After facing strong clubs such as Chelsea and RB Leipzig, Liverpool travelled to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal.
The first half was dominated by the home team, but they scored from a corner kick and went into half-time 2-1 up.
Liverpool gradually picked up in the second half and Mohamed Salah sank the equaliser in the 81st minute to secure a draw in hostile conditions. Despite the injuries, it was a great away point against a team full of talented players.
Liverpool were also not at their best in this match, missing Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott. Defender Alison Becker was replaced by Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who protected the goalmouth.
Jermaine Pennant, who used to play in the Premier League for both Liverpool and Arsenal, noted the difference between the Brazilian goalkeeper and the second-choice goalkeeper and said that the pressing that had troubled him in the first half could have been intercepted and the ball carried forward if he was the regular defender.
“Arsenal were pressing from the front and it really goes to show just how much Alisson is missed and how integral he is to how Liverpool play.”
“That’s no disrespect to Kelleher, who is a great goalkeeper,”
“But he is not as comfortable playing out from the back and we saw a lot of his passes going long.”
“It meant we couldn’t break through Arsenal’s press, where Alisson would usually play those line-breaking passes.”