Mikel Merino’s header earned Arsenal a point but he was then sent off as Arsenal came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Liverpool at Anfield. After a painful Champions League semi-final defeat to PSG in midweek, it looked like being another frustrating encounter for the Gunners against the champions, as Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz scored in the space of 90 seconds in the first-half to put Liverpool in control.
But Arsenal responded superbly after half-time, as Gabriel Martinelli swiftly pulled one back with a flicked header and the visitors remained on the front foot. They got their reward with 20 minutes remaining when Martin Odegaard’s fierce strike was tipped onto the post by Alisson, and Merino was on hand to head home the rebound.
The Arsenal midfielder was shown a second yellow card with ten minutes remaining, after an ill-advised lunge on Dominik Szoboszlai, and it left Arsenal content to try and hold on for a point. Mikel Arteta’s side did just that, despite Andy Robertson putting the ball into the net deep in stoppage-time, only to look across and see the flag was up for a foul from Ibrahima Konate. The result leaves Arsenal two points clear of Newcastle, who they host next weekend, as Arsenal attempt to wrap up second place in the Premier League.
Liverpool vs Arsenal latest news
- GOAL! Merino levels for Arsenal
- GOAL! Martinelli pulls one back after half-time
- GOAL! Diaz doubles the lead immediately
- GOAL! Gakpo heads Liverpool in front
Arsenal player ratings
18:45 , Matt VerriWilliam Saliba 5
The Frenchman has been prone to a few errors recently and was sloppy again here, especially for Liverpool’s opening goal.
Mikel Merino 5
An afternoon of mixed fortunes for the Spaniard. Scored Arsenal’s equaliser but was sent off after picking up a yellow card in both halves.
Gabriel Martinelli 7 | Star player
Moved through the middle after the break and looked sharp. Scored Arsenal’s first goal with a lovely glanced header.
Read our ratings in full here!
Simon Collings at Anfield
18:34 , Matt VerriAn impressive comeback from Arsenal, who seemed down and out at half-time.
Martinelli looked dangerous as a No9 and that made a big difference.
A valuable and vital point for Arsenal, who are now two clear of Newcastle in third.
Gunners with big comeback!
18:30 , Matt VerriHere is that equaliser from Mikel Merino, before he was then dismissed with ten minutes remaining.
Great strike from Martin Odegaard to force the save and the chance.
"They have dug deep for that" 💪
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 11, 2025
Arsenal have come back from 2-0 down at Anfield and are now level thanks to Mikel Merino 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/wCud38NplN
FT: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
18:27 , Matt VerriIt was given for a foul from Konate on Lewis-Skelly, who was thrown to the ground.
And that’s full-time.
Arsenal rally from two goals down to earn a point, they can be proud of that recovery in the second-half.
GOOOO... NO!
18:25 , Matt VerriRobertson smashes the ball into the net from a corner, but the flag is up.
Two Arsenal players were down in the box, as Raya made an incredible save and Robertson then booted in the rebound.
Was it offside... or a foul?
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
18:24 , Matt Verri90+5 mins: And now Arsenal almost win it!
Odegaard driving forward, he has Martinelli through the middle, Zinchenko to his left.
Goes by himself... dragged just wide of the far post.
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
18:23 , Matt Verri90+4 mins: Nearly!
It’s a stunning cross from Alexander-Arnold. Whipped into the Arsenal box, Raya comes but gets nowhere near.
Jota and Nunez both throw themselves at it... neither can get a touch.
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
18:23 , Matt Verri90+3 mins: Arsenal with everyone back in their own box.
Tierney tries to change that as he drives forward, but there’s nowhere to go and he can only boot it down the line for Alisson.
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
18:20 , Matt Verri90+1 mins: Elliott on his left foot, tries to bend one into the far corner but it’s high and wide.
Five minutes added on.
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
18:18 , Matt Verri89 mins: Massive chance!
