11 months ago
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Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Liverpool lost another defender after missing a chance to go top of the Premier League table with a 1-1 draw to leaders, Arsenal.
Liverpool spurned a golden chance to spend Christmas at the top of the league table, dropping points to visiting Arsenal in a 1-1 draw.
Separated by a point coming into the match, the Reds came out of the blocks at Anfield with the expected intensity. After getting over the shock of quickly going behind to a Gabriel header from a set piece, the Reds proceeded to stamp their presence on the match, dominating for large stretches of the first period.
Jurgen Klopp’s men received their just reward for their efforts as Mohamed Salah took down a raking long ball before turning the Gunners’ Oleksandr Zinchenko inside out and slotting home to equalize.
“[Arsenal] went 1-0 up but we reacted well,” Klopp said after the game speaking to BeIN Sport. “We were super intense—wow.
“To the extent where we had to calm it down [because] we couldn’t go like this for 95 minutes, no chance
“We scored a wonderful goal, an incredible pass—one of the best I saw in my life. Sensational goal from Mo.”
Attacking the Kop in the second half, the hosts ratcheted up the pressure even further and a final ball away on several occasions from sticking their noses in front. At one point, Alexander-Arnold even spurned a 4-on-1 breakaway opportunity to as the 2nd half drew to a close.
“We had very good moments in the first half, but second half we should’ve scored, definitely,” Klopp admitted.
“Won plenty of balls high up the pitch and we could see that the high press influenced them.”
The Reds boss was adamant that his side are still in the race for the league title, even despite appearing to lose backup left back Kostas Tsimikas to a severe-looking injury in the first half with starter Andy Robertson still out with a shoulder injury:
“The important message is that the with all the things that people are talking about us, we are there [in the Premier League title conversation] as well and we belong there.
“With Kostas with at least collarbone broken, he is out for a long, long time. Robbo’s still out, other players who are not coming back.”
The Greek defender, who has made seven starts and nine appearances in Robertson’s absence, landed hard on his shoulder while falling off the pitch from a tackle and colliding with Klopp on the sideline.
“I thought it wasn’t a real problem,” the German continued while speaking to Sky Sports.
“I had no pain and thought maybe Kostas came away Ok. I would happily give my collarbone if Kostas would be fit again.
“I was completely fine, in that moment I thought Kostas as well, and he said ‘no, it’s broke’. It’s not cool.
The Reds will look to rally as they prepare to move into the second half of the league campaign with a Boxing Day fixture against Burnley.
