Liverpool, Arsenal Anfield dramatic draw hands title advantage to Man City

Draw reduces Arsenal’s lead over Man City to six points

LIVERPOOL came from two goals behind to draw 2- 2 to deny Arsenal a crucial victor y in the Premier League title race, writes football365. com. Mohamed Salah returned to Liverpool’s team for the visit of Arsenal. The Eg ypt international was dropped as one of six changes for the midweek draw at Chelsea, but came back along with Cody Gakpo , T rent Alexander- Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson.

Darwin Nunez dropped to the bench after illness during the week.

Arsenal made just one change from last weekend’s win over Leeds with Bukayo Saka replacing Leandro Trossard.

For all Liverpool’s inconsistency, they have lost only once at home this season, but some now trademark lax defending allowed the visitors to open the scoring after just eight minutes. Saka ran at the defence, the ball bounced kindly off Van Dijk to Gabriel Martinelli and Robertson was not able to make a challenge as the forward rolled the ball into the net.

Robertson was being given a torrid time by Saka, but the Scotland captain’s next problem was with Gabriel Jesus, who was allowed to jump virtually unchallenged to head home Martinelli’s 28th- minute cross.

Liverpool had barely looked like threatening a goal until they scored in the 42nd minute.

Curtis Jones and Robertson combined down the left with Salah poking home from close range at the far post via Jordan Henderson’s touch.

Seven minutes into the second half, Rob Holding fouled Jota at a corner breakdown, but Salah pushed his penalty wide of the goalkeeper’s right- hand post. It was the Egyptian’s second successive failure from the spot, having missed with an equaliser attempt at Bournemouth last month.

Arsenal were starting to come under increasing pressure and eventually conceded an equaliser in the 87th minute. Substitute Roberto Firmino nodded home Alexander- Arnold’s cross. The equaliser brought the Premier League title back in Manchester City’s hands.

The leveller would have been cheered by Man City fans as it is huge moment in their bid to win a third straight Premier League title.

Pep Guardiola’s side battered Southampton 4- 1 on Saturday and are six points behind Arsenal after this weekend’s action.

However, they still have a game in hand over the Gunners, who they also host at the Etihad Stadium in a match of epic proportions on April 26.

With a slightly superior goal difference, City will lift another title if they win all of their games.

The clash between Liverpool and Arsenal was undoubtedly one of the best of the season and went up another gear when an altercation between Trent AlexanderArnold and Granit Xhaka got everyone fired up.

But there was a shocking moment at half- time as linesman, Constantine Hatzidakis, appeared to elbow Liverpool defender, Andy Robertson.

Liverpool players fumed to the referee and footage shown by Sky Sports confirmed Jamie Carragher’s claims that the Scot was on the receiving end of an elbow.

Geoff Shreeves reported that the former Hull City man was raging in the tunnel, while Gary Neville suggested a hefty punishment might be coming the way of the assistant.

However, Roy Keane had no sympathy in the slightest and branded Robertson a ‘ big baby.’

PGMOL have said they will investigate the incident.