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Alexander-Arnold was booed by his own supporters, then committed a defensive error leading to Arsenal’s equaliser - PA/Nick Potts
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Trent Alexander-Arnold was made to feel like an unwanted guest at Liverpool’s title party as Arsenal completed an Anfield comeback to edge closer to Champions League qualification.
While Mikel Arteta will savour the character of his team for retrieving a point from a two-goal deficit, it was the events following the 66th minute introduction of Liverpool’s outgoing vice-captain which left the deepest impression.
Alexander-Arnold had suffered some modest jeers when his name was announced pre-match, and when warming up during the first half.
The crescendo of boos when he took the field and took possession for the first time was loud and uncomfortable.
Unsurprisingly as a previously upbeat atmosphere took a turn, Arsenal took advantage and equalised – Alexander-Arnold playing Mikel Merino onside to make it 2-2.
It was an unprecedented show of discontent by the Kop for a player who seven days ago was still considered “one of their own”. Evidently the words of the club anthem require the caveat that you will walk alone to Madrid.
As for the game itself, as comebacks go, it was two months too late for Arsenal, but they will be consoled by their excellence in the second half, surviving a late scare after Merino’s second yellow card late on.
Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz had put Liverpool in charge early on, but Gabriel Martinelli struck early in the second before Anfield generously contributed to its own players unease.
With that, any doubt that Alexander-Arnold was correct to wait for the title to be won to announce his intentions was erased.
07:10 PM BST
Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports
07:07 PM BST
Why Robertson’s late effort was ruled out
07:06 PM BST
Home comforts
Cody Gakpo has extended his impressive record at Anfield.
The Dutchman has now scored in each of his last 11 home starts across all competitions.
vs. Brighton
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 11, 2025
07:02 PM BST
Micah Richards on Sky Sports
07:01 PM BST
The thoughts of Mikel Arteta
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Arsenal came from 2-0 down at half time to draw 2-2 - Ash Allen/Shutterstock
06:58 PM BST
Arne Slot speaking to Sky Sports
06:55 PM BST
Your reaction
- Mark Dickson: “Stupid to boo TAA. He’s a lad who is pursuing his ambition and there is nothing wrong with that. Good luck to him and I have no doubt that LFC will manage perfectly well without him.”
- Martin Williams: “The naivety from fans that any player gives two figs about their club. They care about money and fame, whoever can offer them a step up in those two areas gets their jersey kiss.”
- Peter McMahon: “TAA makes another defensive error. Or yet another defensive error. Wonderful on attack but a liability in defence. Hope Real will not be expecting too much in that area. And I hope he thrives there.”
- JB Fortune: “Gutted to see that treatment for Trent. Whatever you think about him running down his contract, you never boo a player wearing red. I’m in my 50s and I can’t remember seeing that in all my years (forgive me if it’s happened). Have always been a proud red and how we treat our players. Good to see plenty of fans at the end clapping him and the team. I think it’s a new generation of the social media hate bunch. Ashamed by these clowns.”
06:52 PM BST
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher on William Saliba
"Without Gabriel, he doesn't look the same player"
Jamie Carragher thinks that Saliba needs to develop as a leader for Arsenal️ pic.twitter.com/nklzQ024r3
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 11, 2025
06:50 PM BST
More from Robertson on Alexander-Arnold
06:47 PM BST
Sky Sports crew on Arsenal
06:42 PM BST
Andy Robertson speaking to Sky Sports
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Andy Robertson thought he had scored a late winner for Liverpool but it was ruled out - Getty Images
06:38 PM BST
How it stands at the top with two games left
06:37 PM BST
Frustration for Slot and Liverpool
06:35 PM BST
To boo or not to boo?
