Gutsy Reds earn late reward

Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2

Taking nothing away from the character they showed, but this contest perfectly encapsulated where the major struggles for Liverpool persist — inability to convert chances, and defensive frailties.

On this occasion it was profligacy rather than potency — Liverpool mustered 27 shots to Arsenal’s seven — which cost them the chance to spark a rise up the Premier League.

Liverpool needed an injury-time header from Martin Skrtel to rescue a share of the spoils when in reality they should probably have been out of sight.

Last season Liverpool mauled Arsenal 5-1 at Anfield with a breathtaking display. That day they had 22 shots on — five less than this encounter — but such ruthless finishing now seems a distant memory.

Even two of the strikers Liverpool do have fit and available are plagued by moments of idiocy.

Fabio Borini got himself sent off after coming on as a substitute for a daft high kick in which he imbedded his studs on Santi Cazorla’s arm, while Mario Balotelli missed the game through suspension after an equally foolish post on Twitter.

And the fact remains, despite some encouraging signs, Liverpool are nine points adrift of fourth place and the Champions League places and a marked improvement in the hard currency of results, as well as performances, will be required if Rodgers is to be the man entrusted with the job of guiding the club forward.

“We’re slowly getting back to where we want to get to,” Rodgers said. “Our performance was outstanding. The passing, intensity and pressing but we are disappointed with the goals we conceded.”

Rodgers continued with his strikerless 3-4-3 formation and there were at least echoes of the fluidity which saw them mount a title challenge last season.

The flexibility of Liverpool’s system ensured the hosts were vibrant and slick in the early stages — bringing back fleeting memories of their rampant start in February’s game when they were 4-0 up after 20 minutes. Minus the goals, though, crucially.

Lazar Markovic certainly appears to be finding his feet after an uncertain start to life on Merseyside, and he slipped a clever ball into Adam Lallana who spun adroitly and struck a fierce shot from the corner of the box which whistled over the crossbar.

Markovic had two good chances shortly after and was first denied by Szczesny at the near post, and then lifted a curling effort over the bar from the edge of the box before Philippe Coutinho, impressive throughout, broke the deadlock.

The Brazilian received the ball from Jordan Henderson 20 yards from goal, and with the Gunners defence caught on their heels, he jinked on to his favoured right boot and arrowed a low shot into the corner of the net.

The joy of Coutinho’s Tardelli-esque celebration, however, was shortlived. There was always an unerring sense that a mistake involving Liverpool’s three, or goalkeeper, was just around the corner.

And certainly the Reds rearguard should have dealt with the second ball from a free-kick, conceded by Steven Gerrard for a clip on Alexis Sanchez, which allowed Mathieu Debuchy to nod in, via a slight deflection of Skrtel’s head who he out-jumped, from six yards.

“You have to defend it better,” Rodgers lamented. “We lost three headers with three centre-backs in there.”

The home side had worked so hard to gain the advantage so to surrender it so meekly was reflected in the bowed heads of those in red as they left at the break.

Skrtel had to be patched up early in the second half when Olivier Giroud inadvertently trampled on the Slovakian centre-back’s head.

Raheem Sterling, subdued for most of the first 45 minutes, sprung into life on the hour mark and Szczesny was caught in no man’s land having raced off his line but Gerrard could only head the Liverpool winger’s cross over the bar.

Arsenal were patient, waiting for chances to punish. And one such duly arrived four minutes later, when Giroud played a one-two with Cazorla before he emphatically finished from close range.

Liverpool had their chances to equalise; Lucas shot wide, Borini headed over from close range and Sterling saw his near post shot saved by Szczesny.

A Gerrard corner brought a deserved leveller as Skrtel’s bandaged head climbed unimpeded and he powerfully nodded home. Whether it transpires to be Liverpool “moving back to where we were” in Rodgers’ words, remains to be seen.

LIVERPOOL (3-4-3): Jones 5; Toure 6 (Lambert 81; 6), Skrtel 5, Sakho 5; Henderson 7, Lucas 6, Gerrard 6, Markovic 7 (Borini 74; 6); Sterling 6, Coutinho 8, Lallana 7

ARSENAL (4-3-3): Szczesny 7; Chambers 7, Debuchy 5, Mertesacker 6, Gibbs 7; Oxlade-Chamberlain 6 (Campbell 90; 6), Flamini 7, Cazorla 7; Sanchez 6 (Monreal 90; 6), Giroud 7 (Coquelin 82; 6), Welbeck 5.

Referee: Michael Oliver