Defensive errors costly as Gunners topple the champions

ARSENAL took advantage of two Liverpool errors to end the new Premier League champions’ quest for 100 points and maintain their slim hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.

The Gunners had not beaten Liverpool in their last nine league meetings but a 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium, their goals coming from their only shots on target, left Mikel Arteta’s side ninth only three points behind sixth-placed Wolves.

When Sadio Mane gave the visitors the lead it looked to be the same old story for Arsenal against their so-called top-six rivals, but Alexandre Lacazette and Reiss Nelson pounced on costly mistakes to turn the game around before the interval.

Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson were the guilty parties, with the defeat meaning Jurgen Klopp’s runaway side will now fall short in their attempt to end the campaign with their points tally in three figures.

Arteta, making five changes with an eye on Saturday’s FA Cup semifinal with Manchester City, opted to drop the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Dani Ceballos and Hector Bellerin to the bench.

Liverpool did not have to wait too long to break the deadlock, Firmino and Andy Robertson combining down the left to tee up Mane, who finished off the move with ease.

Van Dijk has rightly been praised for his performances at the heart of the Liverpool defence but he gifted Arsenal their equaliser.

The Holland international was pressed by Nelson and passed the ball straight into the path of Lacazette, who was left with a simple finish to haul Arsenal level with his third goal in his last four games.

Things went from bad to worse for the Liverpool defence before the break, with goalkeeper Alisson looking to play out from the back but only picking out an alert Lacazette, who played in Nelson to give Arsenal the lead.

His side continued to have the better of the ball after the restart but Arsenal still saw out the contest to take the three points.