That is the question. Should Alexander-Arnold have been booed by parts of the Anfield faithful? You can have your say in the comments section at the bottom of the blog.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold was booed by some when he came on and a few times when on the ball - Phil Noble/Reuters
06:33 PM BST
Stephen Warnock on BBC Radio 5 Live
06:32 PM BST
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher on Alexander-Arnold being booed
06:29 PM BST
Today’s Premier League results
Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea
Manchester United 0-2 West Ham
Nottingham Forest 2-2 Leicester
Tottenham 0-2 Crystal Palace
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
06:29 PM BST
FT stats
Possession: Liverpool 44%- 56% Arsenal
Shots: 14-15
Shots on target: 5-7
Corners: 3-1
Touches in opposition box: 36-36
06:25 PM BST
Full time
Robertson may have been offside as van Dijk’s header was saved well by Raya. Konate may well have been penalised anyway for a foul on Lewis-Skelly.
There is the final whistle and it ends all square at Anfield.
06:24 PM BST
90+6 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2
Robertson has the ball in the back of the net but the flag is up...
06:24 PM BST
90+5 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2
Liverpool gift away possession in their own half and Odegaard has a shot from just outside the box that goes just wide.
Down the other end Liverpool win a late corner...
06:22 PM BST
90+4 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2
Alexander-Arnold plays in a great cross but neither Jota nor Nunez can get on the end of it.
One added minute remaining.
06:20 PM BST
90+1 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2
Elliott finds a pocket of space on the right-hand side of the box but his effort goes over Raya’s bar. He should be doing much better there with the time and space he had.
06:19 PM BST
90 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2
There will be five added minutes.
06:18 PM BST
89 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2
Big chance for Liverpool. Salah’s cross is flicked on and comes to Robertson at the back post but the Scot cannot guide his effort on target, which he really should be from there.
06:16 PM BST
87 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2
Mikel Arteta is making another change as Zinchenko is coming on for Saka.
06:12 PM BST
84 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2
Jota drives and drives forward, making his way to the edge of the Arsenal box. He tries to find the far corner but he drags his effort wide.
06:11 PM BST
83 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2
Liverpool make their final change as Elliott comes on for Gravenberch.
06:10 PM BST
81 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2
Alexander-Arnold lifts it over but it goes just wide of Raya’s right post. The Arsenal keeper may have had it covered anyway.
06:08 PM BST
80 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2
Merino is shown a second yellow card and is off after an awful challenge on Szoboszlai just outside the Arsenal penalty area. He is slightly fortunate as well that he did not concede a penalty moments before for a challenge on Nunez but he can have no complaints about that.
Alexander-Arnold looks like he might take...
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Arsenal down to 10 men for the final 10 minutes or so - Getty Images
06:07 PM BST
78 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2
Arne Slot is making his fourth change as Jota replaces Diaz.
06:06 PM BST
77 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2
Trossard is down receiving some treatment after he clutched his hamstring. His day is surely done and it is as Arsenal are making a double change. Tierney and Calafiori are coming on, with White the other to be replaced.
06:03 PM BST
74 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2
Alexander-Arnold has been booed by a number of home fans when in possession. Arne Slot will be unimpressed with his side’s second-half performance whereas Mikel Arteta will be happy with how his side have bounced back from 2-0 down. Liverpool were in control of this match at the break but have been poor since half time.
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05:59 PM BST
GOAL! Merino equalises for Arsenal
Arsenal are level. Odegaard fires a shot from range, which Alisson saves onto the post. The ball comes back out to Merino, who heads home. Merino was being played onside by Alexander-Arnold and the goal will stand. 2-2.
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"They have dug deep for that"
Arsenal have come back from 2-0 down at Anfield and are now level thanks to Mikel Merino
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 11, 2025
05:55 PM BST
66 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1
Arne Slot is making a triple change as Mac Allister, Nunez and Alexander-Arnold are coming on for Jones, Gakpo and Bradley. There are plenty of audible boos as Alexander-Arnold makes his way on. Some applause as well but the boos were loud.
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05:54 PM BST
65 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1
Arsenal play it short and Saka then lifts a ball to the far post. He finds Saliba but his header lands on top of the net. That was a big chance but the offside flag goes up.
05:52 PM BST
64 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1
Odegaard slides a ball forward trying to find Martinelli in the box but Bradley slides in with a crucially-timed challenge to deny the Arsenal forward.
