Arsenal vs Liverpool LIVE: Latest Premier League score, goals and highlights

Arsenal vs Liverpool Express Sport brings you the latest score, goals and highlights from the Emirates

85: What a welcoming reception for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has every corner of the stadium booing him. He’s on for Philippe Coutinho. Five minutes to make an impact.

83: Jack Wilshere to the rescue! The midfield tracks back and steals the ball from under Salah’s nose.

80: Georginio Wijnaldum comes on for Sadio Mane. That looks like Liverpool have gone to a back three with Joe Gomez slotting in.

78: Here comes Danny Welbeck. The England international replaces Alex Iwobi for the final 12 minutes plus stoppage time. Impossible to pick a winner now. Save! Alexis Sanchez sees the overlap from Bellerin and finds him. The full-back shoots high but Mignolet is there to tip it behind.

74: Our reporter Joe Short at the Emirates

Referee Martin Atkinson is not happy with Jurgen Klopp after that goal. Klopp went ballistic after that goal and slammed his water bottle onto the ground. The water went everywhere, spraying the front row of Arsenal fans like somme miserable 4D cinema experience.

Klopp apologises to the fans, who give it straight back to the manager.

ARSENAL 3-3 LIVERPOOL – FIRMINO

71: Scenes, absolute scenes.

Jurgen Klopp pulls out his most aggressive celebration as Liverpool square things up in rather fortuitous circumstances.

Roberto Firmino takes aim from the edge of the box and Petr Cech can only parry into his own net.

70: There’s still quarter of the match to go! Liverpool need to compose themselves because they’ve lost it. Arsenal are close to adding a fourth after Ozil found Lacazette with a sumptuous pass, but the Frenchman blazes over.

66: Our reporter Joe Short at the Emirates

Happy Christmas football fans. The has turned into a goal fest. I’m beginning to think the team talks from both managers was ‘just go for it lads’.

Mistakes from full-backs Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Joe Gomes gifted Mohamed Salah and Alexis Sanchez their goals.

And then out of nowhere Granit Xhaka delivers the sort of shot only thought possible with the Jabulani World Cup ball.

Oh and to top it all off Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette link up to complete the Arsenal comeback. The Emirates is rocking all of a sudden. Who would’ve thought it?

63: There were just 388 seconds between Liverpool going 2-0 ahead and Arsenal taking the lead to make it 3-2.

60: Right, I can’t quite believe what’s happening at the Emirates. It’s a complete meltdown from Liverpool, whose defence are all over the place now. Could be a cricket score soon…

ARSENAL 3-2 LIVERPOOL – OZIL

57: What the hell is going on here?!?!

I doubt you’ll find a crazier game this season as Arsenal score a spectacular third to completely turn things around inside five minutes.

Ozil latches onto Lacazette’s flick and slots home with a fantastic chip.

ARSENAL 2-2 LIVERPOOL – XHAKA

56: What did I just say!

From 2-0 up, it’s 2-2 within three minutes at the Emirates!

Granit Xhaka unleashes a long-range thunderbolt that swerves through the air and bamboozles Simon Mignolet, who really should have done better.

54: No more goals for a second, lads! I’m struggling to keep up over here!

ARSENAL 1-2 LIVERPOOL – SANCHEZ

53: Goodness me!

It’s Arsenal’s first meaningful attack and they’ve pulled one back – 40 seconds after the re-start!

Sanchez races in at the far post to head past Simon Mignolet. Poor defending from Joe Gomez, who completely lost track of the Chilean.

ARSENAL 0-2 LIVERPOOL – SALAH

52: Outrageous finish. 

Roberto Firmino is the architect when drawing two defenders and releasing Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian stands the defender up and curls beyond Petr Cech via a deflection.

51: Close! Iwobi tackles Coutinho just as the Brazilian pulls the trigger, but the deflection almost sneaks in the bottom corner.

48: Better. A bit better. Arsenal are showing some fight and have pinned Liverpool back in the early stages.

