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Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel Martinelli (r.) celebrate the goal that Liverpool keeper Alisson made possible with his mistake
Photo: Ian Kington / AFP
End of the high:
There were times when both Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk could claim to be the best in the world in their respective positions in goal and central defense. Some Liverpool fans might argue that this is still the case today. In the 67th minute of the away game at Arsenal FC it was certainly not like that: van Dijk irritated his keeper, who hopped past the ball like a young deer in spring when he tried to clear it. Gabriel Martinelli thanked him and gave the fans in North London a reason to cheer.
The result:
Arsenal FC beat Liverpool FC 3-1 (1-1) and moved within two points of the league leaders. It was the Reds' first defeat in the league since the last-minute defeat against Tottenham in September.
The best Reds of the Klopp era?
And what a defeat it was back then: two Liverpool professionals were sent off against Spurs, a goal by Luis Díaz was canceled after a spectacular and hotly debated video evidence glitch, and in the end an own goal scored by Joel Matips in the sixth minute the decision in stoppage time. Since then, the Reds have been the measure of all things in the league, winning the two competitive games since the announcement of Jürgen Klopp's approaching end in Liverpool with 9:3 goals. League leaders, chance for four more titles – what did Arsenal want to do?
Øde? No way:
The answer: The game. The Gunners had already caused Liverpool's last point loss in the league with a 1-1 draw on December 23rd. In front of their home crowd they were not only equal, but superior. This was not least due to playmaker and captain Martin Ødegaard, who repeatedly found the fast Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the wings with clever passes. The two wingers also co-produced the first big chance when Saka headed Martinelli's cross from five meters just wide (11th).
The golden boy:
Things went better for Arsenal in the next attempt: Ødegaard sent on Kai Havertz, who played in the center of the attack for the injured Gabriel Jesus. The national player couldn't quite shake off his trademark role as a Gunner with a sad figure, he shot at Alisson - but the rebound landed at Saka, who slotted in effortlessly. The 22-year-old, who has been with the club since 2008 (!), already has eight goals and eight assists in the Premier League. It is likely that he will increase both statistics into double figures.
Left out of hand:
And Liverpool? A low shot from Cody Gakpo from a distance, just past the post - there was nothing more. Until injury time in the first half, when Luis Díaz delighted his coach Klopp with counter-pressing par excellence and stole the ball from William Saliba in order to send it uncontrollably into the middle. Central defender Gabriel reflexively wiped the ball into his own goal with his hand. A strange goal for a strange score, the 1-1 score at half-time flattered the LFC.
Havertz's influence:
In the second round it wasn't just Martinelli who benefited from Alisson's mistake. There was also a final phase in which nothing was going well - not least because Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté was no longer on the pitch. The ex-Leipziger defended himself unfairly twice against Kai Havertz, who cleverly placed his body between the ball and the opponent. With one man more, substitute Leandro Trossard had enough space on the left wing in stoppage time to leave Harvey Elliot and Díaz standing and tunnel past the unfortunate Alisson with a deflected shot from an acute angle (90th + 1).
The real winner is City:
On paper, Liverpool are still top of the table, Arsenal are now just closer. That sounds like tension. But it's worth not just looking at the points, but also at the games played: champions Manchester City still have two games in hand, and after Liverpool's stumble against Arsenal, they could soon be a point ahead from five points behind. Become Pep Guardiola's team. The weeks of truth in the title race will follow in March, when City first visits Liverpool (March 9th) and then hosts Arsenal FC (March 30th).