Anfield was supposed to provide a painful experience for Arsenal and for 66 minutes Liverpool obliged. Then Trent Alexander-Arnold entered the fray and everything changed: the atmosphere, the focus and the bond between a boyhood Liverpool fan and the Kop. The punishment was transferred to one of their own.
Boos started as soon as Alexander-Arnold appeared on the sideline waiting to replace Conor Bradley, hit a crescendo when he stepped on to the pitch, and accompanied almost his every touch. There were more boos when the Real Madrid-bound defender applauded the Kop after the final whistle, prompting Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo to register their dismay at the treatment of their teammate. Arne Slot claimed afterwards that the Anfield crowd was split in its judgment of Alexander-Arnold and there was plenty of applause for the club’s 20-year servant. Untrue. This was brutal and his introduction proved too much of a distraction.
Liverpool’s comfortable half‑time lead, delivered by Gakpo and Luis Díaz, was already under threat before Alexander-Arnold’s arrival with Gabriel Martinelli’s header giving Arsenal hope early in the second half. Mikel Merino’s equaliser arrived seconds after another round of boos for an Alexander-Arnold pass, however, with Liverpool players looking visibly perplexed at the noise around them.
Merino was soon dismissed for a second bookable offence and Andy Robertson had a potential winner disallowed for offside in the 96th minute. But there was only one story in town. Whether Slot will introduce Alexander-Arnold for the trophy party against Crystal Palace on the final day is a legitimate debate.
The home of the new Premier League champions was the last place Arsenal wanted to be and it showed in the first half. Mikel Arteta made no attempt to disguise his disgust at the visitors’ performance in the opening 45 minutes. Fresh from their Champions League elimination by Paris Saint-Germain, Arteta’s side not only had to form a guard of honour for Liverpool before kick-off but listen to a soundtrack of “Bring on the champions” and “Where’s your European Cups?” as they did so. Declan Rice was a notable absentee with a suspected hip problem.
Anfield initially heeded Slot’s call to concentrate its energies on the team and not Alexander-Arnold following last Monday’s confirmation he will be leaving on a free at the end of the season. Bradley’s name was chanted throughout and the right-back announced himself with a crunching, but clean, tackle on Martinelli after 46 seconds.
A minute later Bradley caught Merino in the back as they leapt for Ben White’s crossfield ball. Arsenal should have taken the lead from Martin Ødegaard’s resulting free‑kick. As Liverpool moved out to catch Arsenal players offside, Bukayo Saka raced in from an onside position to meet his captain’s delivery. Six yards out and with Alisson exposed in the Liverpool goal, Saka scuffed wide of the far post.
Arsenal made a lively start, squandering another clear opening after Thomas Partey dispossessed Curtis Jones inside the Liverpool area, but in the 20th minute they fell asleep. By the time they awoke in the 21st they were two goals down.
The collapse commenced when Robertson released Gakpo clear of White down the left. Gakpo was unable to find the unmarked Mohamed Salah, or release a shot with conviction, and Arsenal cleared for a throw‑in that was taken quickly by Jones. Robertson found himself in acres of space and centred for Gakpo to head home at the near post. William Saliba, White and Jakub Kiwior all stood off and admired the forward’s 10th league goal of the season.
Within seconds of the restart Liverpool regained possession and Salah swept a glorious pass between Kiwior and Myles Lewis-Skelly into the run of Szoboszlai. The midfielder squared beyond David Raya and Díaz slid in to apply the finishing touch. “Best team in Europe? You’re having a laugh,” sang the Kop, mocking Arteta’s claims regarding his team’s Champions League performance this season.
Díaz and Jones could have added a third for Liverpool before the break but, shortly after the restart, Martinelli dragged the visitors back into the contest when glancing Trossard’s cross into the bottom corner. Bradley afforded Trossard too much time to deliver a pinpoint assist.
The mood turned when Alexander-Arnold entered as part of a triple substitution in the 66th minute. Liverpool appeared collectively stunned by his reception and, after another Alexander-Arnold pass was booed, Arsenal equalised immediately. Alisson could only push Ødegaard’s powerful 20‑yard drive on to a post. Merino was first to react and headed the rebound in unmarked.
The Arsenal midfielder was sent off with 11 minutes remaining for a foul on Szoboszlai, his second yellow-card offence of the game, and Alexander‑Arnold of all people stepped up to take the free-kick. It sailed agonisingly wide.
Robertson was close to clinching victory in stoppage time of his 250th league appearance for Liverpool when converting from close range after Raya had parried a powerful header from Virgil van Dijk. He was ruled offside. There was to be no diversion from the brutal treatment afforded his fellow Liverpool full-back.
