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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Arsenal v Liverpool, Premier League

We were at the Emirates Stadium as the Gunners hosted Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Good evening and welcome along to our live coverage of this Premier League clash between Arsenal and Liverpool from the Emirates Stadium. 

Kick off is coming up at 5.30pm and we’ll have all the build up between now and then. 

The stage is set.

Arsenal v Liverpool - Premier League - Emirates Stadium John Walton John Walton

Arsenal v Liverpool - Premier League - Emirates Stadium John Walton John Walton

Arsenal v Liverpool - Premier League - Emirates Stadium Jonathan Brady Jonathan Brady

TEAM NEWS: Unai Emery has been able to name both Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac in his starting XI after they proved their fitness, which is a huge boost for the Gunners amid a major defensive headache. 

In midfield, Matteo Guendouzi’s suspension means Granit Xhaka returns to the engine room alongside Lucas Torreir, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan is preferred to Alex Iwobi up top.

TEAM NEWS: As for Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp makes three changes with Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson returning in defence in place of Dejan Lovren and Alberto Moreno.

James Milner comes in for Adam Lallana, with Mane, Salah and Firmino leading the line. 

Liverpool will be looking to extend their run of 10 unbeaten games in the Premier League this season, with a point against the Gunners tonight enough to lift them above Man City into pole position in the standings.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are also sporting impressive form and could stretch their unbeaten run to 12 games after initially suffering a difficult start to the season with consecutive losses against City and Chelsea.

Victory for Emery’s men would lift them above Chelsea into third. 

Warm-ups complete, we’re under 10 minutes away from kick off at the Emirates!

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Quick check on the other Premier League scores from today, with Man United snatching victory at the death in the early game, while Leicester City recorded an emotional win at Cardiff in memory of their late owner. 

  • Bournemouth 1-2 Manchester United
  • Cardiff City 0-1 Leicester City
  • Everton 3-1 Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Newcastle United 1-0 Watford
  • West Ham United 4-2 Burnley
  • Arsenal v Liverpool [5.30pm]
  • Wolves v Tottenham Hotspur [7.45pm]

The teams are out at the Emirates, but before we get underway we’ll pause for a minute’s silence in memory of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, and those who sadly lost their lives in last weekend’s accident in Leicester. 

A poignant moment as the Emirates falls silent in honour of those who lost their lives last weekend. 

KICK OFF! And we’re underway in North London. Liverpool, in their changed kit, are playing from right to left as we look in this first period. 

Which way do you see this one going?


Poll Results:

Liverpool (157)
Draw  (124)
Arsenal (68)

2 mins – Arsenal have started brightly and Alisson is called into action early on as the Liverpool ‘keeper is required to get down at his near post to deny Alexandre Lacazette. 

7 mins – The Gunners are enjoying all the early possession but Liverpool contain a lethal attacking edge and after galloping down the left, Andrew Robertson delivers an inviting ball into the box. Holding does well to cover the danger and head clear but Arsenal will need to be wary. 

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9 mins – As you would expect, the game has started at a million miles an hour with both sides guilty of making unforced errors during these opening exchanges. Arsenal are putting Alexander-Arnold under all sorts of pressure at right back. 

14 mins – Jurgen Klopp’s side are starting to gain a bit of a foothold in proceedings, but they squander possession cheaply and are very nearly punished as Xhaka, Ozil and Aubameyang link up.

The striker switches it onto his left but his effort takes a slight deflection and goes into the side netting. 

15 mins — Close! Arsenal doing all the pressing at the moment, and Mkhitaryan comes close to breaking the deadlock. Liverpool stand off Lacazette and he whips in a delightful ball for Mkhitaryan, who gets up ahead of Alisson but can’t quite keep his header on target. Encouraging signs for the hosts. 

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17 mins — Offside! Liverpool have the ball in the net but Arsenal are saved by the flag, after Firmino’s chip over Leno comes back off the bar and Mane was on hand to tap it into the empty net. Let-off for the Gunners. 

19 mins – Arsenal were opened up so easily there, as a simple ball over the top allowed Firmino run through and replays show that goal should have stood. 

21 mins -- Liverpool are really probing now. Salah skips away from the first challenge but a poor touch allowed Xhaka get back and make an important covering tackle as the Egyptian surged into the area. 

22 mins — Off the line! Salah picks van Dijk out with a superb ball over the top, and the Dutch defender is denied by a brilliant save by Leno, before Mustafi hacks it off the line. The Reds unlucky not to score there. 

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25 mins – Liverpool enjoying a purple patch (sorry) as they continue to ask serious questions of this Arsenal defence, but there’s still no breakthrough. 

26 mins – Arsenal’s turn to surge forward as they move from one end to the another in one seamless transition, as Bellerin eventually tries his luck from 20 yards out. Cracking game so far. 