05:50 PM BST
61 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1
Liverpool were slick in the first half but have not really woken up in this second half. Arsenal have been the much better side since the break and they will have a free-kick not far outside the Liverpool box on the left after a foul from Bradley on Lewis-Skelly, which results in Bradley being booked.
Trossard fires it in and the initial is blocked. It comes out to Martinelli, eight yards out, and his poked effort through bodies is saved by Alisson.
05:44 PM BST
56 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1
Szoboszlai shoots from range and it is a powerful effort but it is straight at Raya, who gathers at the second attempt.
05:43 PM BST
54 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1
White fires a ball across from the right-hand side and tries to pick out Martinelli at the back post but it is too close to Alisson, who makes the save. Had White found Martinelli that would have been a tap-in.
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05:41 PM BST
52 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1
Liverpool counter and the ball is lifted over the Arsenal defence into the path of Salah. The Egyptian approaches the Arsenal box and tries to feed a pass into the the path of Diaz but there is too much on it and the chance is gone.
05:40 PM BST
51 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1
Trossard shoots from the edge of the box after Saka somehow keeps hold of the ball inside the Liverpool penalty area with plenty of ome players around him but the Belgian blazes his shot over the bar.
05:36 PM BST
GOAL! Martinelli pulls one back for Arsenal
An early goal in this second half for the visitors. Trossard is afforded too much space on the left and flicks a ball in, which Martinelli flicks on with his head into the far corner. It was a good cross and finish but the cross should never have been allowed to be put in with such ease.
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05:35 PM BST
46 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0
Lewis-Skelly makes great progress through the Liverpool half and feeds it out to Trossard, who then gets past Bradley. Trossard moves into the Liverpool box and plays the ball across but Liverpool clear.
05:34 PM BST
Second half
We are back under way at Anfield.
05:29 PM BST
Alexander-Arnold booed by Liverpool fans
For more, click here.
05:28 PM BST
Today’s Premier League fixtures
Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea FT
Manchester United 0-2 West Ham FT
Nottingham Forest 2-2 Leicester FT
Tottenham 0-2 Crystal Palace FT
Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal HT
05:25 PM BST
HT stats
Possession: Liverpool 39%- 61% Arsenal
Shots: 6-5
Shots on target: 4-0
Corners: 2-0
Touches in opposition box: 22-22
05:22 PM BST
HT verdict
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05:19 PM BST
Half time
Szoboszlai finds Konate but the Frenchman’s header goes over. That is the final act of this first half and Liverpool lead 2-0 thanks to goals from Gakpo and Diaz.
05:18 PM BST
45+3 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0
Gravenberch goes down inside the Arsenal box under a challenge from Partey but referee Anthony Taylor waves it away. Liverpool will have a late corner.
05:15 PM BST
45 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0
Merino needs to be a little careful as fouls Konate on a yellow card already. That was not a second-yellow offence but when on a booking you need to treat carefully.
There will be three added minutes at the end of this first half.
05:14 PM BST
44 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0
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05:13 PM BST
43 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0
Salah gets past Lewis-Skelly down Liverpool’s right and the Egyptian is held back, resulting in Lewis-Skelly being booked.
Salah sends in the free-kick but it is wasted as it is overhit.
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Fairly clear-cut yellow card - Jon Super/AP
05:12 PM BST
41 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0
Liverpool counter from their own box and the ball is moved out to the right into the path of Salah. He drives into the Arsenal box and lays the ball across with the outside of his left boot, trying to pick out Jones six yards out, but Arsenal do enough to deal with the danger and clear.
05:07 PM BST
36 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0
Alexander-Arnold goes out for a warm-up; will we see him come on later? Partey commits another foul and somehow escapes again without being booked. Diaz has stayed down after being fouled by Partey and there is some blood that needs to be cleaned up from his nose.
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Will Trent come on today? - Jon Super/AP
05:04 PM BST
34 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0
Partey fouls Gakpo and he is lucky not to be booked having already been slightly fortunate earlier not to see yellow for another foul on Gakpo.
