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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Liverpool v Arsenal, Barclays Premier League

Jurgen Klopp’s side faced the leaders at Anfield.

Hello and welcome to this evening’s Premier League liveblog as Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield. Kick-off is at 8pm but stick with us for all the team news and build-up.

Christian Benteke is once again on the bench with Klopp opting for Roberto Firmino as his lone striker. James Milner returns too while new loan signing Steven Caulker is on the bench.

For the visitors, there aren’t many surprises. Flamini is back while Wenger deploys Joe Campbell on the left and Theo Walcott on the right with Olivier Giroud up top.

Liverpool don’t have a good record in this fixture of late.

Not long until kick-off now. As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail ryan@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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The scene is set at Anfield. A crackling atmosphere is expected.

Liverpool v Arsenal - Barclays Premier League - Anfield Richard Sellers Richard Sellers

Interestingly Klopp has left Adam Bogdan out of the squad following a succession of errors with Danny Ward named as the reserve goalkeeper.

Liverpool subs: Ward, Smith, Caulker, Lucas, Allen, Teixeira, Benteke.

Arsenal subs: Macey, Gibbs, Gabriel, Chambers, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi.

Six other games in the Premier League tonight. Sunderland have taken the lead at Swansea after just three minutes through Jermain Defoe. The other 8pm kick-off the rematch between Tottenham and Leicester following Sunday’s cup tie.

The teams are out and it’s an electric atmosphere inside Anfield. The Kop is in full voice and there’s always something special about games under lights here. We’re all set.

Kick-off! We’re underway with Liverpool, playing in their all red kit, defending the Kop end.

Arsenal have started the game by dropping a little deeper and allowing Liverpool to see plenty of the ball in these opening exchanges.

First involvement for Petr Cech as he gathers a high cross into the area. Arsenal have plenty of pace in attack and appear to be set-up to counter-attack. Still early days yet though.

Penalty appeals from the Liverpool fans. Can breaks from midfield and feeds Lallana. The England international tries to come inside Per Mertesacker and goes over under his challenge but the referee isn’t interested.

Bright start from the hosts and they’re doing all the early running in this game. Klopp prowls his touchline and will no doubt be pleased with the way his side have started.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal (Roberto Firmino) 

Great start from the Reds and they’ve been rewarded. Cech saves the initial effort but it falls to Firmino who fires a low drive past the goalkeeper.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal (Ramsey) 

Incredible! Out of nothing, Arsenal are level. Giroud wins the flick on from Cech’s kick out. Kolo Toure’s header is played back in and it eventually falls to Campbell. His touch his sublime and he plays a perfect ball through for Ramsey to fire low past Mignolet at the near post.

Brilliant reverse pass from Campbell to set Ramsey through and Arsenal are back in this all of a sudden. They’ve been on the back-foot for much of the contest but their first attack yields an equaliser.

Giroud had to go off for some running repairs after sustaining a cut to his head in the build-up to the goal. The Frenchman is back on.

Incredible pace to the game already as both sides continue to pass it around crisply. Liverpool still enjoying most of the possession.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal (Firmino)

What a goal! Firmino restores Liverpool’s lead with a sweet strike, which curls past Cech into the top corner. Milner lays it off and the Brazilian only needs a yard of space to curl it beyond the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Liverpool are pressing Arsenal so high. Mertesacker’s clearance was poor and the red shirts pounced. Henderson and Milner have so much energy in midfield and Arsenal are being overrun. After all that, it’s 2-1 to the Reds.

You cannot keep your eyes off this one. Just 22 minutes gone and it’s already proving to be a classic. We were treated to one last night at St James’ Park and this one is living up to the billing too.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal (Giroud)

What on earth is going on!? Sakho clears Ramsey’s looped effort off the line and from the resulting corner, Arsenal are level.

Ramsey’s low set-piece appears to catch Liverpool off guard and it somehow manages to go in at the near post via Giroud.

What a miss! Somehow Giroud has spurned a gilt-edged opportunity. Walcott and Campbell link-up down the right. The ball comes across for the Frenchman but with the goal at his mercy he manages to divert it sideways and into the arm’s of the goalkeeper.

Struggling to keep up at the minute. Still not sure how Giroud managed to spurn that chance. It was on his good foot too. Somehow we remain locked at 2-2 after the most incredible half hour of football you’re likely to see.

Campbell is so lively down the right but Can is equal to the task. He has nearly covered every blade of cross already and the midfielder tracks back to stop Campbell in his tracks with a perfectly timed and executed sliding challenge.

The noticeable difference since Arsenal have restored parity is their closing down. They’ve pushed themselves up field and have put pressure on Liverpool, just like the Reds were doing to them in the first few minutes.

Every time Arsenal go forward, they look like scoring. Liverpool give possession away again and Campbell’s effort is blocked. From the corner, Mertesacker’s header goes wide.

Britain Soccer Premier League AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Less than 10 minutes until half-time. The complexion of this game has changed with Arsenal know stamping their authority on proceedings  - but Liverpool still carry a significant threat.

He should have had another one too.

Frenetic end to the half. Liverpool looking to strike just before the interval but Firmino’s pass is aimless and the move peters out.