Salah’s cross is headed up to Robertson at the back post, he’s running onto it on the volley.
If he hits the target it’s probably a goal, but he shins it wide.
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
18:17 , Matt Verri88 mins: Another Arsenal change, as Zinchenko comes on for Saka.
“HOOOOOOOOOLD” would be a fair assessment of the gameplan for the rest of this match.
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
18:15 , Matt Verri86 mins: Nunez played in down the left, but the offside flag is up.
You can be confident Arsenal will take their sweet, sweet time over this.
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
18:12 , Matt Verri83 mins: Arsenal now in a back five, Tierney at right wing-back and Calafiori alongside Kiwior and Saliba.
Could have the best part of 15 minutes to still hold on for a point, with stoppage-time likely to be a fair old chunk.
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
18:10 , Matt Verri81 mins: Alexander-Arnold to silence the boos by whipping this into the top corner in front of the Kop?
Nope. Over the wall but wide.
RED CARD!
18:09 , Matt VerriMerino sent-off!
He nearly loses it on the edge of the box. Then lunges in on Nunez... and then absolutely flies in on Szoboszlai.
Absurd decision when already on a yellow card.
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
18:08 , Matt Verri78 mins: Slot turns to his bench too, Diaz off and Jota on for the final 15 minutes or so.
Looks like Arsenal now have Calafiori at right-back, with Tierney playing left wing.
Says a lot about the season Raheem Sterling has had...
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
18:07 , Matt Verri77 mins: Trossard has signalled to the bench that he needs to come off. Potentially his hamstring on his left leg.
Tierney and Calafiori on for Arsenal, as White also makes way.
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
18:05 , Matt Verri75 mins: Liverpool breaking and they have plenty of numbers forward.
Diaz switches it out to Salah, but he takes a heavy touch and Partey is there to mop up.
Arsenal then lose it, Gravenberch drives into the box and fires wide as he loses his balance.
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
18:02 , Matt Verri73 mins: Can Arsenal now kick on and earn a first win at Anfield since 2012?
They’ve been much the better side since half-time, hugely impressive considering the week they’ve had.
Simon Collings at Anfield
18:01 , Matt VerriA few Arsenal fans will point to that goal and say: "This is why we need to shoot more from outside the box instead of always searching for that perfect pass."
GOAL! Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal | Mikel Merino 70'
18:00 , Matt VerriArsenal are level!
And it’s deserved. Odegaard lashes an effort at goal from distance, it’s a superb strike and Alisson makes a stunning save to tip it onto the post.
Merino following in and heads into the empty net.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
17:59 , Matt Verri69 mins: Nearly brilliant from Odegaard.
Martinelli makes the run inside Alexander-Arnold, he’s got beyond him but the pass it just too heavy. Martinelli would have been in.
Alexander-Arnold is being loudly booed every time he touches the ball.
Simon Collings at Anfield
17:56 , Matt VerriThe boos outweighing the applause as Trent comes on.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
17:56 , Matt Verri66 mins: Three Liverpool changes.
Nunez, Alexander-Arnold and Mac Allister all introduced, as Gakpo, Bradley and Jones make way.
There are a lot of boos as Alexander-Arnold comes on...
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
17:55 , Matt Verri65 mins: Clever corner from Arsenal, Saka and Odegaard combine.
Cross stood up to the back post, Saliba looks certain to head in but Konate somehow turns it over the bar.
Offside flag goes up... would have been very tight.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
17:53 , Matt Verri64 mins: Superb challenge from Bradley.
Odegaard driving at the Liverpool defence, slides a pass through to Martinelli, who had made a great run.
The Brazilian is about to get a shot away, but Bradley slides in to poke the ball away.
Martinelli takes a while to get up after that, looks in a fair bit of pain.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
17:50 , Matt Verri61 mins: Not a great delivery from Trossard, but the ball drops at the feet of Martinelli.
