's midfield two of Xhaka and Elneney are taking up a more advanced position.

Liverpool playing more patiently now, holding the ball, moving it about.

08:11 PM

52 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

But there are accidents waiting to happen though, Holding loses out to Mane... Arsenal just about get it into touch.

08:10 PM

50 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Arsenal playing with a modicum more control and possession these last couple of minutes. They are trying to get a bit further up the pitch.

08:06 PM

47 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Better from Arsenal as Luiz hits a sort of chip and charge diagonal ball, Willian gathers it in the outside right role and tries to play it back into Luiz, who has charged forward... BUT that has left those two out of position and Liverpool break. Mane fires over.

08:03 PM

46 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

No changes at half time.

08:03 PM

Stat attack

11 shots from Liverpool, five on target, 13 touches in the oppo box. Arsenal one, one and two on those stats.

Dave Jones, having reeled this off: "how can Arsenal get in this contest?"

Roy Keane, witheringly: "They are in the contest. The most important stat in football is goals."

07:57 PM

Half time reading

Thom Gibbseseses' annual shirt ranking.

07:48 PM

Half time: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Breathless stuff, that half. Hard to keep up with typing about Liverpool, must be a living hell trying to play against them. Any time Arsenal had the ball they were swarmed and swamped. Arsenal pinched a goal due to an individual blunder but to be honest it only ever felt like a momentary lapse of reason, and so it proved when Liverpool promptly scored twice.

07:46 PM

43 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Nice long ball from David Luiz, Ainsley M-N has a good position but fails to control it.

07:44 PM

41 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

The fitness coaching at Liverpool must be second to none.

07:43 PM

40 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

Arsenal with the break, Willian with the cross but I think that's just about offside.

07:39 PM

37 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1

How do Arsenal get back here? You fear that the relentless pressure the Liverpool front six put on the defence and defensive midfield will lead to another mistake. Arsenal have to somehow dig in and then play through the press and hope their pacy front three can do the rest. 

Here's Willian with a rapid turn of pace... problem is, he's running towards his own goal to desperately intercept Robertson! 

07:36 PM

GOAL! Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1 (Robertson 34)

No shame on Arsenal, this is a hugely impressive and intimidating team performance. Liverpool look like they are fitter, stronger, quicker, hungrier. Here's Salah keeping opponents away from the ball. laying it off to that lethal Trent Alexander-Arnold who measures out a perfect ball... danger here... Robertson is unmarked! He gathers, he turns inside, he fires it home and that's two.

07:34 PM

32 mins: Liverpool 1 Arsenal 1

Aside from all their other attributes Liverpool absolutely WANT this. They are first to everything, fighting furiously, here's Keita getting the best of his man, here's Firmino straining everything to be there when the ball breaks.

Gary Neville says this is the best 30 minutes he has seen from a team this season.

It's not just the skill, it is the sheer desperate desire.

07:29 PM

28 mins: Liverpool 1 Arsenal 1

Just two and a half minutes between the goals.

07:29 PM

GOAL! Liverpool 1 Arsenal 1 (Mane 27)

Well, that was fun while it lasted. Liverpool drive forward. Keita gets the better of Luiz, and has arguably fouled him. Salah drives forward, using all his strength and heart, and hits it at goal. Leno parries, but only as far as Sadio Mane, who helps himself.

07:27 PM

26 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 1

Completely against the run of play.

07:27 PM

GOAL! Liverpool 0 Arsenal 1 (Lacazette 25)

A freak goal, if that's not too disrespectful! Arsenal get up the pitch for pretty much the first time. Maitland-Niles carries it well down the left and tries a cross but it's a poor pass. For reasons even he won't know, Robertson - with no opponent nearby - swings a foot at it and inadvertently plays a perfect through ball to Lacazette. Lacazette seems as surprised as anyone and makes a scruffy contact. But in it goes.  Ha ha ha. How funny. 

07:25 PM

23 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

The Liverpool press is so good, they are so committed. They swarm the Arsenal defenders and keeper, somebody is going to make a mistake and sure enough it is Luiz. He gives it away.

07:22 PM

20 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

Corner. Trent Alex gets it at the back of the box and hits it! Huge deflection off Bellerin gives Leno no chance but the bar saves him.

They clear the next corner.

07:21 PM

19 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

Now they come. Firmino drops deep to begin the attack, out to Robertson on the right. Played in... hacked clear for a corner.

07:20 PM

18 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

They play it around, taking their time. 

07:20 PM

17 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

Liverpool look so assured, everyone knows his role. They have it at the back now.

07:16 PM

14 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

Liverpool really starting to turn the screw. Trent crosses and Mane meets it! Good hit. He got all of that but hit is straight at Leno.

07:14 PM

12 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

But here's Van Dijk! So close from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner.     

