Arsenal back at summit after Saka’s double downs Reds
The hosts made a breathtaking start, scoring after under 60 seconds as Gabriel Martinelli (21) ended a six game goal drought by firing home from Martin Ødegaard’s (23) pass.
It took the Reds some time to respond in a generally cagey first half, but they eventually forced Aaron Ramsdale (24) into a save through Darwin Núñez’s (23) shot.
The striker would not be thwarted a second time though, netting his first club goal in two months as he slid in to convert Luis Díaz’s (25) cross.
The first half looked to be fizzling out from then on, but Arsenal re-took the lead in the fifth minute of injury time as Saka finished from close range following good work by Martinelli.
That gave Mikel Arteta’s side a huge lift going into the break, and Ødegaard should have doubled the lead after the resumption when shooting straight at Alisson from close range.
He was made to pay for that miss when Roberto Firmino (31) equalised with a pin-point finish into the bottom far corner minutes later.
That was a rare break forward for Liverpool though, who were constantly on the back-foot. Alisson (30) soon made a terrific double stop from Saka and Gabriel Jesus (25), seconds before the latter was brought down in the box by Thiago Alcântara (31). Referee Michael Oliver immediately awarded a penalty, duly converted by Saka.
Liverpool, who grew more and more frustrated, had no response to going behind for a third time, throwing numerous long balls forward but failing to test Ramsdale, whereas Arsenal had appeals for a further spot-kick turned ignored when Jesus went down in the box.
The Reds have now gone without a win in five on the road, while also slipping to 14 points behind Arsenal as their struggles continued.