Swings a foot at it from six yards out, straight at Alisson. Either side and that was probably 2-2.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
17:49 , Matt Verri60 mins: Lewis-Skelly draws Bradley in, knocks the ball away from him and gets absolutely clattered. Yellow card for Bradley.
This has been a really impressive 15 minutes from Arsenal.
Simon Collings at Anfield
17:48 , Matt VerriGabriel Martinelli has been playing through the middle since half-time and has looked bright.
Arsenal benefiting from his pace in that position.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
17:46 , Matt Verri57 mins: Szoboszlai with a loose pass on the edge of his area, Partey gets a foot in and the ball could have gone anywhere.
Luckily for Liverpool, it’s straight at Alisson.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
17:44 , Matt Verri55 mins: White now bursts into the box, away from Robertson.
Martinelli is free in the middle if he fires it across goal, but the scuffed shot is straight at Alisson. That was a decent chance.
This could finish any score.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
17:43 , Matt Verri54 mins: It’s going to be a fun watch if this continues.
Liverpool now breaking down their left, Robertson whipping in a cross aimed at Salah... but Raya reads it and is off his line to claim.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
17:41 , Matt Verri51 mins: It’s all Arsenal.
Saka skips away from a couple of challenges, plays it back to Trossard on the edge of the area.
Catches the shot really sweetly, but it’s always rising over the bar.
Simon Collings at Anfield
17:40 , Matt VerriArsenal have never lost a game when Martinelli has scored. Good test of that record today.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
17:38 , Matt Verri49 mins: Bit more pop to Arsenal’s play now.
White on the overlap, he swings a cross to the back post and Bradley heads it away, with Martinelli lurking behind him.
Simon Collings at Anfield
17:37 , Matt VerriThe defending there in keeping with this match - Martinelli just able to waltz in unmarked to head home.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal | Gabriel Martinelli 47'
17:36 , Matt VerriBig chance for Arsenal inside 60 minutes of the restart.
Trossard gets the better of Bradley, Alisson comes out to close him down and the forward can cut it back.
Merino with the shot, looks like his own team-mate blocked it.
But now they do have one back!
Cross clipped in from Trossard on the left, Martinelli the only man in the middle and he flicks a header into the far corner.
Back underway!
17:34 , Matt VerriUp and running in the second-half!
Too easy...
17:29 , Matt VerriGreat ball from Salah but it was so simple for Liverpool to open Arsenal up.
The celebrations for the first goal were still going on in the stands!
Luis Diaz doubles Liverpool's advantage in double-quick time! 🫨
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 11, 2025
The Reds are SLICING Arsenal apart at Anfield... pic.twitter.com/1HyY0agcJk
Simon Collings at Anfield
17:23 , Matt VerriA familiar start where Arsenal missed chances - and then were duly punished by their opponents.
Team looks pretty flat and leggy. Defending poor for both of Liverpool's goals, too.
Arsenal yet to have a shot on target.
HT: Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal
17:20 , Matt VerriWell it was going decently enough for Arsenal... until it wasn’t.
They had early chances, didn’t take them and then Liverpool scored twice in the space of 90 seconds.
Goals from Gakpo and Diaz, Liverpool cruising.
Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal
17:18 , Matt Verri45+2 mins: Martinelli in behind down the left, but Van Dijk is there to boot his cross away.
Now there’s a huge gap in the centre of the Arsenal defence, Diaz picked out. Gravenberch then topples over in the box, referee not interested.
Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal
17:16 , Matt Verri45 mins: Merino now with the latest foul from an Arsenal player. Get the feeling the Gunners might not be finishing this match with 11 men...
Three minutes added on.
Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal
17:13 , Matt Verri42 mins: Salah running straight at Lewis-Skelly, twists inside and then back out, and the Arsenal left-back resorts to a bear hug.
Completely beaten there and now Lewis-Skelly is on a yellow card.
Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal
17:11 , Matt Verri40 mins: Saka with a pass... straight to Szoboszlai.