The Gunners win a corner, but it’s Liverpool who attack! The ball breaks kindly for Salah, who runs the length of the pitch before tamely shooting straight at Cech.

ARSENAL 0-1 LIVERPOOL

45: We’re back underway folks. Surely Arsenal can’t play any worse than the opening 45 minutes, right? Shkodran Mustafi has come on for Arsenal. He replaces Nacho Monreal, who suffered a knock.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Pete: Speaking as a neutral, that was a massively impressive 45 minutes fromLiverpool – threatening to score with every break!

Wesley: Errr, do Arsenal play football?! Why is is so hard to pass to a team-mate? Xhaka nothing. Bellerin wont attack properly. Alexis doesn’t seem to know who his team-mates are, Iwobi lacking quality, Koscielny is Santa gifting errors!

Ian: Alexis Sanchez playing like he’s trying to secure a January move, Mesut Ozil playing like he already has.

ARSENAL 0-1 LIVERPOOL

HT: Our reporter Joe Short at the Emirates

Arsenal fans are absolutely fuming. The Gunners have been opened up twice since Coutinho’s goal, sounding alarm bells around the Emirates.

Now the impetus is with Arsenal to bring it forward and seek the equaliser, and this is exactly where Liverpool want them.

Expect Salah, Firmino and Mane to anticipate counter attacks for the rest of the evening. Boos fill the stadium at half time.

Quite interesting to see how much better Liverpool were when captain Jordan Henderson left the field injured, Joe. D’ya think James Milner should start centrally instead?

ARSENAL 0-1 LIVERPOOL

HT: After three fairly uneventful minutes of added time, Martin Atkinson blows his whistle. Huge boos ring around the Emirates. Fans clearly not impressed with Arsenal’s toothless display.

Liverpool thoroughly deserve their advantage, and should arguably be 3-0 ahead. Will they be made to pay for those squandered opportunities?

THREE MINUTES ADDED

45: Another update, another golden opportunity missed. Firmino squares it to the unmarked Salah, who completely misses the ball. You won’t see him miss two easier chances than these all season.

44: I will never know how this isn’t 2-0. Koscielny slips at the crucial moment and inadvertently passes it straight to Salah. The Egyptian’s shot is saved by Cech and Mane goes for the acrobatic scissor kick from the rebound and sends it over.

Mane has so much time to take it down and finish. No idea why he did that!

41: The general consensus is that Arsenal have paid the price for giving Liverpool too much respect.

Coutinho steals the ball off the dithering Monreal but Koscielny comes to the rescue. Could easily have been a second.

39: Arsenal have a free-kick in a similar position a minute or two later but Ozil’s shot strikes the wall. I’ve never seen an Arsenal side give the ball away as much, and they’ve not created much as a result.

36: Danger! Liverpool have a free-kick in Philippe Coutinho range… what?! The playmaker decides to chip it over to Lovren instead of shooting, and the ball runs out of play. A decent connection across goal and Mane would have had a tap-in.

33: Cruel! Roberto Firmino makes himself a few yards and releases a peach of a shot that curls narrowly over the bar.

It rolled behind the goal and looked like it had snuck in, with the Brazilian laughing and pretending to celebrate. Good bantzzzzzz. Christmas bantz.

30: Oh we’ve got a game on our hands now folks! It’s end-to-end stuff as Alexandre Lacazette and Sadio Mane both scuff decent chances straight at the goalkeeper. The Arsenal fans are getting extremely restless while the Liverpool supporters are singing their hearts out. Standard.

27: Philippe Coutinho has had a hand in 16 goals in his last 11 away games for Liverpool in all competitions (nine goals, seven assists).

ARSENAL 0-1 LIVERPOOL – COUTINHO

26: Another assist for Mohamed Salah, another goal for Philippe Coutinho.

Liverpool break quickly down the right with Salah. The Egyptian’s deflected cross from the right loops high, and Coutinho is there to steer the ball beyond Cech.

