Match report

Liverpool Hold Off Arsenal for Thrilling 2-2 Draw in Premier League

Liverpool
Liverpool
2–2
FT
Arsenal
Arsenal
May 11, 2025

In a high-stakes Premier League encounter at Anfield, Liverpool started with a bang, scoring two quickfire goals through Cody Gakpo and Luis Díaz. However, Arsenal fought back strongly in the second half, with Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino netting to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw.

Key Facts

  • • Liverpool: Goals by Cody Gakpo (20'), Luis Díaz (21')
  • • Arsenal: Goals by Gabriel Martinelli (47'), Mikel Merino (70')
  • • Mikel Merino received a red card for Arsenal in the 79th minute, reducing them to ten men
  • • Substitutions: Liverpool made multiple changes including Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott; Arsenal introduced Kieran Tierney and Rylan Calafiori

Lineups

Liverpool

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 1 Alisson Becker (G)
  • 84 C. Bradley (D)
  • 5 I. Konaté (D)
  • 4 V. van Dijk (D)
  • 26 A. Robertson (D)
  • 38 R. Gravenberch (M)
  • 17 C. Jones (M)
  • 11 Mohamed Salah (M)
  • 8 D. Szoboszlai (M)
  • 18 C. Gakpo (M)
  • 7 L. Díaz (F)

Substitutes

  • 10 A. Mac Allister
  • 66 T. Alexander-Arnold
  • 9 D. Núñez
  • 20 Diogo Jota
  • 19 H. Elliott
  • 78 J. Quansah
  • 62 C. Kelleher
  • 3 W. Endō
  • 21 K. Tsimikas

Arsenal

Formation: 4-3-3

Starting XI

  • 22 David Raya (G)
  • 4 B. White (D)
  • 2 W. Saliba (D)
  • 15 J. Kiwior (D)
  • 49 M. Lewis-Skelly (D)
  • 8 M. Ødegaard (M)
  • 5 T. Partey (M)
  • 23 Mikel Merino (M)
  • 7 B. Saka (F)
  • 19 L. Trossard (F)
  • 11 Gabriel Martinelli (F)

Substitutes

  • 3 K. Tierney
  • 33 R. Calafiori
  • 17 O. Zinchenko
  • 45 J. Henry-Francis
  • 32 Neto
  • 12 J. Timber
  • 30 R. Sterling
  • 37 N. Butler-Oyedeji
  • 53 E. Nwaneri

Timeline

  1. Liverpool
    20' Liverpool Goal · Normal Goal
    C. Gakpo · Assist: A. Robertson
  2. Liverpool
    21' Liverpool Goal · Normal Goal
    L. Díaz · Assist: D. Szoboszlai
  3. Arsenal
    34' Arsenal Card · Yellow Card
    M. Merino

    Foul

  4. Arsenal
    43' Arsenal Card · Yellow Card
    M. Lewis-Skelly

    Foul

  5. Arsenal
    47' Arsenal Goal · Normal Goal
    Gabriel Martinelli · Assist: L. Trossard
  6. Liverpool
    60' Liverpool Card · Yellow Card
    C. Bradley

    Foul

  7. Liverpool
    66' Liverpool subst · Substitution 1
    Off: C. Gakpo · On: A. Mac Allister
  8. Liverpool
    67' Liverpool subst · Substitution 2
    Off: C. Bradley · On: T. Alexander-Arnold
  9. Liverpool
    67' Liverpool subst · Substitution 3
    Off: C. Jones · On: D. Núñez
  10. Arsenal
    70' Arsenal Goal · Normal Goal
    M. Merino
  11. Arsenal
    78' Arsenal subst · Substitution 1
    Off: L. Trossard · On: K. Tierney
  12. Arsenal
    78' Arsenal subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Benjamin White · On: R. Calafiori
  13. Arsenal
    79' Arsenal Card · Yellow Card
    M. Merino

    Foul

  14. Arsenal
    79' Arsenal Card · Red Card
    M. Merino

    Foul

  15. Liverpool
    79' Liverpool subst · Substitution 4
    Off: L. Díaz · On: Diogo Jota
  16. Liverpool
    83' Liverpool subst · Substitution 5
    Off: R. Gravenberch · On: H. Elliott
  17. Arsenal
    88' Arsenal subst · Substitution 3
    Off: B. Saka · On: O. Zinchenko

Match Stats

Stat Liverpool Arsenal
Fouls 13 10
Pass Accuracy 82% 86%
Offsides 3 1
Red Cards 0 1
Total Shots 14 15
Corners 3 1
Total Passes 355 447
Yellow Cards 1 3
Blocked Shots 1 4
Shots on Target 5 7
xG 2.39 2.58
Shots off Target 8 4
Possession 44% 56%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 292 384
Shots Inside Box 10 11
Saves 4 3
Shots Outside Box 4 4

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Arsenal's equalizer by Gabriel Martinelli in the 47th minute turned the momentum, putting pressure on Liverpool's early lead.
  • ▸ Mikel Merino's dismissal and subsequent red card in the 79th minute was a crucial turning point, but Arsenal managed to hold on for the draw.