Liverpool’s name will be in the hat for the FA Cup fourth round, after stunning Arsenal with two late goals at the Emirates. The Gunners, again firing blanks other than in their own goal, saw Luis Diaz seal a 2-0 victory in injury time for Jurgen Klopp’s men. Mikel Arteta meanwhile, was left wondering just how his team failed to capitalise on a dominant first half display when, in truth, Liverpool rode their luck as their goal led a charmed life.
Arsenal, from minute one, put Liverpool under pressure, pressing high up the pitch and created chance after chance. Sloppy lethargic play contributed to Liverpool’s woes, though it was a combination of poor finishing, which included the cross bar repelling an effort by Odegaard, and last ditch Liverpool defending that somehow ensured it was a 0-0 stalemate at half-time.
Whatever Klopp said at half-time, and he surely had much to say, certainly saw Liverpool up the energy in the second half. Having barely troubled the Arsenal goal in the first half, when the closest Liverpool came to scoring was Trent Alexander-Arnold again striking the cross bar against the Gunners, they certainly posed more of the threat in a second half that at times resembled a basketball match. Diogo Jota, a second half substitute, hit the cross bar with a header whilst Saka wasn’t the only Arsenal attacker to spurn golden opportunities to give his team the lead.
Liverpool, without an ill Virgil van Dijk, defended robustly with a superb performance by Ibou Konate, ably assisted by the increasingly assured Jarell Quansah. Alisson again did all that was asked of him, and that grit ultimately paid dividends in the final ten minutes.
Winning a free-kick wide left, a superbly flighted near post cross by Trent, led to Arsenal finally scoring. Unfortunately for them, Kiwior headed into his own net, and Liverpool led. The final minutes became frantic, but the Gunners continued to fire blanks and, as they risked every man forward, Liverpool sealed the game.
Darwin Nunez, goalless but influential throughout, was involved in the move which led to Jota feeding Diaz in the Arsenal penalty box. Two touches later the Colombian hit high to Ramsdale’s right, leaving the English goalkeeper grasping thin air. 7,000 travelling Kopites celebrated wildly and, despite the absence of Mo Salah and a recognised left back, Liverpool secured their spot in the next round.
