Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool: Bukayo Saka’s brace and Gabriel Martinelli’s first-minute goal send the hosts back to the top of the Premier League as Jurgen Klopp’s side now trail the Gunners by 14 POINTS
- Bukayo Saka scored twice as Arsenal fought back to win 3-2 at home to Liverpool
- Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring for the Gunners after just one minute
- Liverpool twice pulled away on equal terms, but Saka’s goals in either half sealed it
- Arsenal are back at the top of the table and are 14 points clear of the Reds
By Martin Samuel for MailOnline
Published: 14:31, October 9, 2022 | Updated: 19:05, October 9, 2022
After everything that happened, it really is a show of character that Bukayo Saka still wants to take big penalties.
What happened after the European Championship final in 2021 could have left a man short for life.
Yet when Michael Oliver pointed to the spot in the 74th minute, there he was, ball in hand, ready to put his mental well-being on the line again.
Bukayo Saka scored a brace as Arsenal cruised to a dominant Premier League win over Liverpool
ASSESSMENTS OF THE MATCH
Arsenal: Ramsdale 6; Blanca 6.5, Saliba 7, Gabriel 6, Tomiyasu 6.5; Odegaard 7 (Tierney 82, 6.5), Partey 6, Xhaka 6.5; Saka 8 (Vieira 90, 6), Jesus 7.5 (Nketiah 90), Martinelli 8.5
Subs not used: Holding, Cedric Soares, Sambi Lokonga, Nelson, Marquinhos, Turner
Goals: Martinelli 1, Saka 45, 76
Yellow: Odegaard
Red: None
Manager: Mikel Arteta 7
Liverpool: Alisson 7; Alexander-Arnold 5 (Gomez 45, 6), Matip 6 (Konate 69, 6.5), Van Dijk 6, Tsimikas 6; Thiago 7, Henderson 6; Salah 6 (Fabinho 69, 6), Jota 7 (Elliott 81, 6), Díaz 7 (Firmino 42, 8), Núñez 7
Subs not used: Milner, Carvalho, Phillips, Kelleher
Goals: Núñez 34, Firmino 53
Yellow: Díaz, Gómez
Red: None
Director: Jurgen Klopp
Referee: Michael Oliver 5
It wasn’t just any penalty either. The likely decider, against Liverpool, to put his club back at the top of the league.
All eyes on him, and not a large number outside this stadium who want him to succeed.
Nevertheless, Saka was successful; and also Arsenal. He kept it low and tight in the corner.
Alisson, the Liverpool goalkeeper, has been on the right track, so if Saka’s technique failed him, he could have saved himself.
But it was not to be and it was not to be and Arsenal went ahead once again at Manchester City.
These last eight days were to be the litmus test.
Tottenham and Liverpool. Let’s see where they are after this double header.
Still up, as it turns out. Six points out of six.
Liverpool will claim harsh justice, that Thiago’s foul in the penalty area on Gabriel Jesus was judged harshly, who should have had a first-half penalty for handball.
However, Thiago’s challenge was clumsy, and Gabriel’s arm was close to Diogo Jota’s play as the ball hit him.
This seemed like a reasonable outcome. Moments before the penalty, Alisson had made a good double save from Saka and Jesus.
And Arsenal were the stronger team in the second half and led three times.
Liverpool never led. The game was tied for 33 minutes and Arsenal led by 57. Their narrow victory was the fairer result.
More to follow…
Mikel Arteta led the jubilant celebrations of Arsenal’s players and staff at the final whistle
Roberto Firmino had equalized for Liverpool for the second time in the game in the 53rd minute
Read how Sportsmail’s SAMUEL DRAPER covered the match action from Arsenal’s 3-2 Premier League win over Liverpool in the live blog.