24: Suicidal stuff from Liverpool. Gomez and Salah are way too confident when trying to play their way out of defence and Maitland-Niles intercepts. He releases Sanchez, but the Chilean is quickly crowded out.

Up the other end, Firmino spurns the best chance of the match. He meets Coutinho’s cross with a header across the face of goal that flashes inches wide.

23: Save! Robertson whips a deep cross to the back post, where Firmino forces a decent save from Cech. The goalkeeper rushes off his line to clear the resulting corner.

22: Just heard that Arsenal have invited 40 people who’ve recently left care, and will be on their own over the holiday period, to Christmas lunch at the club on the 25th. Top gesture.

21: Arsenal are doing a good job of keeping Salah and Mane quiet in the early stages. Neither of them have been able to locate and space. Tons of intensity, lacking quality in the final thirds.

18: Close! Philippe Coutinho finds Robertson in acres of space down the left flank but his low cross is blocked before Firmino could apply the finishing touch.

The game is starting to open up folks. Goals incoming!

15: Analysis from our reporter Joe Short, at the Emirates

Arsenal have had the upper hand to this game but as yet no real chances. Ainsley Maitland-Niles is already 1-0 up against Mohamed Salah in their particular battle.

And oh dear! Jordan Henderson is down injured. Jurgen Klopp looks furious. It looks like a hamstrung. He was sprinting after Mesut Ozil and just pulled up.

Henderson walks off as slowly as possible, to give substitute James Milner as much time as he can to warm up and get ready.

12: Jordan Henderson is down and receiving treatment. Looks like a hamstring problem, so I think that’s him done for a few weeks. That’s the opinion of totally unqualified Dr Anderson… James Milner replaces him, and gets to play in his favoured central role.

9: I may have forgotten to mention that Liverpool are playing in their rather hideous bright orange third kit, which I imagine will be available in bargain bins for £4 at the end of the season.

It’s far too easy for Arsenal to play through Liverpool’s midfield. Lacazette, Sanchez and Ozil dance through the middle but Bellerin’s cross is intercepted.

6: It’s all very frantic, and not in a good way. Neither side have been able to keep possession for more than a few moments. Arsenal win their first corner of the evening but Mesut Ozil’s delivery is fairly poor and Robertson clears.

3: I’m sure Arsenal fans are bored of hearing this, but there’s quite a few empty seats around the stadium. Perhaps they’ve gone to watch Christopher Biggins at the Panto… No early chances yet with both sides trading blows in the midfield.

ARSENAL 0-0 LIVERPOOL

1: And we’re underway folks! I’ll play it safe with my prediction tonight and plump for a modest 4-4…

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

19:44: Arsenal are really giving this one the treatment. There was an epic lights show before the players emerged from the tunnel.

ARSENAL vs LIVERPOOL

19:43: Our reporter Joe Short at the Emirates

Boos for Alex OXlade-Chamberlain as his name is read out on the team sheet.

That wasn’t really unexpected – he did after all leave Arsenal for rivals Liverpool only a few months ago, but The Ox’s departure was not a sore one.

Arsenal got a good transfer fee for a squad player and Liverpool… well they’ve added to their home-grown quota.

ARSENAL vs LIVERPOOL

19:42: Quick reminder of the line-ups folks.

Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Monreal, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Wilshere, Iwobi, Ozil, Sanchez, Lacazette.

Subs: Ospina, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Coquelin, Elneny, Walcott, Welbeck.

Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Gomez, Lovren, Klavan, Robertson, Henderson, Can, Mane, Firmino, Coutinho, Salah.

Subs: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Milner, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Solanke, Lallana.

ARSENE WENGER

19:40: Asked about his decision to start Maitland-Niles, Wenger said: “It is important to be quick against Salah.

“Maitland-Niles has a lack of experience but I think he has a lot going for him. When you are 20 and you get your chance you have to grab it. You have to go for it. You don’t make your debut at 25. If you haven’t started by 20 it is too late.”

KEY BATTLE: WILSHERE vs HENDERSON

19:35: Our reporter Joe Short at the Emirates

One of the reasons Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left Arsenal was that he wasn’t guaranteed a role in central midfield.

