Player Ratings: Arsenal Maintain Top Spot in Premier League with 1-1 Draw Against Liverpool

After a rigorous 1-1 standoff with Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday night, Arsenal is set to celebrate Christmas at the top of the Premier League.

With the need only to avoid a loss to secure their standing, Arsenal had an ideal kickoff as Gabriel scored a goal just three minutes into the match, only to have the score equalized by Mohamed Salah halfway through the first half.

Despite a spirited second half performance, in which Trent Alexander-Arnold hit the crossbar, both teams had to eventually settle for a split victory.

From the very first minute, Arsenal was close to starting the scoring. A cross by Bukayo Saka stirred up some disorder, leading to a near goal from Gabriel Jesus.

Nevertheless, Arsenal got their lead three minutes later when Gabriel outjumped everyone else to score from a Martin Odegaard free-kick, after a tense scrutinization by VAR.

Despite primarily controlling the ball in their quest for an equalizer, it was Arsenal who remained a greater threat, especially when Odegaard missed a fairly direct aim 20 minutes in.

There was a huge outcry for handball when Odegaard mishandled the ball while defending against Salah. Despite video evidence, neither the referee nor VAR stepped in to alter the decision.

Still, Liverpool was able to level the score shortly before the thirty-minute mark when a brilliant pass from Alexander-Arnold found Salah, who then got past Oleksandr Zinchenko to land a shot in David Raya’s top corner.

Just five minutes away from half-time, Gabriel Martinelli could not get the ball on target, even though Alisson had left his post to block Saka in a one-on-one.

Even after the break, the pace of the game remained high. Sub Joe Gomez almost turned the game around with his magnificent shot, and although close, Harvey Elliott's attempt missed the mark, before Alexander-Arnold hit the crossbar in a four against one counter. In the end, the teams finish with a draw.