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05:04 PM BST
33 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0
We have the first booking of the game as Merino fouls Bradley. It was a late challenge from Merino and referee Anthony Taylor goes to his pocket.
05:00 PM BST
30 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0
Diaz should put Liverpool 3-0 up but the offside flag has gone up anyway. Konate makes good ground dribbling down the right and feeds it forward to Bradley. Inside the Arsenal box Bradley plays it across to Diaz, who makes a mess of a golden chance. The offside flag then goes up against Bradley and, had Diaz scored, that would have been close.
05:00 PM BST
29 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0
Saka dribbles down the right and works his way into the Liverpool box. He cuts onto his preferred left foot and tries to curl one into the far corner but he cannot keep his effort down and his shot goes over the bar.
04:57 PM BST
27 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0
Gakpo drives forward inside the Arsenal half and is brought down by Partey not far outside the Arsenal box. Partey perhaps a touch fortunate not to be booked for that foul.
Robertson’s delivery comes to nothing.
04:55 PM BST
25 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0
Diaz sends in a cross from the left that ends up becoming a shot. Raya was backpedalling but the ball lands on the top of the net.
04:54 PM BST
24 mins: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0
Liverpool are nearly 3-0 up. The chance falls to Jones on the edge of the box and his shot looks destined for the far corner, only to be denied by a great diving save from Raya. There was another sublime Salah pass in there.
04:51 PM BST
GOAL! Diaz doubles Liverpool’s advantage
Two in a matter of moments from the hosts and that is a wonderful goal. Salah has it out on the right and plays a delightful ball in behind the Arsenal defence. Szoboszlai gets on the end of it and slides the ball across the box for Diaz to tap in. VAR did take a look at whether Szoboszlai was offside but he had just stayed onside as he made his run forward. Just under 90 seconds between the goals. That assist for the assist from Salah was exquisite.
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04:49 PM BST
GOAL! Gakpo gives Liverpool the lead
Liverpool take the lead. Moments before he spurned another great chance not playing the ball across to Salah but this time he makes no mistake. Liverpool win it back high up and Robertson sends in a delightful cross from the left, which Gakpo heads past Raya.
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Cody Gakpo heads home Andy Robertson's cross to give Liverpool the lead at Anfield
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 11, 2025
04:45 PM BST
14 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
Liverpool and Jones are very lucky. Jones takes far too long on the ball on the edge of his box and Partey nicks it off him. However Partey and Trossard cannot take advantage of a great situation to take the lead and the chance is gone. Jones will be a very relieved man.
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04:44 PM BST
13 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
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Will Trent Alexander-Arnold come on and what reception will he get? - Nick Potts/PA
04:42 PM BST
12 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
Gakpo should do much better there. Liverpool counter from just outside their own box and Szoboszlai drives forward. He lays it out to Gakpo on the left and the Dutchman probably should give it back to Szoboszlai but he does not and is eventually robbed of the ball by Saliba.
04:37 PM BST
7 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
Liverpool should be ahead. Jones finds space down the left channel and picks out Salah with a beautiful outside-of-the-foot pass. The Egyptian has it on the right-hand side of the box and rolls it into the of Diaz. The Colombian takes a touch and should score from around 10 yards out but his effort is straight at Raya. He should have buried that.
04:37 PM BST
6 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
The Anfield crowd serenade Bradley with a rendition of ‘There’s only one Conor Bradley’.
04:36 PM BST
5 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
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04:34 PM BST
3 mins: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
Bradley is penalised for a foul on Merino, who goes down clutching his back. Both players went up for a high ball and it seemed a little harsh to give a free-kick for that. Arsenal will have a free-kick out on the left with the chance to send it into the Liverpool penalty area.
Odegaard sends it in and the Liverpool defensive line run up to catch the Arsenal players offside. Saka makes a run late and is onside as he latches onto the end of the cross. He is in space and it is a great chance but he spurns it as his shot goes wide of the far post.
