Mark Ogden says Manchester City will be overjoyed if their big-name rivals stumble at Anfield. (0:59)
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — A titanic war rages Saturday between two teams with real name aspirations, and only one point will separate Arsenal and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League on Christmas Day, but there has been only one winner after this clash. At Anfield: Manchester City.
Liverpool have dropped four points from their last two home games, with that draw coming 1-1 after a 0-0 draw at Manchester United last Sunday. For the first time since October 2021, Jurgen Klopp’s side have gone two games without a win. Meanwhile, Arsenal will earn a point at Anfield, a smart point (any team that wins the title would be satisfied with avoiding defeat at Liverpool), although Mikel Arteta’s side have now picked up just one point from two away games, after losing to Aston Villa earlier this month.
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Reigning champions City have shown in recent seasons that they are capable of ruthlessly taking credit for their rivals’ mistakes in the name race. Having flown to Saudi Arabia last week for the FIFA Club World Cup, knowing they could face a double-digit deficit when they return to league action against Everton on December 27, the truth is that Pep Guardiola’s side are just six points behind. Arsenal leaders Arsenal have a game in hand.
Liverpool may be eight points behind City with a win at Burnley on December 26, but by then Klopp’s side will have played two more games than the champions. While Anfield witnessed a thrilling encounter between two rising teams, it ended with a missed opportunity for both and an evening in which the weaknesses of both groups were evident, weaknesses that could still claim them the title.
“A game of football,” Arsenal manager Arteta said. “It was one of the most intense I’ve noticed in 20 years in this league. For many moments we were in the lead, in the last 20 minutes we looked for it more. “, but a draw is a fair result. “
Liverpool manager Klopp had a vision of the quality of the game. ‘Oh my God, how strong are [Arsenal]?'” said Klopp. “The good news is that we are too. “
But being smart is not enough. To prevent City from becoming the first English club to win four consecutive league titles, it will take an exceptional team capable of turning draws into wins. Liverpool and Arsenal have the ability to do it, and this match showed why, but it also showed how they can fail.
First of all, the smart parts. Arsenal are an incredibly ambitious team under Arteta and play without fear. Many groups at Anfield and prepare for the worst, however, this Arsenal team of Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba took the game to Liverpool and was rewarded within 4 minutes when defender Gabriel gave them the lead with a header from a Martin Odegaard free-kick.
Klopp had suggested to Liverpool enthusiasts that they come alive and Anfield become a wall of noise after the midweek Carabao Cup win over West Ham; The fans answered his call, but Arsenal’s quick goal reduced the volume to zero.
Liverpool’s strength, however, lies in their ability to wear down teams with their attacking play, and they responded with a late shot on Mohamed Salah before he was denied what appeared to be a transparent penalty when Odegaard entered the box. VAR otherwise.
“The penalty scenario is strange, I don’t know if the referee can see it,” Klopp said. “But if you look at it, I don’t know how you can say it’s not a penalty. “
Less than 10 minutes after that decision, Liverpool were on point when a long-distance pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold reached left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko and gave Salah a shot in the box. angle, but beat Zinchenko by backtracking before guiding a left-footed shot that beat goalkeeper David Raya.
Salah is Liverpool’s greatest strength. The striker is the best player in big games and you know that if he is fit, he will score the goals that will keep the team in the fight for the title. But after betting on Newcastle at Anfield on New Year’s Day, Salah will fly to the Ivory Coast. with Egypt in the African Cup of Nations and he could be out for up to six weeks.
Without Salah, Liverpool are the same team. They have strikers with a lot of pace, movement and potential, but Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez are not comparable in quality to Salah’s quality, while Diogo Jota continues to struggle with injury.
Even when Salah doesn’t score, he creates. Alexander-Arnold won the game when Salah set up a pass for him in the 73rd minute, but instead fired against the crossbar.
How Liverpool will fare without Salah will be crucial. Will they be able to lead City in his absence? It’s a complicated decision and it remains to be seen who could step in and fill that void.
Arsenal also have their problems. Zinchenko pointed out his lack of quality at left-back, while Ben White is also limited to right-back. Gabriel Jesus is a fair worker, but if Arsenal manage to sign Ivan Toney from Brentford in January, the England striker could be a replacement. The important thing is whether Arsenal have the money to point to a player who could propel them to the title.
Dealing with Salah is Liverpool’s uncertainty, thriving with Jesus is Arsenal’s. But right now it’s the two groups in the Premier League and either of them is capable of winning the title.
However, they also know that City are too close to be after this result.