Liverpool’s injury-time goal ties Arsenal
Liverpool required an injurytime goal to avoid a moralesapping defeat to Arsenal on Sunday in a Premier League game that exposed both teams’ frailties as they struggle to bridge the gap to the top four.
Wearing a bandage to cover up a nasty head wound, Martin Skrtel leaped high at a corner to score a powerful header in the seventh minute of stoppage time and rescue a 2-2 draw for 10-man Liverpool at Anfield.
Liverpool dominated the game but again lacked a cutting edge in the continued absence of injured striker Daniel Sturridge, with Philippe Coutinho’s 45th-minute opener the only reward for its effervescent play until Skrtel’s late intervention.
Despite being overrun, Arsenal came from behind through goals by France internationals Mathieu Debuchy and Olivier Giroud from the team’s first two efforts on target. The visitors should have gone on to take maximum points because Liverpool substitute Fabio Borini was sent off at the start of second-half stoppage time for two quick bookings.
“There’s no doubt we deserved to win the game. Our performance level was outstanding,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said. “Our performance today was better than when we won here last (season) 5-1.”
Last season’s runner-up, Liverpool is in 10th place and nine points behind fourthplace West Ham heading toward the mid-point of the season.
A late goal was decisive in Sunday’s other game, with Adam Johnson volleying home a 90th-minute winner for Sunderland in a 1-0 victory at Newcastle.
It sealed an unprecedented fourth straight derby win for Sunderland.
“It makes it a very special Christmas for us,” said Sunderland manager Gus Poyet, whose team climbed four points clear of the relegation zone.
Arsenal’s fragility in defence and central midfield continues to be a worry for manager Arsene Wenger, who has masterminded 17 straight seasons of Champions League football for the London club. Another top-four finish is expected, even though Arsenal is four points behind West Ham heading into the busy period of fixtures over the festive period.
“It’s a point we are happy to take,” Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini said, “but we had the chance to win this game.”
“We are disappointed to give a goal away with a free header from a corner,” Wenger said.