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Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by their former title rivals Arsenal.

The Premier League champions broke the deadlock just 20 minutes in as Cody Gakpo headed home Andy Robertson’s cross to the near post.

Luis Diaz doubled the Reds’ lead barely two minutes later by sliding in Dominik Szoboszlai’s cutback following a clever ball over the top from Gakpo.

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But the visitors halved their deficit to Arne Slot’s side early in the second half when Gabriel Martinelli rose to meet Leandro Trossard’s left-sided delivery.

The Gunners restored parity through Mikel Merino producing a diving header after Alisson tipped Martin Odegaard’s initial long-range strike onto the post.

A late winner for Andy Robertson, who converted an Alexis Mac Allister corner, was disallowed after Ibrahima Konate’s foul on Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Trent Alexander-Arnold should have known exactly what to expect.

Liverpool’s homegrown vice-captain had to face the music for the first time since publicly intimating a desire to leave his boyhood club this summer.

No amount of pleading with the Anfield faithful could spare him from the white-hot fury which his imminent free-agent status has .provoked.

It had begun before kick-off when his name was read out among the substitutes’ bench to audible booing after initially good-natured cheers.

When Alexander-Arnold entered the fray on 66 minutes, however, those dissenting voices grew louder in an unprecedented outpouring of anger.

The boos only began to dissipate shortly after he sent a free kick from prime striking distance just past David Raya’s righthand post in front of The Kop.

They still lingered but were soon drowned out by encouragement and even applause, only to reignite when he approached the famous terrace at full-time

If Alexander-Arnold thought he was going to be able to slip away without so much as a cross word, he seriously underestimated the depth of feeling.

Alexander-Arnold’s looming departure will lead to an inevitable changing of the guard at right-back and Conor Bradley will be hoping to stake a claim.

Granted, the Northern Ireland international still has to show his worth in maintaining regular match fitness but this offered a taste of that potential.

In only his fifth Premier League start this season, Bradley hit the ground running with an early tackle on Gabriel Martinelli that won fans’ approval.

He continued in that rich vein with driving runs into Arsenal’s half not too dissimilar to his current superior and further vital contributions in defence.

Although booked for a coming together with Myles Lewis-Skelly during the second half, Bradley’s last on-field act proved to be his most pivotal one.

As the impetus swung towards the visitors, Martinelli looked set to pull them level by racing clear until the 21-year-old produced a goal-saving interception.

Unfortunately for Bradley, his best efforts were soon undermined due to Alexander-Arnold playing Mikel Merino onside for the Gunners’ leveller.

He may still struggle to convince Arne Slot in the long run but the Castlederg native has made a strong start to his case to take up the mantle permanently.

Given its emotion and energy-sapping nature, an element of hangover was somewhat expected in the afterglow of Liverpool’s title-clinching run.

Slot’s side are unlikely yet not undeserved champions but there is now a danger that the exertions could soon be coming home to roost at Anfield.

Supporters continue to revel in beating Arsenal to the crown, with taunts of ‘Best team in Europe, you’re having a laugh’ aired during the first half.

But while reverie continues apace in the stands, back-to-back winless outings on the pitch hinted that the inevitable catharsis still carries a direct cost.

The Reds are no strangers to this, having dropped eight points in three of their final seven games when they last ascended the pinnacle back in 2020.

It will not have any bearing on the enjoyment or achievement that will come with Virgil van Dijk lifting the title after Crystal Palace’s visit on May 25.

Nor does it diminish Liverpool’s due acclaim for keeping Arsenal at arm’s length to the point their visitors formed a pre-match guard of honour.

Still, the procession to the finish line now risks becoming more of a stutter.


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