Arsenal stage comeback and hang on after Merino red card

Anfield was supposed to provide a painful experience for Arsenal and for 66 minutes Liverpool obliged.

- Andy Hunter

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 Diaz, 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.