He pokes the ball away from Saliba, stays on his feet and the referee plays advantage.
Tries to float a ball in behind for Salah, but too much on it and Raya strolls off his line to claim.
Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal
17:09 , Matt Verri38 mins: Bit of a pause, Diaz with blood coming from his nose after that challenge from Partey. He’ll be fine to continue.
Alexander-Arnold has trotted up and down the touchline for the first time - seems a warm enough reception for him.
Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal
17:07 , Matt Verri36 mins: You know, I think somebody should suggest to Arsenal that they might want to sign a striker. Reckon that could help them.
Partey makes another foul in midfield, he is rapidly approaching booking territory.
Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal
17:04 , Matt Verri33 mins: A lot of nice passes and flicks on the edge of the Liverpool area from Arsenal, but that’s all it is.
Nothing once they actually get into the box.
Merino then has a wild hack at Bradley, deserves that yellow card.
Simon Collings at Anfield
17:01 , Matt VerriLiverpool fans singing: "Best team in Europe? You're having a laugh."
Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal
17:01 , Matt Verri30 mins: Konate strolls out of defence, into midfield... and attack.
Nobody gets close to him, as he then plays Bradley in behind. Cut back to Diaz, should score at the near post but swings at thin air.
Offside flag up, but that looked very tight. Might actually have counted.
Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal
17:00 , Matt Verri29 mins: Trossard drifts out to the right, has space to get a cross in. Low ball into the middle is hacked away by Konate.
Arsenal back to seeing a lot of the ball and knocking it around confidently enough. But Liverpool know they can get at this defence. Pretty easily, too.
Saka chops inside past Robertson and whips an effort at goal, rises just over the bar.
Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal
16:57 , Matt Verri26 mins: Not even 90 seconds between those two Liverpool goals and it looks like there could be plenty more of them.
Gakpo skips past a couple of challenges before Partey comes across to bring him down.
Arsenal miles off it in midfield.
Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal
16:54 , Matt Verri24 mins: It’s inches away from 3-0!
Arsenal might want to stop attacking, because they look like conceding every time they then lose the ball.
Liverpool fly forward again, Jones gets the shot away from the edge of the area and Raya is at full stretch to tip it away.
Simon Collings at Anfield
16:53 , Matt VerriI will shock you - Arsenal's midfield is looking very open without Declan Rice in it.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal | Luis Diaz 21'
16:52 , Matt VerriArsenal have fallen apart!
Szoboszlai with the run in behind, he rolls the ball past Raya and Diaz is running onto it, sliding in to turn it into the empty net from close range.
Brilliant ball from Salah to play Szoboszlai in.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal | Cody Gakpo 20'
16:50 , Matt VerriLiverpool take the lead!
Gakpo was in behind 10 seconds earlier and should have scored, but he makes up for it!
Robertson whips the cross in, Gakpo is a crazy amount of space at the near post and he powers in a header.
Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal
16:49 , Matt Verri18 mins: Odegaard has had enough of modelling the new style of ripped shirt, decides he’ll go back to being boring and gets a new one.
Arsenal are still enjoying the majority of possession, they’ve been the better side so far.
Simon Collings at Anfield
16:48 , Matt VerriNot a bad opening 15 minutes from Arsenal.
The concern is, a bit like on Wednesday, they have nothing to show for it.
Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal
16:47 , Matt Verri16 mins: Chance for Liverpool to break, as Salah drives into the box.
Plays it inside to Diaz, but Merino slides in to halt his progress.
Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal
16:46 , Matt Verri15 mins: That is ridiculously bad in the Liverpool box from Arsenal.
Partey robs Jones in his own box and the Gunners have three or four black shirts there.
But Trossard and Partey leave it for each other, and Trossard then has a shot blocked. Complete mess.
Had to score there.
Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal
16:44 , Matt Verri13 mins: There’s a lot of space on offer for both sides. This will of course jinx it, but you’d be stunned if this finished 0-0.