07:14 PM

10 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

Cagey start, Liverpool haven't created many openings - the only real moment of danger was that Mane run that he then spoiled by elbowing Tierney.

07:07 PM

7 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

Sky's Martin Tyler is giving out the dread stat for Gooners: 27 games away against the rest of the so-called Big Six in the Premier League without a win. 27 games! 

61 conceded. 17 defeats. 10 draws. Wow.

07:05 PM

5 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

Liverpool have it high up the pitch, Wijnaldum getting plenty of the ball, he and Robertson down the left trying to pick out a pass. Arsenal defend calmly.

07:03 PM

2 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

Sadio Mane has done a sort of rugby hand-off / forearm smash into the face of Tierney. That's a yellow at the very least and I think if it had been a bit later in the match, he would have been off. Ref settles for yellow.

07:01 PM

1 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

Arsenal are in white shirts with red shorts and white socks, Liverpool all in red. I do not care for that Arsenal kit one bit.

Anyway, here we go.

07:00 PM

The eerie business of

You'll Never Walk Alone playing out in a near empty stadium.

06:55 PM

Mikel Arteta

"Gabriel has played quite a few games for us but David Luiz has so much experience and has played here many times," he says of his one change.

Jamie Carragher: "It's a strange one for me. But Luiz is a lot better in a back three when he has safety around him." Not a glowing endorsement, is it?!

06:55 PM

Jurgen Klopp

"It is a tough one. They are tough, they are organised. They can defend deep, they can play football. So it is tough to analyse, but that is what you do: you try to come up with something that they can not do what they want."

06:50 PM

Evening!

Well we have seen a Premier League match of dubious quality so far - Fulham utterly awful and easily pumped 3-0 by a Villa side who themselves are still a limited proposition. We turn now to one of the finest sides English football has seen for many a year, Jurgen Klopp's thrilling, electric Liverpool. What can Arsenal do to jam a spanner in their works?

06:13 PM

The old-fashioned way

Liverpool Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson, Keita, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Subs Adrian, Milner, Jones, Minamino, Jota, Origi, Neco Williams.

Arsenal Leno, Holding, Luiz, Tierney, Bellerin, Elneny, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles, Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Subs Runarsson, Gabriel, Saka, Ceballos, Pepe, Nketiah, Kolasinac.

Referee Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

06:04 PM

David Luiz returns for Arsenal

 

06:03 PM

Liverpool make one change

 

03:53 PM

Liverpool vs Arsenal

a fixture between two of the great sporting institutions in this country, one mighty and on top of the world, the other getting back to some sort of authority after several years of being off the pace. It kicks off at 8pm this Monday evening and you can follow all the action here.

Both sides have made flawless starts to the League campaign: two wins out of two apiece. The form book is very much in the favour of the hosts: they have won the last four League fixtures at Anfield between the sides. The win for Arsenal in July was their only success in 10 Premier League meetings (lost five and drawn four). You would obviously fancy Liverpool to win tonight.

To aid them in that aim, Jurgen Klopp has said that he may give Thiago his first PL start, but there have been some injury concerns over the highly impressive midfielder. Here's our Liverpool guru Chris Bascombe with the story about some injury worries in the Liverpool camp.

Thiago made his debut against Chelsea, playing 45 minutes in the 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge. With Klopp already without captain Jordan Henderson due to a muscle issue, the Liverpool coach said last week he was weighing up whether to give the £20 million from Bayern Munich signing his first start."We will see. We have a few days to train and see how we set up versus Arsenal,” Klopp said at his Friday press briefing.

 Klopp will be without skipper Jordan Henderson though. He's got a muscle problem. Yeah, me too.

M'colleague Dan Z has the piece of the hour, though: a really interesting examination of what Mikel Arteta has been doing at Arsenal.

 

How Mikel Arteta helped Arsenal compete with Liverpool after years of torment

Arsenal's switch to 3-4-3 after a damaging defeat at Brighton was an important moment in Arteta's fledgling reign, although he bristles when Arsenal's system is described as a back three or five. They in fact operate with a hybrid system, defending in an orthodox five when the opposition have good possession but flipping to a four on the ball. Maitland-Niles or Saka move into the left half-space - the vertical channel between the wing and the centre of the pitch - in effect acting as an extra central midfielder, with Tierney pushing out to left-back.These movements are based on the positional principles Arteta was schooled in under Pep Guardiola, who divides the training pitch into zones. Only two players can occupy the same vertical zone and only three players can occupy the same horizontal zone. You will therefore not see Tierney, Maitland-Niles and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the left flank at the same time - one will be in a more central position. As Tierney put it: “You should know where the left mid’s going to be, the centre-mid, so you can just play in sync. Everybody’s one brain."