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It was some game to watch, certainly not like what many Liverpool and even Premier League experts predicted. But it was easily among this season’s best games so far, despite the fact that at the full-time whistle the score was 1-1. Fans watching in Emirates Stadium will certainly remember the game, beyond the final whistle of the players' careers. In the end, it was a simple 1-1, but even that speaks volumes.
However, when the final whistle was done and dusted Liverpool walked away with only a mere point which may make a massive difference come to the end of the title race. The Reds walked into the clash as the favourites, with them among the only three sides in the Premier League unbeaten, alongside Manchester City and Chelsea. But the Gunners too walked in with their own record, a 13-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
In the end, it was a very fun game to watch that should have had much more goals, with the game lacking a killer touch, from both sides. For Liverpool however, maybe the Reds missed Naby Keita to provide that burst of energy from midfield, but c’est la vie.
Here are 3 reasons why the Reds were held to a draw by Unai Emery’s Arsenal:
#3 Virgil Van Dijk is the centre-back that dreams are made of.
Eyes were raised when Jurgen Klopp insisted and then broke the transfer record for a defender for Virgil Van Dijk, just days before the winter transfer window of 2018 opened. The former Southampton man had been insistently linked with a move to Anfield six months earlier, but a move failed to materialise with Southampton refusing to sell. Eventually, a €78 million transfer fee worked for the Saints and the burly centre-back was on his way to Liverpool.
And my god, has the Dutchman changed Liverpool, as now the Reds look like a force to be reckoned with. His tactical awareness, combined pace and agility that few centre-backs posses, made him a key figure from the moment he made his debut, giving Liverpool what they finally needed. Today, however, the 27-year-old hit another level and was an absolute rock at the back, despite incredible pressure from Arsenal.
He refused to back down even doing surprisingly well going forward, as Van Dijk had the best chance of the first half after a sumptuous first touch to bring the ball under control. But despite that, he failed to score his first Premier League goal for the Reds, pushing Bernd Leno to his limits. In the end, Arsenal did manage to get past him and score the equaliser, but if he keeps playing like this, then Liverpool does have a brilliant chance at a title.
#2 An impetuous Alisson Becker
Not something you want from your goal-keeper, but then again Alisson Becker is not your ordinary, day-to-day goal-keeper. After all, why would you pay a former world record sum of €62 million for a simple shot-stopper when you can get a samba man from Brazil? Like Virgil Van Dijk, Alisson has had a flying start to his Liverpool career, with the Brazilian only conceding five goals in his 11 appearances in the Premier League.
However, despite that, the Brazilian has made a few high profile errors and has also come under some stick for his show-boating ways. Since then while he has calmed down, against Arsenal, Alisson was a little impetuous. A few errors in the opening half of the game, one of which should have been the opening goal. While Leicester City and a few other sides made the most of it, Arsenal couldn't do that despite the having the likes of Alexander Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
But luck was with Becker in this game at least and despite conceding; things could have and most definitely should have been a lot worse. However, with Liverpool facing Watford, Everton, Burnley, Bournemouth and then Manchester United, the 26-year-old needs to learn to calm down and learn from his mistakes. Otherwise, soon the Reds face a side that will punish any small error, especially in the Champions League going forward.
#1 Trent Alexander-Arnold needs to do much better
He was a revelation last season, as he took over Nathaniel Clyne’s slot with the former Southampton man out with a long-term injury. Trent Alexander-Arnold made that right-back slot his, even scoring an incredible free-kick vs Hoffenheim in the Champions League qualifying, eventually doing more than enough to make the England squad for Russia 2018.
While the 20-year-old only made one appearance in the quadrennial tournament, he certainly showed what made him a key figure in Liverpool reaching the Champions League finals. But this season, so far the English international has struggled despite making nine appearances, with the Liverpool youngster looking lost at times against the likes of Chelsea, Spurs and even Leicester City. Against Arsenal, however, the youngster looked out of place and Unai Emery’s men exploited that to it’s fullest.
Alexander-Arnold was against both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sead Kolasniac, two very attacking players and the 20-year-old had a very tough time. While he did eventually get into the game, Arnold continued to struggle and need both James Milner and Roberto Firminio to bail him out on more than one occasion.
Even Joe Gomez moved a little more towards his right, to make sure that his counterpart wasn’t caught out too much. That seemed to help the youngster, but as time goes on, Arnold needs to improve even further, something that he clearly has the potential to do.