Odegaard playing with a big rip down the middle of his shirt, after he tried to twist out of trouble.
Will get a chance to change that now, as Kiwior slides in to stop Salah breaking.
Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal
16:40 , Matt Verri9 mins: Merino looking pretty fed up with life.
Now Gravenberch catches him with an elbow to the head, as he closes him down.
Again gets the free-kick, but Merino animated as he jumps up to complain.
Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal
16:39 , Matt Verri8 mins: And now it should be Liverpool in front!
Salah in the box, Arsenal close him down but he lays it inside to Diaz.
Massive opportunity, 12 yards out and it’s a superb save from Raya to deny him.
Was a lovely move from Liverpool, Jones with the pass out to Salah in behind. Diaz really should be scoring that.
Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal
16:36 , Matt Verri6 mins: It’s been a decent start from Arsenal.
Martinelli now has a run at Bradley, but runs out of space as he tries to get to the byline. Goal kick.
Simon Collings at Anfield
16:35 , Matt VerriThat was such a clever routine from Arsenal, but an awful miss from Saka.
I can't believe he hasn't at least hit the target.
Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal
16:34 , Matt Verri3 mins: HUGE CHANCE!
Odegaard clips the free-kick in, Liverpool’s players charge up to try and play offside.
But Saka times his run perfectly, completely free at the back post and he guides the shot wide of the far post.
Had to score.
Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal
16:33 , Matt Verri2 mins: White with the big ping out to the opposite flank.
Bradley and Merino jump for it, Arsenal man stays down after that. Got caught by Bradley and the referee blows for a free-kick.
KICK-OFF!
16:30 , Matt VerriWe’re up and running at Anfield!
Guard of honour
16:28 , Matt VerriArsenal players walk out to a chorus of boos, and they then have to line up to form a guard of honour. Just what they want to do, I’m sure.
Virgil van Dijk leads the Liverpool players out and onto the pitch.
That’s all done and dusted, as are the handshakes. Time to get underway.
Simon Collings at Anfield
16:25 , Matt VerriA fairly mixed reception for Trent Alexander-Arnold as his name is read out.
Be very interesting to hear the reception if he comes off the bench later.
Stand by...
16:23 , Matt VerriTeams back inside after the warm-ups, they’ll be in the tunnel any minute now.
Perfect conditions and a Liverpool crowd very much in party mood.
Not sure even an Arsenal win would halt the celebrations, to be honest.
Warming up inside a sunny Anfield 🤩@AXA | #Ad pic.twitter.com/Hjsm3TY6Sw
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 11, 2025
Slot on fan reaction to Alexander-Arnold
16:16 , Matt VerriArne Slot is asked what he thinks the reaction from Liverpool fans will be if he brings Trent Alexander-Arnold off the bench this afternoon.
“It’s difficult for me,” Slot says.
“I think everyone at Liverpool has a different opinion about that.”
"The fact that he's leaving, is one of the reasons to play Conor Bradley" 🗣️
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 11, 2025
Arne Slot discusses leaving Trent Alexander-Arnold out of the starting line-up to face Arsenal 👇 pic.twitter.com/STe7FEuIuN
Salah eyes assists record
16:09 , Matt VerriMohamed Salah currently sits on 18 assists in the Premier League this season.
He’s dropped off on that front in recent weeks, but the record is still there within touching distance.
Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry both managed 20 in a campaign - Salah needs three in his final three matches of the season to break that record.
Not long now...
16:01 , Matt VerriThis is your 30-minute warning.
Arsenal have obviously been putting their eggs in the Champions League basket for the last couple of months, but the table is making increasingly unhappy reading.
Victory here for Liverpool and they will go 18 points clear of the Gunners.
And that would leave Arsenal only four points ahead of Aston Villa in sixth heading into the final two matches of the season...
Arteta explains team selection
15:51 , Matt VerriJurrien Timber drops to the bench this afternoon and Declan Rice is not even in the squad.