Jack Wilshere was also tipped to leave for the same reason. But the England midfielder has resolutely worked on getting back into the Gunners side.

With a little luck from injuries to others, Wilshere has strung together three starts in Arsenal’s last five games.

He did a job for Arsene Wenger against a sturdy Newcastle side last Saturday and is trusted with holding fort again tonight.

Wilshere will want to go forward – he always does – and Granit Xhaka’s presence should allow him to do that. So, Jordan Henderson is tasked with combatting his compatriot.

Expect Henderson to stick to Wilshere and leave Emre Can to the job of plugging gaps that Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will endeavour to exploit.

If Henderson can keep Wilshere at bay that is a crucial link between defence and attack that Arsenal will lose.

THE OX RETURN-ETH

19:30: They could be a bit more subtle about it, eh?

It’s all hugs and pats on the back between Jurgen Klopp and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on his return to the Emirates.

And like a jealous ex-partner, Wenger questioned whether Oxlade-Chamberlain would become a certain starter at Liverpool.

“Is he sure of a place there? You are sure of a place nowhere,” Wenger was quoted as saying by the Guardian.

“In a big club you have big competition with some good players. That is absolutely normal. What do you want to be, a big player and not have to fight? You can’t be a big player, sit in your rocking chair and say ‘I do not want to fight’. It doesn’t work like that. Every player has to fight.”

JURGEN KLOPP

19:25: “They’re all fit,” Klopp told Sky Sports, after being asked why the quartet start.

“We had no other reasons for rotation, so we thought about it and I think especially after the midweek game of Arsenal we could imagine how they will play. So line-up-wise, we thought it makes sense. Not only with these four, all the rest as well.”

ARSENAL vs LIVERPOOL

19:20: Our reporter Joe Short at the Emirates

This could be the making of a man for Ainsley Maitland-Niles tonight.

The 20-year-old starts at left-back for Arsenal and will have both Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane running at him all night.

Nacho Monreal starts at centre-back next to Maitland-Niles and the natural full-back will have to provide good cover.

That’s assuming Maitland-Niles cannot handle Salah and Mane. It will be a surprise if manager Jurgen Klopp doesn’t use Liverpool’s two rapid-fire attackers to target the right wing, with the more intricate Philippe Coutinho on the left looking to threat them through on goal.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Matic: I think it is a great decision to play (right-footed) Ainsley Maitland-Niles at left-back. Mo Salah likes to cut inside.

Adam: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in his natural habitat tonight… on the bench at the Emirates!

Uche: Two left-backs in the squad, one a centre back, the other on the bench. Why expose Maitland-Niles to the most in form winger in Europe arguably? Bizarre from Wenger. Salah has the potential to leave scars on Maitland-Niles if he’s at his best.

GOALS GALORE…

19:15: We’re guaranteed a metric ton of goals tonight, right?

Liverpool have scored at least three goals in each of their four Premier League matches against Arsenal under Jurgen Klopp – that’s 14 goals in total.

That statistic was pivotal in my decision to make Philippe Coutinho my Fantasy Football captain.

ARSENAL vs LIVERPOOL

19:10: Our reporter Joe Short at the Emirates

Some interesting stuff in Arsene Wenger’s programme notes tonight.

The boss is worried heading into the Christmas period that one more injury could seriously hamper their season.

Olivier Giroud misses this game through injury, while Francis Coquelin only makes the bench.

“We have a congested fixture list which is very demanding,” Wenger said in his programme notes ahead of tonight’s clash with Liverpool (7.45pm).

“Especially because we already have a tough schedule before us. We have to sit down and analyse very well what we can do.

“What is very worrying in my job is when you start to lose players, like Giroud on Tuesday. After that, you cannot afford to lose another one. I have to look how I can manage the schedule.

“It puts more pressure on the rest of the squad when you have injuries, but I still have Alex Lacazette, Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck and Alexis, who can all play up front.”

