Mohamed Salah’s equalizer denies Arsenal victory against title rivals Liverpool – Irvine Times

Bukayo Saka, who has missed Arsenal’s last two games with a thigh injury, scored the opener after just nine minutes before Virgil van Dijk equalized for Liverpool.

Mikel Merino then restored his side’s lead only for Salah to convert Darwin Nunez’s cross to deny the hosts victory.

The thrilling draw leaves Liverpool second, a point behind table leaders Manchester City, with Arsenal third, now five points off the pace.

In the last four league meetings between the heavyweights, Arsenal have opened the scoring inside the first 15 minutes and that trend has continued to leave the visitors on the ropes.

Ben White, acting at centre-back in place of the suspended William Saliba, played a long ball over the top of the Liverpool defense and there was only going to be one winner in the race between Saka and Andy Robertson.

Saka took a touch to control White’s pass before using a second to put himself in position to slot past a helpless Caoimhin Kelleher with his third.

It was a devastating finish from the Englishman, who at 23 years and 52 days became the youngest Arsenal player to score half a century of Premier League goals.

The Reds gave an emphatic answer just nine minutes later.

Arsenal, so often corner wizards, got a dose of their own medicine when Luis Diaz shook off Kai Havertz at the near post to head home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner before Van Dijk rounded Thomas Partey to score.

Arne Slott’s side may have been hoping to build on the equaliser, but Arsenal took control.

Saka looked threatening every time he was on the ball and midway through the opening period he burst down the right, beating Robertson who fell to the deck only to hit his left-footed shot over the bar.

The home supporters were calling for a penalty after Ibrahima Konate failed to deal with Leandro Trossar’s chipped through ball to Martinelli, with the Frenchman sliding towards the Arsenal winger. Referee Anthony Taylor dismissed the appeals.

Slott desperately urged his players onto the pitch but it was Arsenal who regained the lead with just two minutes left in the first half.

Diaz fouled Partey and from Declan Rice’s accurate free-kick Merino headed home his first goal in Arsenal colours. A lengthy VAR check for an offside ensued, but the goal remained to ensure the home side’s advantage at the break.

With the second half just minutes away, Arsenal’s injury problems took a new turn when Gabriel limped off with a knee problem. Jakub Kivior replaced the Brazilian to form a first-time partnership with White at the heart of Arsenal’s defence.

Liverpool were eager to take advantage, with Alexander-Arnold firing two shots from distance – both to no avail. Ryan Gravenburch then fired high and wide before Salah’s curling cross was cleared by David Raya and Darwin Nunes’ follow-up effort was blocked.

Arsenal were under pressure and Jurien Timber – a serious pre-match injury – was substituted with 15 minutes remaining to give teenager Miles Lewis-Skelley just his second Premier League appearance.

And Arsenal’s untested backline was exposed as Liverpool’s pressure took its toll. Neither Kivior nor Lewis-Skelly dealt with Alexander-Arnold’s ball over the top and Nunes’s clearance found Salah, with the Egyptian coolly slotting home.

Substitute Gabriel Jesus fired down the throat of Kelleher in the 88th minute before the Brazilian put the ball into the Liverpool net two minutes later, but Taylor’s whistle was long gone after Havertz was adjudged to have fouled Konate in the build-up.

Seven minutes of added time followed, but both teams had to settle for a draw, with Liverpool likely to be the happier of the two sides.