Off the bar! Firmino controls beautifully and swivels before unleashing a swerving drive. Cech is well beaten but it shaves the top of the bar.

Half-time! And the referee brings a quite remarkable half of football to an end.

Quick check on the other Premier League scores:

  • Chelsea 1-1 West Brom
  • Man City 0-0 Everton
  • Southampton 1-0 Watford
  • Stoke 1-1 Norwich
  • Swansea 2-2 Sunderland
  • Tottenham 0-0 Leicester (HT)

Back underway at Anfield. And Arsenal are on the front foot straight away. Ozil swings in a cross to the back post and Campbell should do better. He’s sliding in and can’t keep his effort down.

Britain Soccer Premier League AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Chance for Moreno at the other end. Milner stands it up to the back post where the full back is unmarked – but he doesn’t keep his composure and snatches at it, sending it high and wide.

The rain is beginning to fall pretty heavily now. Meanwhile, Ibe looks to run at Monreal but the Arsenal defender stands firm.

Booking for Clyne for a deliberate handball and Ozil is standing over the free. Giroud gets his head on the set-piece but can’t guide it goalwards.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-3 Arsenal (Giroud) 

Arsenal hit the front for the first time this evening. Bellerin wins possession and feeds Campbell. The winger runs at the Liverpool defence once again and plays another delightful ball through for Giroud.

The French striker puts Kolo Toure on his back side with a lovely turn of direction and then fires it home with his left foot.

Liverpool are really rattled now. Can loses the ball and in trying to win it back fouls Campbell. He’s not happy with Mike Jones’ decision but he can have no complaints.

Ozil and Ramsey stand over it but the former’s effort goes straight into the wall. Liverpool can’t clear and are all over the place defensively.

How will Liverpool respond? Appeals for a penalty are waved away and all eyes will be on Klopp. He has Benteke on the bench.

Arsenal may not be in complete control but they’re certainly in the driving seat. The hosts just beginning to get frustrated and the Gunners scent blood as they look to pick them off on the break.

‘A dangerous time for Liverpool,’ according to Glenn Hoddle on BT Sport.

Benteke is readying himself on the touchline. 25 minutes remaining at Anfield and Klopp’s men trail to Olivier Giroud’s second goal of the night.

James Milner is the man to make way for Benteke.

Liverpool v Arsenal - Barclays Premier League - Anfield Richard Sellers Richard Sellers

Liverpool now have a target man and Moreno wastes little time to get the ball in the box. Arsenal just about deal with it and it goes out for a corner. The set-piece is cleared to Moreno. His strike goes inches wide and then Firmino’s header goes the wrong side of Cech’s upright from Liverpool’s point of view.

Liverpool enjoying a good spell in the last few minutes. They’re just trying to force things a little at the minute but have Arsenal pegged back.

Ibe runs directly at Monreal and does brilliantly to cut it back but Mertesacker is there to clear the danger. The crowd urging their side on.

The rain is turning to sleet at Anfield now. Meanwhile, Benteke has his first sight of goal but his curling effort is straight at Cech. Liverpool are applying all the pressure and are knocking on the door here.

Frustration levels just growing. Moreno opts to shoot and his effort his wild when he had other options.

Arsene Wenger is making a double change. Oxlade-Chamberlain is coming on for Campbell and Walcott is making way for Gibbs. Fresh legs for the Gunners.

Mertesacker makes a crucial intervention as Lallana was lining up the shot. Nothing comes from the corner and Arsenal take the sting out of Liverpool’s onslaught.

All backs to the wall for Arsenal. Liverpool are throwing everything at the Gunners as they win a series of corners. It eventually ends with Benteke trying his luck but his effort is tame.

Full-time in five other games:

  • Chelsea 2-2 West Brom
  • Man City 0-0 Everton
  • Southampton 2-0 Watford
  • Stoke 3-1 Norwich
  • Swansea 2-4 Sunderland

Change for Liverpool as Joe Allen is introduced for Emre Can.

Arsenal have managed to take the sting out of Liverpool’s onslaught. Mikel Arteta is ready to come on to sit in front of the back four.

Ibe has been lively all evening and cuts inside onto his left foot. His effort is sweetly struck and canons off an Arsenal shirt and out for a corner. Arteta replaces Ozil for the closing stages.

Steven Caulker is on to make his Liverpool debut as he comes on for Adam Lallana. Strange move from Klopp and it looks like the defender is going up top for the last few minutes.

Caulker is straight into the action as he lays it off for Ibe. Liverpool recycle it and win a free-kick just outside the area as Clyne is fouled. Good opportunity here.

Moreno’s free-kick is straight into the five-man wall but Liverpool still have the ball and numbers forward.

GOAL! Liverpool 3-3 Arsenal (Allen)

Klopp is off down the touchline! Benteke heads the diagonal back across goal and Allen latches onto it to fire home.

Kop in full voice. We’re into the final minute of stoppage time.

Full-time! 

Phew! What a game. On the balance of play you’d have to say it was a fair result but what entertainment that was. Full report and reaction to come.

Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool players have now until the end of the season to prove themselves

Ireland legend Sheridan lands new management role

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