COMMENT: Skrtel’s late gift lifts festive spirits at Anfield but Gunners remain lost in limbo for Crimbo

On a day when Steven Gerrard made a vociferous defence of his manager — and one wag on the Kop dressed up as Jesus to hold up a placard saying "Brendan: I’ve got your back" — a late equaliser against Arsenal has given Liverpool, and their coach, a chance to save their season over Christmas.

Perhaps in the build-up, when captain Gerrard insisted a place in the top four and a trophy should be the target for 2015, Liverpool would have balked at only one point against a struggling Arsenal side.

But given that Martin Skrtel’s equaliser came deep in injury time, and with the home side down to 10 men following a red card for substitute Fabio Borini, there was still a positive vibe on Merseyside just days after Liverpool also reached the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup.