Arsenal ends Liverpool record hopes after comeback win at the Emirates

If the resumption of football in June was to be the start of a new season, Liverpool would be out of the European spots based on their seven games.

They have only managed 11 points from a possible 21 which would have had them in the ninth spot. It’s dismal compared to the rate of points they had amassed pre-lockdown. Remember, this is a team that had won 19 of their last 20 Premier League matches either side of a 3-0 defeat at Watford.

Arsenal, who many didn’t believe would have any chance against Liverpool considering their very poor defence and even the line-up Arteta put up against the champions, did a surprise on everyone, even Liverpool didn’t expect it.

Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker error gifted Arsenal a 2-1 victory as Liverpool’s hopes of breaking the Premier League points record were dashed.

Sadio Mane looked to have set the champions on course for one of the three victories they needed to surpass Manchester City’s record 100-point haul with the opener on 20 minutes at the Emirates.

But the bedrocks of Liverpool’s title triumph handed Arsenal a half-time lead, as rare Van Dijk and Alisson’s mistakes were ruthlessly punished by Alexandre Lacazette and Reiss Nelson’s first Premier League goal.

The second half was almost an exercise in the attack against the defence as Liverpool laid siege to Arsenal’s goal but for the first time in a while, Mikel Arteta’s side didn’t falter but showed real resilience and determination to close out the win and receive a real morale boost before this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley.

Liverpool’s boss, Jurgen Klopp, admits his team deserved what they got against Arsenal and hopes they can learn from their mistake going forward.

“We have to learn from it, 100 percent. We’ve had sloppy moments before and not been punished for it but this is good because we have to learn from it. Credit to Arsenal for being there and using it,” Klopp says.

“I can’t make something negative from something so positive, we get the points we deserve and we will see how many that will be. These boys played an exceptional season, nobody can take that away from them.

“I’m disappointed and angry about a few things but the game was good, the attitude was good, but we took a break and that is why we lost the game. That is football, someone is surprised these boys are human beings – I am not. From time to time they are not perfect.”

Liverpool will be disappointed to miss out on that Premier League points record but it is almost inevitable a crucial edge would be taken off their game after securing the club’s first title in 30 years with seven games still to play.

And it showed at the Emirates as awful errors by Van Dijk, so careless when he is normally so precise, and goalkeeper Alisson, who was sloppy with a clearance to allow Nelson to score.

There was no shortage of effort or determination from Jurgen Klopp’s side but even up front, they did not possess the ruthless streak that has been such a part of their success, with Salah heading tamely at Martinez when free at the far post and other good positions escaping them.

Stats and facts from the match

• Arsenal defeated Liverpool in the Premier League for the first time since April 2015, while it is the first time Jurgen Klopp has lost against the Gunners in the competition after winning five and drawing three previously.
• Liverpool suffered their first league defeat in a game in which they opened the scoring since April 2017, ending a run of 83 consecutive league games without losing after scoring first.
• This was Arsenal’s first Premier League win against the team starting at the top of the table since February 2016, losing each of their previous five.
• Liverpool have conceded 10 goals in their last five Premier League away games – as many as in their previous 19 league games on the road.
• Sadio Mane has scored six goals against Arsenal in the Premier League, only scoring more against Crystal Palace (nine).
• Arsenal’s equaliser came from the first error made by Virgil van Dijk that has led to a goal in the Premier League since March 2019.
• Alexandre Lacazette has been directly involved in four goals in three Premier League appearances against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, scoring twice.
• Reiss Nelson netted his first Premier League goal for Arsenal, becoming the fifth different player aged 20 or under to score for the Gunners in the competition this season along with Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli and Willock.