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SUB: Curtis Jones – 6 The 21-year-old replaced Thiago in the final minute. He brought some energy to the closing moments of the game. Getty Images

ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale – 4. The 23-year-old was beaten at the near post for the opening goal. It seemed to affect his confidence afterwards and he might have done better when Liverpool doubled the lead. AP

Cedric Soares – 6. The Portuguese had a good first half but drifted too wide on Liverpool’s first goal. That lapse in concentration allowed Jota the room to score. AP

Ben White – 6. The 24-year-old was in control during the first 45 minutes but had a more difficult second half. Better communication with Soares may have stopped the opening goal. Reuters

Gabriel – 5. The Brazilian had two opportunities to clear the ball before the second goal. He grew more uncertain as the game went on. Getty

Kieran Tierney – 6. The Scot did well defensively against a rotating front three but was not able to generate much traction going forward. AP

Thomas Partey – 7. The Ghanaian managed to evade Liverpool’s press and was at the heart of Arsenal’s best work in the first half. He was less effective after the break. Action Images

Granit Xhaka – 6. The Swiss was efficient on the ball but lacked the pace and mobility to dominate in games like this. He needs to be more creative. AFP

Bukayo Saka – 5. The 20-year-old did not trouble Robertson very often. His ineffective clearance allowed Liverpool to score the second goal. He was withdrawn for Pepe with 16 minutes left. Action Images

Martin Odegaard – 4. The Norwegian had a chance to give Arsenal the lead but was foiled by Alisson. That was the turning point of a game in which the 23-year-old was never able to impose himself and he was replaced by Smith Rowe in the 67th minute. Getty

Gabriel Martinelli – 7. The Brazilian was the best of the Arsenal forwards. He caused problems for Alexander-Arnold. Better crossing might have changed the game. AP

Alexandre Lacazette – 5. The Frenchman was easily contained by Liverpool’s centre-backs. His movement was disappointing and he offered few options in and around the box. He made way for Nketiah with 10 minutes left. PA

SUB: Emile Smith Rowe – 5. The 21-year-old came on for Odegaard with 23 minutes to go. He could not get on the ball against Liverpool’s hard press. AFP

SUB: Nicolas Pepe – 5. The winger replaced Saka with 16 minutes to go. He was unable to influence proceedings as Liverpool closed out the game. EPA

SUB: Eddie Nketiah – 5. The 22-year-old was given the last 10 minutes at Lacazette’s expense. He found the physicality of the defence hard to deal with. Getty Images

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker – 7. The Brazilian’s save from Odegaard in the second half was a turning point. He was composed and in control throughout. EPA

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6. The 23-year-old had a tough night against Martinelli and could have been helped out more by Mane and Diaz. He stuck to his task and worked hard. PA

Joel Matip – 7. The 30-year-old kept Lacazette quiet. He took every opportunity to step forward with the ball at his feet. EPA

Virgil van Dijk – 7. The Dutchman forced Ramsdale to save a header from a corner and kept the Arsenal forwards on a tight rein. He was calm when the defence was under pressure. AFP

Andrew Robertson – 8. The Scot ensured Sako was rarely a danger. He raided forward whenever there was a chance and set up the second goal. EPA

Jordan Henderson – 7. The captain seemed off the pace before the break but grew in stature in the second half. He was influential during the period when Liverpool wrapped up the game. AFP

Fabinho – 6. The Brazilian was caught in the wrong areas in the first half and the game passed him by. After the break he sat deeper and was much better. PA

Thiago Alcantara – 6. The 30-year-old had a poor first half and presented Arsenal with a good chance after the break. He redeemed himself with a splendid pass to Jota for the opening goal. Replaced by Jones in the final minute. AFP

Sadio Mane – 6. The Senegalese ran hard but was unable to get into goalscoring positions. His pace became a factor when Arsenal chased the game. Getty

Diogo Jota – 6. The Portuguese’s touch was off. He was just about to be substituted when he scored the opening goal. He was taken off anyway and replaced by Firmino in the 56th minute. AP

Luis Diaz – 5. The Colombian worked both wings but had little joy on either side. He made way for Salah in the 56th minute. AFP

SUB: Roberto Firmino – 8. The Brazilian was excellent when he came on for Jota. He held the ball up nicely, kept possession and scored the second goal. EPA

SUB: Mohamed Salah – 7. The Egyptian joined the action in the 56th minute in place of Diaz. His mere presence scared Arsenal. AFP

SUB: Curtis Jones – 6 The 21-year-old replaced Thiago in the final minute. He brought some energy to the closing moments of the game. Getty Images

ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale – 4. The 23-year-old was beaten at the near post for the opening goal. It seemed to affect his confidence afterwards and he might have done better when Liverpool doubled the lead. AP

Cedric Soares – 6. The Portuguese had a good first half but drifted too wide on Liverpool’s first goal. That lapse in concentration allowed Jota the room to score. AP

Ben White – 6. The 24-year-old was in control during the first 45 minutes but had a more difficult second half. Better communication with Soares may have stopped the opening goal. Reuters

Gabriel – 5. The Brazilian had two opportunities to clear the ball before the second goal. He grew more uncertain as the game went on. Getty

Kieran Tierney – 6. The Scot did well defensively against a rotating front three but was not able to generate much traction going forward. AP

Thomas Partey – 7. The Ghanaian managed to evade Liverpool’s press and was at the heart of Arsenal’s best work in the first half. He was less effective after the break. Action Images

Granit Xhaka – 6. The Swiss was efficient on the ball but lacked the pace and mobility to dominate in games like this. He needs to be more creative. AFP

Bukayo Saka – 5. The 20-year-old did not trouble Robertson very often. His ineffective clearance allowed Liverpool to score the second goal. He was withdrawn for Pepe with 16 minutes left. Action Images

Martin Odegaard – 4. The Norwegian had a chance to give Arsenal the lead but was foiled by Alisson. That was the turning point of a game in which the 23-year-old was never able to impose himself and he was replaced by Smith Rowe in the 67th minute. Getty

Gabriel Martinelli – 7. The Brazilian was the best of the Arsenal forwards. He caused problems for Alexander-Arnold. Better crossing might have changed the game. AP

Alexandre Lacazette – 5. The Frenchman was easily contained by Liverpool’s centre-backs. His movement was disappointing and he offered few options in and around the box. He made way for Nketiah with 10 minutes left. PA

SUB: Emile Smith Rowe – 5. The 21-year-old came on for Odegaard with 23 minutes to go. He could not get on the ball against Liverpool’s hard press. AFP

SUB: Nicolas Pepe – 5. The winger replaced Saka with 16 minutes to go. He was unable to influence proceedings as Liverpool closed out the game. EPA

SUB: Eddie Nketiah – 5. The 22-year-old was given the last 10 minutes at Lacazette’s expense. He found the physicality of the defence hard to deal with. Getty Images

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker – 7. The Brazilian’s save from Odegaard in the second half was a turning point. He was composed and in control throughout. EPA

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6. The 23-year-old had a tough night against Martinelli and could have been helped out more by Mane and Diaz. He stuck to his task and worked hard. PA

Joel Matip – 7. The 30-year-old kept Lacazette quiet. He took every opportunity to step forward with the ball at his feet. EPA

Virgil van Dijk – 7. The Dutchman forced Ramsdale to save a header from a corner and kept the Arsenal forwards on a tight rein. He was calm when the defence was under pressure. AFP

Andrew Robertson – 8. The Scot ensured Sako was rarely a danger. He raided forward whenever there was a chance and set up the second goal. EPA

Jordan Henderson – 7. The captain seemed off the pace before the break but grew in stature in the second half. He was influential during the period when Liverpool wrapped up the game. AFP

Fabinho – 6. The Brazilian was caught in the wrong areas in the first half and the game passed him by. After the break he sat deeper and was much better. PA

Thiago Alcantara – 6. The 30-year-old had a poor first half and presented Arsenal with a good chance after the break. He redeemed himself with a splendid pass to Jota for the opening goal. Replaced by Jones in the final minute. AFP

Sadio Mane – 6. The Senegalese ran hard but was unable to get into goalscoring positions. His pace became a factor when Arsenal chased the game. Getty

Diogo Jota – 6. The Portuguese’s touch was off. He was just about to be substituted when he scored the opening goal. He was taken off anyway and replaced by Firmino in the 56th minute. AP

Luis Diaz – 5. The Colombian worked both wings but had little joy on either side. He made way for Salah in the 56th minute. AFP

SUB: Roberto Firmino – 8. The Brazilian was excellent when he came on for Jota. He held the ball up nicely, kept possession and scored the second goal. EPA

SUB: Mohamed Salah – 7. The Egyptian joined the action in the 56th minute in place of Diaz. His mere presence scared Arsenal. AFP

SUB: Curtis Jones – 6 The 21-year-old replaced Thiago in the final minute. He brought some energy to the closing moments of the game. Getty Images

Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings: Ramsdale 4, Saka 5; Jota 6, Robertson 8

Liverpool close gap on leaders Manchester City to one point thanks to goals from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino

Tony Evans

March 17, 2022

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