04:31 PM BST
1 min: Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
Bradley slides into a challenge on Martinelli and wins the ball, which brings out a huge roar from the Anfield faithful.
04:30 PM BST
Kick-off
We are under way at Anfield.
04:26 PM BST
Guard of honour
The Arsenal players emerge from the tunnel and, like Chelsea did at Stamford Bridge this time last week, form a guard of honour for the champions Liverpool, led out by captain Virgil van Dijk on his 300th Premier League appearance. Anfield roars as the champions emerge from the tunnel into the Merseyside sunshine. Chants of ‘Champions, Champions’ ring around Anfield.
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Liverpool enjoy a guard of honour - Nick Potts/PA
04:24 PM BST
Mixed response for Trent
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Mixed response - Phil Noble/Reuters
04:21 PM BST
Reminder of the teams
Liverpool: Alisson, Bradley, van Dijk, Konate, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Salah, Diaz.
Substitutes: Kelleher, Endo, Nunez, Mac Allister, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah.
There is no Declan Rice for Arsenal today. Leandro Trossard comes into the starting XI as does Ben White from their defeat to PSG in the week.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Merino, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Trossard.
Substitutes: Neto, Tierney, Timber, Zinchenko, Sterling, Calafiori, Butler-Oyedeji, Henry-Franics, Nwaneri.
04:20 PM BST
Mikel Arteta talking to Sky Sports
Mikel Arteta says Declan Rice will miss the game against Liverpool due to injurypic.twitter.com/SZs72U5A70
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 11, 2025
04:19 PM BST
“Always the bridesmaid”
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04:15 PM BST
Arne Slot speaking to Sky Sports
04:13 PM BST
No Rice for Arsenal
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04:12 PM BST
Today’s Premier League fixtures
Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea FT
Manchester United 0-2 West Ham FT
Nottingham Forest 2-2 Leicester FT
Tottenham 0-2 Crystal Palace FT
Liverpool vs Arsenal
04:07 PM BST
Any fans of Sanjeev Bhaskar?
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Liverpool fans having a great time - Phil Noble/Reuters
04:03 PM BST
Plenty of Champions gear around
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Liverpool are 15 points clear of Arsenal with three games left - Nick Potts/PA
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Liverpool sealed the title with a victory over Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham - Nick Potts/PA
04:00 PM BST
Trent’s reception?
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03:58 PM BST
Get your fix
03:56 PM BST
Respect
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Mutual respect - Phil Noble/Reuters
03:54 PM BST
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville on Mikel Arteta
03:49 PM BST
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher on Declan Rice
A reminder that there is no Declan Rice in Arsenal’s matchday squad. Mikel Arteta has said that Rice is not fit and could not train so that is why he is unavailable today.
03:45 PM BST
Visitors arriving
03:43 PM BST
Milestone for Robertson
03:41 PM BST
Full team news
Liverpool make six changes from their defeat at Chelsea a week ago. Conor Bradley gets the nod at right-back ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Ibrahima Konate, Andy Robertson, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz all come into the starting XI.
Liverpool: Alisson, Bradley, van Dijk, Konate, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Salah, Diaz.
Substitutes: Kelleher, Endo, Nunez, Mac Allister, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah.
There is no Declan Rice for Arsenal today. Leandro Trossard comes into the starting XI as does Ben White from their defeat to PSG in the week.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Merino, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Trossard.
Substitutes: Neto, Tierney, Timber, Zinchenko, Sterling, Calafiori, Butler-Oyedeji, Henry-Franics, Nwaneri.