Mikel Arteta has been speaking ahead of kick-off about those decisions.
“Him and Jurrien are not fit - Declan couldn't even train so he's injured unfortunately and couldn't make the game,” the Arsenal boss says.
Arsenal objective clear for Anfield test
15:44 , Matt VerriAfter an emotional exit from the Champions League on Wednesday night, Anfield is surely one of the last places Arsenal would want to go to this weekend.
Arsenal have not won at Anfield since September 2012, when they ran out 2-0 winners in a match that Mikel Arteta started in midfield for.
Since then, Liverpool has become an unhappy hunting ground for the Gunners, other than in October 2020 when they won a Carabao Cup clash there on penalties.
Anfield was empty that night due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it will be packed and loud on Sunday.
With the title secured, Liverpool’s final three games are essentially one big celebration party and Arsenal will follow Chelsea’s lead last week of giving them a guard of honour.
Liverpool fans will take some joy in that and they will have also, surely, taken note of Arteta’s comments earlier this week.
The Spaniard said how “Liverpool have won the title with less points than we have in the last two seasons”, which is unlikely to have gone down well on Merseyside.
Simon Collings at Anfield
15:37 , Matt VerriNo Arsenal win here since 2012...
"Arsenal need to finish the season strongly... the mood going into the summer could be very different if they slide down the table."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) May 11, 2025
🗣 @sr_collings gives his pre-match thoughts as the Gunners look to improve on their poor Anfield record.
LIVE: https://t.co/TaWdbygN6o #LIVARS pic.twitter.com/5wiT5Beu33
Liverpool go strong
15:29 , Matt VerriLiverpool pretty much back to full strength this afternoon.
As Arne Slot confirmed on Friday, Conor Bradley starts at right-back, replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold after the official confirmation that he would leave in the summer.
Curtis Jones gets the nod over Alexis Mac Allister in midfield.
Arsenal without Rice
15:24No Declan Rice in the squad for Arsenal this afternoon.
That means a bit of a reshuffle, with Mikel Merino back in midfield and Leandro Trossard coming in to lead the line.
Ben White also comes into the side, replacing Jurrien Timber at right-back.
Liverpool team news
15:17 , Matt VerriStarting XI: Alisson, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai, Salah, Diaz, Gakpo
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Nunez, Mac Allister, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah
Arsenal team news
15:15 , Matt VerriStarting XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Merino, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Timber, Zinchenko, Calafiori, Butler-Oyedeji, Henry-Francis, Nwaneri, Sterling
Arteta: Hurts not to win trophy again
15:08 , Matt VerriArsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that it will “hurt” him to finish this season without a trophy.
The Gunners hopes of landing silverware ended on Wednesday night when they were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal had been fighting Liverpool, who they travel to on Sunday, for the Premier League - but Arne Slot’s side secured the title last month.
It means the Gunners have now not lifted a major trophy since 2020, when they won the FA Cup during Arteta’s first season in charge.
“If it doesn’t hurt then it means you don’t love winning as much as I do, that’s for sure,” said Arteta. “But you need to understand as well certain things that happened to understand.
“It was impossible to try to aim to get the same kind of points but what we did was to overperform when we could do, so there’s a lot of ways to look at it when I sit down, have a look back and I will make a much better reflection of that.
“I have so much to achieve and do, and we need to improve and get done. That is what drives me every day. Those people and the staff and the players drive me every single day.
“But yeah, if there is somebody probably that has raised the standard and the expectation the highest, it has been me. Because I have been demanding and expecting much more, and after that much more. And after that much more.”
Arsenal keen for new Saliba deal
14:59 , Matt VerriArsenal have opened contract talks with defender William Saliba.
Saliba’s current contract will have two years left to run come the summer and the Gunners want to agree fresh terms.
Real Madrid are interested in the Frenchman, but he said in March that he was currently happy at the Emirates Stadium.
