A stoppage-time equaliser from Martin Skrtel salvaged a point for Liverpool as the home side, who were down to 10-men held Arsenal to a draw. The home side dominated the first half but were unable to take their chances until Coutinho scored right on the stroke of half-time. But a header from Mathieu Debuchy meant that the Reds went into the break level.
In the second, the Reds continued to dominate the possession and play the visitors off the park, but it was Olivier Giroud who scored to put his side in front. Fabio Borini sending off late in the game, looked to have put a dent in the home side’s chances, but Skrtel’s header in stoppage time was enough to propel the Reds into the top half of the table for Christmas.
Here are the major talking points.
A contradictory game of football
Football is a simple game. At the end of each game, there is always a winner and a loser. Even if the game ends in a draw, there is one side that goes home happy. But Arsenal’s trip to Liverpool was one of those games when both sides and managers would have come out of the game disappointed.
Although the Reds secured a last-gasp equaliser, Brendan Rodgers wouldn’t have been too pleased with the amount of chances that his side wasted. The home side’s inability to not only take their chances, but also defend was the reason they needed a late equaliser in the first place. The Gunners played their worst game of the season, were unable to keep the ball and barely existed as an attacking threat and yet with a few minutes to go they were leading. Arsene Wenger is unlikely to be very chuffed about the fact that his side couldn’t hold on for a few more minutes and conceded, yet again, from a set piece.
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