03:38 PM BST
Stat attack
- Mohamed Salah has scored 11 Premier League goals against Arsenal, only scoring more against Manchester United (13) and Tottenham (12)
- Arsenal have dropped 21 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season
- Today is Virgil van Dijk’s 300th Premier League appearance, becoming the fourth Dutchman to do so after George Boateng, Dennis Bergkamp and Edwin van der Sar
03:35 PM BST
Hosts arriving
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Liverpool sealed the title two weeks ago today against Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham - Peter Powell/Getty Images
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Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are staying whilst Trent Alexander-Arnold is leaving - Getty Images
03:32 PM BST
Arsenal recent results
Wednesday 7th May: PSG 2-1 Arsenal (Champions League)
Saturday 3rd May: Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Tuesday 29th April: Arsenal 0-1 PSG (Champions League)
Wednesday 23rd April: Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League)
Sunday 20th April: Ipswich 0-4 Arsenal (Premier League)
03:25 PM BST
Liverpool recent results
Sunday 4th May: Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
Sunday 27th April: Liverpool 5-1 Tottenham (Premier League)
Sunday 20th April: Leicester 0-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
Sunday 13th April: Liverpool 2-1 West Ham (Premier League)
Sunday 6th April: Fulham 3-2 Liverpool (Premier League)
03:20 PM BST
Arne Slot speaking during his press conference
03:15 PM BST
Arsenal team news
️
️ White in at right-back
Merino drops into midfield
Trossard leads the line
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 11, 2025
03:15 PM BST
Liverpool team news
03:12 PM BST
Home fans gathering
03:11 PM BST
Updated Champions Wall
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League title number 20 sealed - Carl Recine/Getty Images
03:07 PM BST
Today’s Premier League fixtures
Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea FT
Manchester United 0-1 West Ham HT
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Leicester HT
Tottenham 0-1 Crystal Palace HT
Liverpool vs Arsenal
03:02 PM BST
What about Trent?
Having already wrapped up the Premier League title, champions Liverpool welcome second-place Arsenal to Anfield. The hosts are 15 points ahead of their visitors with three games remaining and wrapped up the title two weeks ago by beating Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham 5-1 at Anfield. The build-up to the game has been dominated by the news at the start of the week that Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool at the end of the season when his contract expires, with the right-back expected to join Real Madrid in the summer. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot expressed his disappointment at Alexander-Arnold’s decision.
“Like everybody who likes Liverpool and who is a fan of Liverpool, we are disappointed for him leaving because, not only a good human being is leaving the club, but a very, very good full back is leaving us as well,” said Slot.
“I have also worked at clubs like AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord where every season a very good, or multiple very good players, have left the club. So, I am a bit more used to it and the experience I have had, and at this club as well, if a very good players is leaving, the next very good player will step up. That is probably what is going to happen now as well.”
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What reception will the Liverpool fans give Trent Alexander-Arnold at Anfield today? - Phil Noble/Reuters
Slot did confirm that Conor Bradley will start at right-back this afternoon ahead of Alexander-Arnold.
“A lot of influences on decisions I make and one of them is losing, so I am not looking to lose all four but there are more things into a line-up than losing or rotating, so we will see. Conor will start, he needs playing time, games under his belt to be prepared for next season. Let’s not compare with Trent already, they are different types in my opinion, we all see Conor’s potential.
“Unfortunately, he has not been fit all season but to become a good player you have to be fit all season but we have a lot of confidence in him as a very good full-back for Liverpool. That is already what he has shown in the past two seasons.”
For Arsenal, it has been a tough few weeks. They were knocked out of the Champions League by PSG at the semi-final stage in midweek, going down 3-1 on aggregate. In the Premier League, they have failed to win their last two matches; a 2-2 home draw against Crystal Palace preceded a 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth, letting slip leads in both games. Last weekend Liverpool received a guard of honour from Chelsea and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that his side will follow suit.
“They deserve that. They have been the better team, the most consistent. What Arne [Slot] and the coaching staff have done is fascinating, it has been really good. That is sport. Someone is better, you have to applaud and accept and try to reach that level.”
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 14 home games against Arsenal in all competitions, with Arsenal not winning at Anfield in the league since September 2012, when their current boss Arteta started in a 2-0 win for the men from north London. In the reverse fixture back in October, the game at the Emirates ended in a 2-2 draw. Arsenal took the lead twice in the game but goals from Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah earned Liverpool a point.
Team news to follow shortly.
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