Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2 – Alexander-Arnold booed and Merino sent off as Arteta’s side fight back for draw

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Six days after Trent Alexander-Arnold announced that he is leaving Liverpool this summer, his introduction as a substitute and many of his touches were booed by some fans in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Anfield.

The Premier League champions went 2-0 up in the first half through two goals in two minutes from Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz, as Arsenal’s defence looked uncharacteristically shaky.

But Mikel Arteta’s side fought back after the break, pulling a goal back through Gabriel Martinelli in the 47th minute and then drawing level with 20 minutes to go when Mikel Merino was played onside by Alexander-Arnold and scored past Alisson.

The Spain international Merino was sent off soon after for a lunging tackle on Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez.

In added time Andy Robertson thought he had scored a late winner for Arne Slot’s side but the goal was ruled out for a foul by Ibrahima Konate on Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The draw means Arsenal are two points clear of Newcastle United in third place with two matches remaining, and they face Eddie Howe’s side next weekend.

Gregg Evans, Art de Roché and Mark Carey analyse the key talking points from Anfield…

Alexander-Arnold booed as Liverpool fans turn to Bradley

The right-back announced on Monday that he was leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season and he endured a miserable afternoon as a section of the stadium vented anger in his direction.

First Alexander-Arnold’s name was jeered by supporters before kick-off and the reception turned particularly hostile as he entered the pitch on 65 minutes to replace Conor Bradley.

Trent Alexander-Arnold received “a few boos” when he was subbed on for Conor Bradley 😳 pic.twitter.com/aQfWodxoV4

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 11, 2025

TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD BOOED AS HE REPLACES CONNOR BRADLEY.

A crowd that once sang his name let their feelings for their former hero ahead of his Anfield departure. pic.twitter.com/0RXpNAobL5

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) May 11, 2025

Mixed in with the boos were cheers as the fanbase were split on how to send off a player who has produced so many memorable moments since breaking into the team in 2016.

Initially every touch received another chorus of boos but that died down in the closing stages. 

Alexander-Arnold was introduced by Arne Slot to help give Liverpool a lift but he became part of a defence that played Arsenal onside for Merino’s equaliser — and he could do nothing to help restore the lead thereafter.

What also became clear in the game was the additional support for Bradley. The 21-year-old laid down an early marker to remind Anfield that not only is he well-equipped to be the right-back for the future but he’s more than ready now.

With less than 60 seconds on the clock he crunched into Gabriel Martinelli leaving the Arsenal winger with no doubt about his presence. 

His ability to combine defensive solidity with attacking nous promoted the home supporters to start singing “there’s only one Conor Bradley” and those chants continued when he was taken off later in the game.

The 21-year-old’s defensive duties were tested early into the second half when Leandro Trossard offered a different threat and caused him to overthink for Arsenal’s first goal. Trossard squeezed past Bradley a minute before the Belgian set up Martinelli with a cross after Bradley had backed off. He was then booked during a testing 15-minute period, but recovered to once again show his quality with a crucial tackle to deny Martinelli. 

The clamour for Bradley — or at least the extra support he received from the home supporters — has multiplied since Alexander-Arnold’s announcement and with the full backing of the fans, he showed once again that he’s never fazed by the occasion even if the second half was more difficult following an improvement by the visitors.

Gregg Evans

Where does this draw leave Arsenal?

It means Arsenal need one point to confirm Champions League football for next season, but they still have work to do to secure second place in the Premier League.

Newcastle United are their next opponents and after their 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday there are just two points separating them in third place and Arsenal in second.

Two losses, six draws and just three wins in Arsenal’s last 11 games see them at risk of surrendering a position that has seemed to be theirs for months.

Recent results elsewhere have helped keep Arteta’s side in second until now, with Newcastle drawing last weekend and Manchester City drawing on Saturday against Southampton, but next week is now critical to ensuring they don’t allow this season to end in a whimper.

On 68 points with two games to play, they are two points ahead of Newcastle and three ahead of City. 

Arsenal’s second-half recovery showed they still have some fight left in them, but Newcastle at the Emirates may be more difficult after Merino’s red card and Leandro Trossard appearing to pick up a knock.

Art de Roché

Who starts up front for Arsenal against Newcastle?

Merino’s red card and Trossard appearing to pick up a knock will leave Arteta with another unwanted headache ahead of Newcastle’s visit to the Emirates.

They have been his strikers in the absence of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz but if Trossard does not recover in time the Arsenal manager may need another rethink. 

Martinelli ended the game up front, and had scored from playing more centrally earlier in the second half, but has rarely started as a centre-forward under Arteta. Coincidentally, his goal was his sixth in 12 games against Liverpool, with his first two coming when used as a centre-forward by Unai Emery in 2019.

The Brazilian leading the line may be most likely considering his overall experience, but Ethan Nwaneri could be another option. The 18-year-old did not get off the bench at Anfield, but Arteta has previously spoken about him developing as a No 9 in coming seasons.

“He’s got the goal in front of him and he just looks at the goal,” Arteta said in December. “He has a tremendous ability to put the ball in the back of the net.”

That appeared to be a plan for the future, however, so Nwaneri moving into a wide position could be more likely than him starting centrally against a strong Newcastle defence.

Unfortunately for Arteta, the couple of minutes that saw Merino and Trossard go off summed up Arsenal’s season. It was the sixth red card they had been shown this term, and on a day that Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber were deemed unfit, another potential injury could provide more frustration.

Art de Roché

The importance of Liverpool’s runs in behind 

It has been a theme of Liverpool’s campaign under Slot.

“Deep runs are probably the most important thing in football,” Slot said after Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Leicester City in December.

For all of the technical quality that Liverpool have on the ball in forward areas, it is the tenacity and energy to make off-ball runs that has been crucial in crowning them as Premier League champions.

This was on show against Arsenal as Liverpool consistently stretched Arteta’s back line. Diaz’s simple finish was for Liverpool’s second goal was thanks to the energetic runs provided by both Dominik Szoboszlai and Bradley — who underlapped Mohamed Salah as he received the ball on the halfway line. The deep run from Szoboszlai meant he could receive the ball in behind Arsenal’s defensive line to roll across goal for Diaz to finish. 

Using data from SkillCorner, we can see how Liverpool’s run types compare with Europe’s top seven leagues — with their frequency of underlapping runs (74 out of 99) and runs in behind ( 71 out of 99) being among their highest ranking in their team profile this season.

There are countless examples of such runs being crucial to Liverpool’s goalscoring across the season. Sometimes those runs are found, sometimes they are used as a decoy — but Arsenal could take a leaf out of Liverpool’s book in their attacking approach to stretch the opposition back line with such disruptive running.

Mark Carey

Why Trossard was key for Arsenal’s comeback

While many Arsenal heads would be understandably down this week, Trossard was looking as confident as he ever has done.

Particularly in the first half, the 30-year-old was coming into deeper areas to receive the ball during Arsenal’s build-up, dragging Konate with him and leaving space to exploit in Liverpool’s back line. This was a clear method of attack as Martinelli would make out-to-in runs in the vacated space as Merino pulled towards the touchline to maintain width.

(PETER POWELL/AFP via Getty Images)

Trossard was also intelligent in drifting across the pitch to ensure he was rarely picked up by Liverpool’s defenders — known to be comfortable playing anywhere across Arsenal’s front line.

The Belgium international was the catalyst for Arsenal’s comeback after half-time, switching with Martinelli towards the left touchline which helped him provide a shot, a key pass, and a perfectly-weighted cross to assist Martinelli within minutes of the second half.

Arsenal’s finishing may still be under scrutiny, but Trossard’s clever attacking play deserves its credit.

Mark Carey

What did Slot say?

We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.

What did Arteta say?

We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.

What next for Liverpool?

Monday, May 19: Brighton (Away), Premier League, 8pm UK, 3pm ET

What next for Arsenal?

Sunday, May 18: Newcastle (Home), Premier League, 4.30pm UK, 11.30am ET.

(Carl Recine/Getty Images)

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