Liverpool vs Arsenal 2-2: Premier League – as it happened

After jostling for the title for most of the season, a 2-2 result at Anfield feels like a fair showing between the two sides.

Arsenal will hope to build on this performance to try and secure a Champions League spot next season, while Liverpool, having already won the title, will look to finish strong as well.

We hope you enjoyed our coverage of today’s match, and on behalf of Al Jazeera, this is Rohan Sharma signing off.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta shared his thoughts with Sky Sports: “What we did in the first half is nowhere near the level, so to do it after that is not acceptable. We reacted, great, but it is unacceptable.

“You don’t have to be fighting for trophies and then you might win or lose it. That’s the level you need.

“No one can promise you win. You’re going to have six, seven teams who pray to be in the Champions League next year and then you see.

“The action that we had after 20-25 minutes. When the team plays like this, that’s on me. It’s about action, not reaction.

“It’s not about the players. It’s about we. No one accepts those standards. It has to hurt a lot. Six times we played with 10 men this season. Look at what we can do when we are there.

“It’s about doing the basics, the simple things where you can dominate. I’m not asking people to dribble past two players and put it in the top corner. Never going to do that.”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot dissected the match with Sky Sports: “Didn’t learn so much today. I have played most of them [the players] for most of the season. Perhaps [Conor] Bradley is the new face, but not really new.

“I know a lot about them and how good they are. I like to see the mentality they showed today. After you win the league it is hard to keep going. It is probably the reason why they won the league.

“In general and [in] life, the good thing about living in Europe, everyone can have their opinion. That’s the same here in Liverpool.

“There were people who were not so happy, there were people who were happy for him. They clapped for him. A few of them booed.

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Towards the end, a few of them got more and more positive. But for me, it’s simple. I owe it to the team, to the fans, to play a team that can win a game of football.

“Trent [Alexander-Arnold] showed it because he had two or three incredible balls. We were so close to winning it, partly because of him.

“For me, it’s not that difficult. And for the fans, they can have the reaction they want. I will always back my players, the ones I lead and wear the red shirt.”

Robertson continued, touching on Anfield’s reaction to Trent Alexander-Arnold being substituted on: “There’s a lot of emotion around it. It’s crucial in these moments that I don’t tell you how to feel and you don’t tell me how to feel about it. All I can do is tell you how I feel about it.

“First of all, I’m disappointed to lose my best mate. In the game, we’ve done it all together. He’s an amazing player and person. He’s made me a better player and that comes from the bottom of my heart.

“He’s taken me to levels where I never knew existed. He kept pushing me through the good years. And he’s made a choice.

“His legacy at this club is obvious there to see. The trophies he’s won, the moments he’s had in history will always be there. It’s an emotional decision.

“For Trent, it’s not been an easy one. Of course it’s not. But he’s made the decision. It’s not nice to see a friend get booed, it wasn’t nice. But as I said, we can’t tell people how to act.

“I can’t tell you how I feel about it, I’m extremely proud of him. I love him as a player, I love him as a friend.  He will be missed as one of my best friends in the game.”

Andrew Robertson spoke with Sky Sports following the dramatic match at Anfield: “I thought the first five to 10 minutes, both teams were sloppy. We picked up [the pace], [and] scored two goals. First half, we dominated. At half-time, we went in and said to keep the same intensity, and we were miles off it.

“We lost our aggression in the press and missed our last step. Then we finished strong, I thought I nicked it at the end. I was told I may have been offside anyway.

“We’ve been delighted with the season we’ve had, but that second half was not like us. There are still areas to improve.”

Liverpool maintain their gap at the top of 15 points after sharing the spoils with Arsenal.

They now have 83 points, and can possibly go to 89 points by the end of the season, assuming they win their final two matches.

Arsenal keep hold of second spot with 68 points, but the next five spots only have a difference of six points between them, so they will want to end the season strongly as well if they are to assure themselves of a Champions League place next season.

With the final match completed, here are the updated results for Matchday 36:

• Fulham 1-3 Everton
• Ipswich Town 0-1 Brentford
• Southampton 0-0 Manchester City
• Wolves 0-2 Brighton
• Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
• Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea
• Manchester United 0-2 West Ham
• Nottingham Forest 2-2 Leicester City
• Tottenham 0-2 Crystal Palace
• Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

After Liverpool dominated most of the first half, it looked like Arsenal were in for a long evening. But Arteta’s words at half-time galvanised his squad, and they started the second half in rapid fashion, courtesy of Martinelli’s goal in the 47th minute.

Merino then squared proceedings in the 70th minute to put the visitors on the brink of a rare victory after trailing by two goals.

The match veered from one side to another as we headed into the end of regulation, before Robertson almost sent Anfield into delirium in the final minute with a finish off a corner, which was ultimately denied.

In the end, the final result was a fair reflection of the manner in which the teams fought.

Full time: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

The Robertson almost-goal proves to be the final piece of action as the referee calls time.

Full time: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

Liverpool win a late corner from the right side. The attempt is driven in, with van Dijk getting his head on it, but it is straight at Raya.

Raya makes the initial block, before Robertson knocks in the rebound. The Anfield roars their delight, but before they can set off fireworks, the referee overrules the goal.

It looks initially like it may be due to an offside, but replays confirm Konate had committed a foul in the box. That would have been some scene had that been legitimate!

90+6 mins: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal win the ball and set off on a dangerous run down the middle.

The ball finds Odegaard, who fires through the gap, but just sends his effort wide of the far post. That was very close!

90+5 mins: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

He tries to find Jota inside the box on the left side, but the Portuguese player can’t quite get to it.

Nunez is just behind him, but he too fails to get a touch.

90+4 mins: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal are sitting deeper in their end, with the Liverpool players working the periphery of the box.

Can the hosts come away with something special here?

90+3 mins: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

Still plenty of time remaining for a last-gasp winner.

Elliott tries to end it early with a curled effort from the right side of the box, but puts too much elevation on it.

90+1 mins: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

Salah tries to square a pass into the box from the right side, but it comes off the shin of an Arsenal player. The ball bounces up towards the left side, with Robertson trying to time his run to meet it.

He gets to it successfully, but ends up making contact with his shin instead of the boot, sending the shot just past the left upright. He really should have done better from there, and Raya will consider himself massively lucky to get away with that.

89 mins: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

Arteta has telegraphed his intent with Oleksandr Zinchenko coming on for Bukayo Saka.

Looks like he will settle for the draw, given the fierce competition for a Champions League place next season.

88 mins: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

Despite being down to 10 men, Arsenal are as hell-bent as Liverpool to come up with a late winner.

87 mins: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

Liverpool set off on a counter towards the Arsenal end.

The ball finds Jota, who has a go from outside the box, just left of centre, but sends his shot just wide off the far post.

84 mins: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal