Liverpool and Arsenal played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in matchweek 11 of the 2018-19 Premier League at the Emirates on Saturday.
Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by Unai Emery’s high flying Arsenal, courtesy of a late strike from French forward Alexandre Lacazette.
In a pulsating match at the Emirates filled with chances for both teams, Liverpool took the lead at the hour mark, when James Milner rammed home a shot from the edge of the box. However, the hosts reinstated parity in the 82nd minute as Lacazette scored with a brilliant finish, after getting the better of Reds’ goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
The draw meant Liverpool continued their unbeaten run in the Premier League this season, while it also ensured Arsenal’s own unbeaten run extended to 14 matches across all competitions.
The result sent Liverpool to the top of the Premier League standings, a point ahead of Manchester City who have a game in hand, while Arsenal are fifth, but reduced the gap to third-placed Chelsea to just one point.
Virgil van Dijk put in a colossal performance for Liverpool on the night against the Gunners. While being stable defensively the Netherlands international was a serious threat in the opposition box and came close to scoring on three occasions. And fans hailed the towering centre-half’s display on social media.
Good game & fair result. @VirgilvDijk fantastic! #ARSLIV
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) November 3, 2018
Virgil van Dijk is the best center half in the Premier League, and it’s not particularly close.
— Mootaz Chehade (@MHChehade) November 3, 2018
Van Dijk our best forward on the pitch.
— Dharma Bhagalia (@Kloppholic) November 3, 2018
Van Dijk is the best CB in the league, stop debating, stop comparing End of the whole Debate!
— ᴊᴏᴇ (@LFCJoseph_) November 3, 2018
My head was about to fall off when Virgil Van Dijk almost became Virgil Van Basten
— LFC Stanley House (@LFCStanleyHouse) November 3, 2018
Should’ve scored at least one (maybe even a hat trick), but Van Dijk was immense tonight. Perhaps one of his best displays yet for Liverpool.
— Joel Rabinowitz (@joel_archie) November 3, 2018
Arsenal’s midfield dynamo Lucas Torreira also had a splendid outing on Saturday, as he bossed the midfield battle for most parts of the game, thundering into tackles and hounding the Liverpool players. And the Gooners took to social media to heap praises on the Uruguayan.
TORREIRA, DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I’VE WAITED FOR YOU?????????? pic.twitter.com/iQPb8i86Op
— ??????? (@marcazette) November 3, 2018
#ARSLIV
Arsenal: *Loses possession of the ball*Torreira: pic.twitter.com/cD1XC832WX
— ۛ ۛ (@Le23Sha) November 3, 2018
Lucas Torreira is the player that Arsene Wenger was missing for the last 5 years of his reign. Reads danger so well and is such a tenacious tackler.
— Mootaz Chehade (@MHChehade) November 3, 2018
Torreira is the DM we have been crying out for. Love him.
— 1886 (@1886_blog) November 3, 2018
Remember that Lucas Torreira is just 22 and I tell you that Arsenal have done one of their best buys in a long time by signing the Uruguayan midfielder.
Top, well-rounder midfielder who is only going to get better. pic.twitter.com/RcoFTW1Bnk
— Warriors of Uruguay (@UruguayanHeroes) November 3, 2018
lucas torreira got me ready to run through a wall right now
— A West (@ayyy_west) November 3, 2018
I am leaving my wife for Lucas Torreira
— Carl Craigslist (@conroy_bumpus) November 3, 2018
Lucas Torreira waiting for Firmino and Salah#ARSLIV pic.twitter.com/6batpSuEga
— Gundu Gooner (@kvraj1015) November 3, 2018
A major talking point in the game came in the first period, when Sadio Mane had bundled the ball home from a rebound after Roberto Firmino’s effort bounced off the woodwork, only to be wrongly chalked off for offside by the linesman. This did not go down too well with the Kop, who voiced their displeasure and frustration over the wrong call.
Premier League needs VAR to clear up the simple facts. Sadio Mane was behind Roberto Firmino when he touched the ball, Liverpool are so unlucky not to be up 1-0 after a wrongfully disallowed goal.
— Mootaz Chehade (@MHChehade) November 3, 2018
I keep watching the replay and seriously can’t figure why that Mane goal was disallowed… 100% should have stood. #LFC
— Raymond Lindquist (@Ra_YNWA_mond) November 3, 2018
Still angry over that Mane disallowed goal. #lfc
— Red CodeX Concepts (@CodeRedShell) November 3, 2018
Feels like 2 points dropped. Mane disallowed goal the difference in the end. Shame the officials poor decisions determine a game again, happens all too often. Still top for now though
— Matthew Harrison (@rocky_YNWA) November 3, 2018
So the difference is Mané’s disallowed goal that should have stood. Ya got lucky, Gunners. #lfc #liverpool #arsenal #YNWA #ARSLIV
— Trepanning for Gold (@HugeRambutans) November 3, 2018
That disallowed Mane goal is absolutely ridiculous he was behind Firmino, linesmen at this level shouldn’t be getting that wrong, shocking decision
— John O Sullivan (@Corballyred) November 3, 2018
