Alexander-Arnold booed as champions squander two-goal lead against dogged Gunners

Arsenal hit back from 2-0 down to claim a point at Anfield with Liverpool’s supporters making clear their displeasure with Trent Alexander-Arnold by booing the wantaway full-back.

Alexander-Arnold announced this week he would depart the club at the end of the season, most likely to join Real Madrid, and his name was jeered before kick off and when he came on for Conor Bradley midway through the second half.

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

It all added up to a frustrating afternoon for Liverpool, who won the title a fortnight ago and seemed to be cruising to another win with quickfire goals from Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz seeing them go into half-time with a 2-0 lead.

But Arsenal, fresh from the disappointment of their Champions League exit at Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, dug deep to secure a point thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino.

Merino later saw red for two bookings but Liverpool could not find a winner in a frantic finish.

Liverpool establish commanding lead

Arne Slot reverted to his strongest line-up after making changes for last weekend’s defeat at Chelsea and one of his returning players, Diaz, almost made the breakthrough after 10 minutes but his low shot was superbly saved by David Raya.

It proved to be brief respite for Arsenal as Liverpool opened the scoring after 20 minutes – Gakpo nodding in Andy Robertson’s left-wing cross.

Cody Gakpo heads home Andy Robertson’s cross to give Liverpool the lead at Anfield ⚽️🔴 pic.twitter.com/AQd3gcnj58

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

Eighty-seven seconds later and it was 2-0 as Dominik Szoboszlai burst down the right and his low centre was perfect for Diaz to slide home.

Arsenal were rocking and only a brilliant full-length save from Raya prevented Curtis Jones from adding a third.

Arsenal hit back

Whatever Mikel Arteta said at half-time had the desired effect as Arsenal flew out of the traps at the start of the second half and Martinelli reduced the arrears within two minutes.

Leandro Trossard supplied the cross and Martinelli did the rest with a glancing header that beat Alisson.

Trossard then fizzed a shot just over before full-back Ben White was denied by a brilliant save from the Liverpool goalkeeper.

Slot had seen enough and a triple change saw the introduction of Alexis Mac Allister, Darwin Nunez and Alexander-Arnold.

The first two changes were met with warm applause but Alexander-Arnold’s 353rd appearance for his hometown club was accompanied by boos and chants of ‘there’s only one Conor Bradley’ in reference to his likely successor on the right of Liverpool’s back four.

The sideshow perhaps unsettled Liverpool with Arsenal equalising within three minutes of Alexander-Arnold’s introduction.

Martin Odegaard’s fierce drive was brilliantly tipped on to the post by Alisson but the ball fell nicely for Merino to stoop and head in. Liverpool appealed for offside but replays showed Alexander-Arnold had played the Spaniard on.

“They have dug deep for that” 💪

Arsenal have come back from 2-0 down at Anfield and are now level thanks to Mikel Merino 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/wCud38NplN

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

Merino red sparks thrilling conclusion

The game took another twist when Merino, who was booked in the first half, received a second yellow card for fouls on Nunez and Szoboszlai in quick succession.

Alexander-Arnold wasted the chance to make his detractors eat their words by curling a free-kick at the Kop end over the bar before both sides came close to winning it at the death.

First, Odegaard burst clear but dragged his shot wide before Robertson had a 96th-minute effort ruled out after referee Anthony Taylor adjudged Ibrahima Konate had fouled Myles Lewis-Skelly in the lead-up.

The point means Arsenal are now two clear of Newcastle, who they host at the Emirates next weekend.