English powerhouses Arsenal and Liverpool will meet at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday night (February 4) in matchweek 23 of the 2023/24 Premier League season. The Reds, top of the Premier League, came into the game on a four-game winning streak but the fiery Gunners demolished them 3-1.
Arsenal’s impressive but disappointing first halfMikel Arteta’s side started well, connecting passes and preventing Jurgen Klopp’s side from settling down. In the 11th minute of the first half, the hosts created a scoring opportunity thanks to David Raya’s long ball. Gabriel Martinelli snatched the ball from the Arsenal keeper, turned on the lights and ran towards Ibrahima Konate. The Brazilian found Bukayo Saka with a perfect cross.
However, the England international was unable to head the ball towards goal and it went just wide of Alisson’s goal. Fortunately for Saka, the rescue came three minutes later. Gunners captain Martin Odegaard loses the ball to Kai Havertz. In a 1-on-1 situation with Alisson, Havertz fired a low shot but the Brazilian’s shot missed.
However, the ex-Roma player failed to get hold of the ball and Saha did not miss the second chance.Odegaard was awarded another free ball in the 21st minute, but the Norwegian’s shot was too long and was quickly saved by Virgil van Dijk. In the 39th minute of the first half, Gabriel Magalhais tried to curl in with his left foot, but Alisson did well to block it. The first half was largely one-sided, but disaster struck for the hosts just before the break.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz headed the ball to Raya, who crossed the line after a successful deflection from Gabriel. Arsenal finished the first half with 1.98 xG, while the Reds finished with 0.1. But in the end, nothing could separate them. A bad day at the office for Liverpool loyalists Van Dijk and AlissonLiverpool, who had an ordinary first half, improved considerably in the first quarter of the second half and 45 minutes into the second half. Unfortunately, they were outplayed by two defenders and their best players, Van Dijk and Alisson, handled the attack. In the 67th minute, Gabriel sent a speculative long ball to catch Martinelli. Van Dijk went forward and looked good to receive the ball, but the Dutchman left the ball to his goalkeeper.
Alisson was initially unable to read the captain’s intentions and action for approval was delayed. Martinelli’s pressure prevented the goalkeeper from shooting and the Brazilian struck the ball into the defenseless goal. Things also got worse for Alisson in extra time as he failed to score at the first post.
Leandro Trossard did a great job attacking the box, breaking away from Harvey Elliott on the left. However, the substitute’s plan appeared to have been for naught as the Arsenal player failed to enter the penalty area. Hoping to go one better, he fired a left-footed shot to Alisson, who latched on to Van Dijk’s low deflection and went between the Brazil international’s legs and into the net.
Arsenal, who won 3-1, are in second place, just a few points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool (51-49). They return to action away to West Ham United on Sunday (February 11).