“For me, I’m really happy here,” said Saliba. “I’ve been here for two-and-a-half years. There is nothing. I’m happy here and I want to continue here.
“I want to win big things with Arsenal. If you leave this club without winning anything the fans will forget about you. I want to win big things here.”
Stage is set!
14:52 , Matt VerriIt’s a perfect afternoon on Merseyside...
Ready to welcome the champions back to Anfield 🤩 pic.twitter.com/O3H3kbT2SW
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 11, 2025
Will Liverpool get guard of honour?
14:45 , Matt VerriIt has long since become tradition in the Premier League that any team that wins the title with games to spare is then treated to a pre-match guard of honour by their opponents in every remaining fixture.
While not mandatory, it is a voluntary gesture that is typically observed and involves players from the club in question lining up on either side of the tunnel and applauding their counterparts from the champions as they walk out for the game.
Liverpool received seven of these guards of honour in empty stadiums after their last title win under Jurgen Klopp back in the Covid-hit season of 2019/20, including on a visit to the Emirates Stadium.
And Arteta has already confirmed that Arsenal will do so again this time on Merseyside after Chelsea did it last weekend and Brighton and Crystal Palace expected to do likewise, telling reporters at his pre-match press conference on Friday: “They deserve that.
“They've been the best team, they've been the most consistent, and what Arne [Slot] and the coaching staff have done has been fascinating, it's been really good.
“They fully deserve it, and that's the sport. If somebody's better, you have to approve and accept and try to reach that level.”
Standard Sport prediction
14:34 , Matt VerriArsenal have struggled in the Premier League of late and it is because of their patchy form that a Champions League qualification place has not been secured as of yet.
Under Arteta, their results away from home against a traditional big six side has vastly improved but form is not something that can be turned on at the flick of a switch, and they are facing a Liverpool side that are impressive at home.
Liverpool to win, 2-1
Arsenal team news
14:27 , Matt VerriMikel Arteta must lift his Arsenal players for a trip to Liverpool after their Champions League heartbreak in Paris.
Arteta admitted after the game that some of his players were in tears after losing to PSG on Wednesday and he may look go strong with his team against Liverpool as Arsenal bid to bounce back.
Ben White is one player that could come into the team at right-back in place of Jurrien Timber. Riccardo Calafiori impressed off the bench on Wednesday and is also pushing to start at left-back.
Arteta is light on options in midfield, although Jorginho was back on the bench in midweek after a rib injury.
Reports suggest that Declan Rice is not in the squad this afternoon.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Merino, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Liverpool team news
14:20 , Matt VerriConor Bradley will start at right-back for Liverpool against Arsenal in their first game since Trent Alexander-Arnold confirmed he is leaving Anfield at the end of the season.
Arne Slot said on Friday: "Conor will start, he needs playing time, games under his belt to be prepared for next season."
Luis Diaz was rested for the defeat at Chelsea, so should come back in as Diogo Jota drops out. Harvey Elliott is also likely to lose his spot, with Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alex Mac Allister all pushing to return.
Jarrell Quansah again failed to impress while deputising for Ibrahim Konate, who will surely come back in.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones, Salah, Diaz, Gakpo
.jpg)
How to watch Liverpool vs Arsenal
14:11 , Matt VerriTV channel: Liverpool vs Arsenal is being shown live in the UK via Sky Sports. Coverage begins at 4pm BST on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League ahead of a 4:30pm kick-off.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the game live online via the Sky Go app.
Live blog: Follow the action as it happens right here, featuring expert analysis from Arsenal correspondent Simon Collings at Anfield.
Good afternoon!
14:04 , Matt VerriHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Liverpool vs Arsenal!
The Gunners travel to face the champions and it would be fair to say they are ready for this season to end, having been knocked out of the Champions League in midweek.
All that is left for Mikel Arteta’s side is to try and hold on to second place, which is far from guaranteed.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 4:30pm BST from Anfield.
