Alexander-Arnold booed by Liverpool fans as Arsenal peg Champions back
Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold (right) stands dejected. Pic: Nick Potts/PA Wire.
A significant number of Liverpool fans turned on Trent Alexander-Arnold by booing him before, during and after the 2-2 draw with 10-man Arsenal.
Two goals in 87 first-half seconds from Cody Gakpo and Luiz Diaz had put Arne Slot's champions ahead.
But Arsenal were a different animal after the break and drew level through headers from Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino - who was sent off soon after.
The result mattered little to either side but will not be forgotten by local lad Alexander-Arnold, who had his name booed by some of his fellow Scousers before kick-off when he was announced as a substitute.
The England international, who had let his contract expire and is expected to join Real Madrid on a free, was also barracked when he came on and when he touched the ball - and was the man flagged up by VAR as the man playing Merino onside for the equaliser.
The entertainment started early, with Bukayo Saka firing across goal and wide after Liverpool made a mess of a free-kick conceded by Conor Bradley, Trent's replacement.
Diaz, set up by Mo Salah, fired an equally clear chance at Gunners keeper David Raya but Liverpool were fortunate when Curtis Jones was robbed in his own box only for Arsenal attackers to get in each other's way.
Two goals in quick succession punished the profligacy and ended the contest after just 21 minutes.
First Gakpo headed home at the near post after Arsenal switched off from a quick throw that put Andrew Robertson into a crossing position.
Then Dominik Szoboszlai powered into the inside right position and played a diagonal ball across the box to take out Raya and allow Diaz to slide in and poke home.
It was a different story after the break however, with the Gunners requiring just two second half minutes to half the deficit. Leandro Trossard, who had already created a chance, crossed for Martinelli to nod gently into the far corner.
Trossard fired over as Liverpool continued to look vulnerable, with Bradley struggling at right-back and Ben White getting forward to force Alisson into a save.
The Kop was nervous, especially when another free-kick saw Martinelli fire at Alisson. Bradley had been booked for giving that away and was hooked for Alexander-Arnold, with the boos clearly louder than the cheers this time.
Arsenal were still on top however and levelled in the 70th minute through Merino. Alisson pulled off a fine save to tip Martin Odegaard's shot onto the post but Liverpool defenders were motionless as Merno stooped to head home the rebound.
There was a VAR check for offside - that showed Alexander-Arnold had played the Spaniard on.
Merino was sent off in the 79th minute for a second yellow, although his over-the-top challenge on Szoboszlai after losing possession might have been a straight red on another day.
Liverpool had a goal disallowed in stoppage time when Andy Robertson pounced on Raya's parry of Virgil van Dijk's header as Ibrahima Konate had pushed Myles Lewis-Skelly in the face.
Alisson 7; Bradley 5 (Alexander-Arnold 67, 6), Konate 6, van Dijk 7, Robertson 7; Gravenberch 7 (Elliott 83, 3), Jones 6 (Nunez 67, 4); Salah 7, Szoboszlai 6, Gakpo 7 (Mac Allister 66, 5); Diaz 7 (Jota 79, 3).
Raya 7; White 7 (Calafiori 78, 4), Saliba 7, Kiwior 7, Lewis-Skelly 7; Odegaard 7, Partey 6, Merino 6; Saka 7, Trossard 7 (Tierney 78, 3), Martinelli 7.
Anthony Taylor 6
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