31 mins – Arsenal have regained the ascendancy in the last few minutes and they come close again, but Aubameyang’s effort from the right takes a nick off a Liverpool shirt and skims just wide of the far post. 

36 mins – You can’t take your eyes off this one. Arsenal playing with such energy and ambition in this first half, but Lucas Torreira has just received the biggest cheer of the evening for a superb tackle on Mo Salah to stop the Liverpool forward in his tracks.

40 mins – Arsenal pressing for the breakthrough before the break. Firstly, Ozil’s delightful backheel sets Lacazette away into space, but again he just drags his shot wide of the target from a tight angle.

The Gunners do have the ball in the net a minute later but Lacazette was in an offside position as he headed Mustafi’s cross home at the back post. 

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44 mins — Off the post! After soaking up huge pressure at one end, Liverpool very nearly strike at the other. Milner floats a free-kick into the box and Leno, for some reason, comes way off his line, and is beaten to it by van Dijk but the defender’s header comes back off the upright. 

Half-time! Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool 

Well, that was an entertaining first half. An end-to-end affair has seen both sides come close to breaking the deadlock, with Arsenal enjoying the better of it but Liverpool will feel they should be ahead after Mane’s disallowed goal. It’s all to play for in the second 45. 

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KICK OFF! We’re back underway at the Emirates.

52 mins – A scrappy start to the second period, with Fabinho going into the book for a clumsy challenge on Lucas Torreira. Still 0-0. 

57 mins – Liverpool standing firm defensively so far with van Dijk marshalling things back there for the visitors. Arsenal have carried a threat all evening but might just need a bit more creativity and ingenuity to breach this rearguard.

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60 mins — GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool (James Milner)

Well, well, well. For all their possession and chances created, Arsenal fall behind as Leno flaps at Mane’s cross and it falls perfectly for James Milner, who tucks it away brilliantly for his third goal of the campaign. 

62 mins – What do Arsenal have in response? Emery will be really disappointed to concede that goal, with Milner quickest to the loose ball after Leno’s parry. The Liverpool midfielder has never lost a Premier League game in which he has scored in, by the way. 

64 mins – The Gunners searching for an instant response. Torreira drives into space and it opens up for him, with the Uruguayan forcing Alisson into a smart save, the Liverpool ‘keeper pushing the stinging effort over the bar. 

68 mins – Arsenal make their first change with Henrikh Mkhitaryan making way for Alex Iwobi. 

69 mins — Close! Liverpool going for the jugular. Mane can’t quite stretch enough to get on the end of Salah’s inviting cross, and from the resulting corner, Firminho heads just wide. Good spell for Klopp’s side. 

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70 mins – As it stands, Liverpool are set to move three points clear at the top of the table ahead of Man City’s clash with Southampton on Sunday afternoon. 20 minutes to go. 

72 mins – Second change for Arsenal as Emery sends Aaron Ramsey on in search of a way back into the contest. Aubameyang the man to make way. 

73 mins — Save! Leno is forced into an acrobatic stop to deny van Dijk doubling Liverpool’s lead from a corner. It was straight at the ‘keeper but he had to get a strong hand to it. 

76 mins – It’s Liverpool who are looking more likely as we enter the final 15 minutes. The Emirates has gone a bit quiet since Milner’s breakthrough goal and Arsenal are in desperate need of an injection of life. 

77 mins – Better from Arsenal. Iwobi shows pace and power to get to the byline, but his low cross is ahead of Ozil and it fizzes across goal. 

80 mins – Both sides make a change. Last throw of the dice from Emery as Welbeck is introduced for Kolasinac, while Shaqiri is on for Liverpool in place of Firmino. 

81 mins — GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool (Lacazette)

Out of nothing, Arsenal are level. Iwobi slides a perfect ball down the side for Lacazette, who gets there ahead of the advancing Alisson and he spins before rifling home into the far corner. Brilliant finish! 

84 mins – Arsenal with all the momentum now after that brilliant Lacazette strike. He was pushed wide by Alisson but turned and curled it home to the delight of the Emirates. Is there a winner in this yet?

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90 mins – Five minutes to be added on at the Emirates. 

90+2 mins – Home fans want a second yellow for Fabinho as he catches Ozil but the referee isn’t interested. Late change for the Reds with Salah making way for Matip. 

90+5 mins — Last chance for a winner as the clock hits the 95th minute mark…

Full-time! Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool

And that’s it. Lacazette’s late strike cancels out Milner’s second-half effort, as Arsenal and Liverpool share the spoils at the Emirates. On the balance of an absorbing game, it’s probably a fair result with the Reds moving top of the table ahead of City’s clash with Southampton tomorrow. A cracking game. 

That’s all we’ve got time for this evening, thanks for joining us and we’ll have all the reaction from the Emirates on The42 shortly. Until next time, goodbye!

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