Liverpool suffered only their second defeat of the Premier League season, as a series of defensive errors cost the Reds at Arsenal.

In a game that Arsenal knew they needed to win (to stay in the title race), the Gunners started the match with great energy and intensity, with Liverpool struggling to keep Arsenal at bay.  It was not surprising then, that Arsenal took the lead through Saka in the 14th minute.  After Alisson had produced a great save to deny Havertz, the ball broke kindly for Saka, to side foot into an empty net.  It was just the start that Arsenal wanted, and was no more than they deserved for their early efforts.

As the first half progressed, Arsenal continued to dominate, with Liverpool struggling to find any rhythm, and the only surprise was that the score remained 1 - 0.  Then, as the first half ticked to a close, an unforced defensive error brought Liverpool level, as Luis Diaz's persistance caused chaos in the Arsenal defence, with the ball ricocheting into the goal.  Liverpool's players celebrated wildly, and with good reason, as they had not looked like scoring at any point in the half.  In fact, they scored without having a single shot on target.

The goal certainly lifted Liverpool, with the Reds looking like a different team as the second half got under way.  Indeed, Liverpool could have scored three goals in the first three minutes, as Arsenal were suddenly the team under pressure.  All that changed however, in the 67th minute, as a massive mix up between Van Dijk and Alisson, allowed Martinelli to roll the ball into an empty net.  It was a calamitous error, and one totally out of sync with the performances of both players this season.

Not surprisingly, the goal changed the dynamic of the game in Arsenal's favour once more, with the Gunners sealing the victory late on, through a Trossard goal.

A bad day all round for Liverpool...

As well as losing the match, Liverpool also had defender Ibrahime Konate sent off late on, after two yellow cards.  That means he will miss the Burnley game through suspension, so Klopp will have to decide whether to use youngster Jarell Quansah alongside Van Dijk, or move Joe Gomez from left back.

The Reds were also dealt a blow before kick-off, with the news that midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai did not travel with the squad, as he waits for tests on a possible re-occurance of his hamstring issue.

After the game, Jurgen Klopp admitted that Arsenal were the better team, and that Liverpool did not "play enough football".

Liverpool now have six days to prepare for the Burnley game.  Although there were not many positives to take from yesterdays game, everyone at Anfield will be looking forward to putting their mistakes behind them, and getting back onto the pitch as soon as possible.

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