A heated evening at the Emirates saw Liverpool extend their unbeaten run and frustrate the pretenders to the throne into a bitter submission.
Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool Player Ratings: A quick look
• Defensive excellence: Alisson, Van Dijk, and Konate all earned 8/10s for a robust display that frustrated the league leaders
• Injury blow: The result was soured by Conor Bradley leaving on a stretcher after a mature performance against Trossard.
• Tactical discipline: Arne Slot prioritised defensive stability over attacking flair but his side did dominate in midfield after the break
Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool
Premier League (21) | Emirates Stadium
January 8th, 2025
Alisson Becker – 8 (out of 10)
Looked really up for this one and could be heard barking across his back line from the off.
Did well to parry and gather strong efforts from Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard in the early stages to keep Liverpool composed.
First-time kicking was erratic and fell to the feet of an opponent more often than not, but a gamble the Brazilian was willing to take in order to keep Arsenal out of position on the turnover.
Conor Bradley – 7
A mature performance. Ran hard in the first half and didn’t give the lively Trossard a lick, leading to the Belgian rapidly losing his temper.
Unfortunate to clip the crossbar with Liverpool’s best worked effort of the opening 45, did everything right in the move bar score.
Grim to see him leave on a stretcher, with Gabriel Martinelli lucky not to be skinned alive by a Liverpool player for his antics in the aftermath.
Ibrahima Konate – 8
Stuck to the task at hand and looked robust. Was perhaps the best across the back line for offering Alisson an early option with the quick pass out.
Caught out of position on a few occasions in the second half as Liverpool gained more dominance and pushed up higher, but largely speaking was in the right place at the right time more often than not. A decent evening.
Virgil van Dijk – 8
Got the fire in his belly after Declan Rice tried to have a pop when Arsenal didn’t kick the ball out for Jeremie Frimpong‘s ankle issue, and the Liverpool skipper looked like he was on the hunt for scalps thereafter.
Looked more at ease alongside Konate for the first time in several games. The pair used their egos and competitive nature to good measure, not allowing the pretenders to the throne to have a field day.
Milos Kerkez – 7
Stuck himself onto Bukayo Saka like hot glue. Knew the Arsenal man was having a worldie of a game and adjusted his own plan accordingly; timed tackles, long drawn shoulder-to-shoulder battles and minimal giving away of stupid fouls.
Perhaps the most composed we’ve seen Kerkez for a long while.
Ryan Gravenberch – 7
Managed to split the lines well and was a big part of why Liverpool had greater success in forward passes. That said, never really looked like he had a true match-changing moment in him. The swagger on the ball has gone and has been replaced by an unwanted measure of hesitation.
Alexis Mac Allister – 6
Lost the first half battle of midfield dominance to Rice and tussled pretty ineffectively with Martin Zubimendi for space thereafter.
Frustrations soon mounted and his late yellow card looked like a formality. Is still showing plenty of spirit, but certainly isn’t happy out on the pitch right now.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 7
Did the job that was asked of him as far as closing down and pressing were concerned, but again looks like a bit of a lost man in this specific formation. Started shooting more in the second half, but all soared wayward.
Didn’t have the space, or possibly the remit, that he’s had in other games of similar magnitude, Inter Milan away being the perfect example.
Jeremie Frimpong – 7
Another lively outing for a weapon which looks like it’s getting sharper and sharper for Liverpool. Decision making was generally poor and Frimpong’s first-time balls left much to be desired here, but his advancing runs more than unsettled the Arsenal defence.
A constant threat, also surprisingly strong in possession for a player of such diminutive stature.
Florian Wirtz – 7
A quiet albeit industrious first half soon gave way to an immediate chance in the second, twinkling feet dancing through a sea of befuddled Arsenal defenders. Something straight out of the Philippe Coutinho playbook by this very Brazilian of Germans. Faded thereafter but had moments of silk.
Cody Gakpo – 6
Got lost in the first half trying to take up too many positions and being useful in precisely none of them. Didn’t offer a great deal of cover for Kerkez as he dug into his breathless battle with Saka. Ran plenty for what remained of the match, but largely anonymous.
Overall Team Performance – 8
Substitutes
Joe Gomez (on for Bradley, 90+5′) – n/a – A late appearance he absolutely wouldn’t have wanted given the manner Bradley had to be withdrawn.
Subs not used: Marmardashvili, Chiesa, Jones, Ngumoha, Nyoni, Ramsay, Robertson, Woodman
Arne Slot – 7
Slot put out a team with a firm modus operandi of remaining compact, marking to the man, and keeping the ball moving at all costs. It was largely the same bag of tactics taken to Fulham, but with the tweaked expectance of defending above all else.
At Craven Cottage Liverpool were expected to stay resolute but engineer a means to win – not here.
Slot’s unusual refusal to turn to the subs bench – until forced by Bradley’s late injury – was evidence enough that the plan was being followed and it couldn’t be corrupted in any form.
Liverpool stuck to the script, got fortunate with a few of Arsenal‘s fizzing balls across the area, and had a couple of killer chances of their own.
All in all Slot got what he set up for and Liverpool gave a robust account of themselves in the back yard of the league’s most in-form team. Not pretty, but a point to be valued.