TEAM NEWS – ARSENAL

19:05: Talk about some ballsy decisions from Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal are unchanged from the 1-0 win over Newcastle which means the fit-again Shkodran Mustafi has to settle for a place on the bench.

Alexandre Lacazette leads the line with Jack Wilshere in midfield and Ainsley Maitland-Niles at left-back.

And yes, that means Maitland-Niles will have the task of stopping the most in form winger in Europe, Mohamed Salah.

TEAM NEWS – LIVERPOOL

19:00: Lets start with the visitors. Jurgen Klopp has made two changes from the side who eased to victory over Bournemouth.

Emre Can returns to the starting XI having served his suspension. He relegates Georginio Wijnaldum to the bench.

There’s also a recall for Sadio Mane ahead of former Gunner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who I gather will be receiving monumental levels of abuse if he comes on tonight.

ARSENAL vs LIVERPOOL

18:55: Our reporter Joe Short at the Emirates

There will be plenty of focus on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tonight were he to play. It seems as though The Ox could be dropped from Liverpool’s starting XI. We will find out shortly.

When Arsenal and Liverpool met at the Emirates last season it was a beautiful summer’s day – the first match of the campaign. Optimism was high at Arsenal following the arrivals of Granit Xhaka, Shkodran Mustafi and an exciting-sousing Lucas Perez. Had Arsene Wenger worked his transfer magic, perhaps?

As it turned out, no. Arsenal were stunned 4-3 by Liverpool – the sucker-punch being three away goals within 11 minutes of the second half. The infamous Arsenal collapse had happened again.

Fast-forward almost 16 months and Arsenal are still in the limbo position they were at at the start of last term.

Form is temperamental, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are still yet to sign contracts, and the Gunners remain a long way off the title race.

As for Liverpool, they have added to their bombastic attacking approach. Mohamed Salah is proving the revelation of 2017/18 that Sadio Mane was last term.

Defensive fragilities remain a problem for Jurgen Klopp, who may or may not strengthen in January. Let’s pray for goals tonight. Both teams are attack-minded, as witnessed last season here at the Emirates.

ARSENAL vs LIVERPOOL

18:50: Here are the line-ups folks. Tough assignment for young Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Monreal, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Wilshere, Iwobi, Ozil, Sanchez, Lacazette.

Subs: Ospina, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Coquelin, Elneny, Walcott, Welbeck.

Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Gomez, Lovren, Klavan, Robertson, Henderson, Can, Mane, Firmino, Coutinho, Salah.

Subs: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Milner, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Solanke, Lallana.

HAVE YOUR SAY

18:45: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

EVENING

18:40: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of Arsenal vs Liverpool from the Emirates.

‘Tis the season to be jolly but one set of supporters are going to be unhappy tonight.

That’s my one and only mention of Christmas folks. Consider me a Scrooge of epic proportions!

Anyway, Arsene Wenger has called on his Arsenal players to avenge their Anfield thrashing at the hands of Liverpool at the start of the season.

But how will they respond against Jurgen Klopp and his annoyingly titled ‘Fab Four’ (told you I was Scroogeish) on a festive evening in the capital?

Let’s find out!

ARSENAL vs LIVERPOOL – PREVIEW

Arsenal will be without Olivier Giroud for tonight’s Premier League visit of Liverpool.

The striker was forced off in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final win over West Ham with a hamstring injury and is likely to miss the majority of Arsenal’s festive fixtures.

Francis Coquelin also hobbled out of that game but could still be in contention but Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) is missing, as is long-term absentee Santi Cazorla (ankle). Wenger should be able to call on defender Shkodran Mustafi following a thigh injury.

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge (hamstring and illness) and defender Joel Matip (adductor) remain doubtful.

Alberto Moreno is still sidelined by his ankle problem, but Emre Can is available again after sitting out last weekend’s 4-0 win at Bournemouth as he served a suspension.

Adam Lallana is set to be involved again after coming off the bench at the Vitality Stadium for his second appearance of the season.