Arsenal cash in on Becker errors to cut Liverpool's Premier League lead to two points

Goalkeeper made series of blunders in 3-1 defeat against Gunners at Emirates

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  Arsenal's Belgian midfielder #19 Leandro Trossard (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team third goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London on February 4, 2024. (Photo by Ian Kington / IKIMAGES / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

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  Arsenal's Leandro Trossard scores their third goal. Action Images

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  Referee Anthony Taylor shows a red card to Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate. AFP

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  Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, right, celebrates scoring his side's second goal with teammate Martin Odegaard. AFP

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  Liverpool's Curtis Jones, left, Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson Becker after Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli's goal. PA

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  Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli scores his team's second goal. AFP

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  Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, left, scores their second goal of the game after a mix-up between Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker and defender Virgil van Dijk. PA

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  Arsenal defender Gabriel deflects a shot by Luis Diaz of Liverpool into the net off his hand to concede an own goal. Getty Images

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  Luis Diaz of Liverpool celebrates his team's equaliser, an own goal scored by Arsenal's Gabriel. Getty Images

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  Arsenal's Bukayo Saka scores his team's first goal. AFP

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  Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Martin Odegaard. Getty Images

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  Arsenal's Bukayo Saka scores the opening goal. AFP

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker made a brace of costly errors as the 10-man Reds lost 3-1 at Arsenal to see their lead at the top of the Premier League cut to two points.

The Gunners themselves had gifted an equaliser to the visitors as a Gabriel Magalhaes own goal on the stroke of half-time cancelled out Bukayo Saka’s opener.

But Mikel Arteta’s men would ultimately run out winners as a mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson allowed Gabriel Martinelli to round off a fine individual performance by re-establishing the lead before substitute Leandro Trossard fired straight through the goalkeeper’s legs in stoppage time.

It is just a second league defeat of the season for the Reds, who struggled to get into the game for the majority of the first half at the Emirates Stadium and ended with a numerical disadvantage as Ibrahima Konate was sent off late on.

Martinelli once again shone against Liverpool, hitting his fifth goal against Jurgen Klopp’s side – the departing German no doubt looking forward to seeing the back of a player he once described as “a talent of the century”.

Arsenal were without Gabriel Jesus, injured once more, but took the lead against Liverpool for the fourth Premier League encounter in a row.

They started well here, too, David Raya claiming a routine cross before bowling the ball out to Martinelli, whose pace was enough to see off Konate but Saka could not make telling contact as he met the cross with a diving header.

Arsenal have made a habit of scoring early against Liverpool, however, and that trend continued as Saka made amends in the 14th minute.

A great pass from Martin Odegaard found Kai Havertz in space, the German forward breaking through on goal only to shoot straight at Alisson, with Saka on hand to turn home the rebound.

Despite struggling with Arsenal’s high press and failing to register a shot on target in the first half, Liverpool would go in level at the break as the unwitting Gabriel turned the ball into his own goal off his arm after Luis Diaz had outmuscled William Saliba.

The fortuitous equaliser shifted the momentum as Liverpool came out for the second half with a more cutting edge with both Diaz and Curtis Jones getting shots away.

Jakub Kiwior had replaced Oleksandr Zinchenko at the break for the home side, who reacted well as Odegaard saw a shot deflected just wide of Alisson’s right-hand post

The hosts wanted a penalty when Havertz tangled with Alexis Mac Allister but referee Anthony Taylor was unmoved as VAR sided with the on-field official.

Arsenal would retake the lead soon after, with the Liverpool defence this time left red-faced as Alisson and Van Dijk left a clearance to one another, allowing Martinelli to collect and finish into an empty net.

Mac Allister flashed a shot wide as Liverpool looked to respond a second time having already rescued 19 points from losing positions this season.

The early exertion from Arsenal’s forwards saw them tire as both Martinelli and Saka were replaced by Trossard and Reiss Nelson, respectively, for the closing stages.

But it was another substitute, Poland defender Kiwior, who missed a fine chance to make sure of the points when he headed straight at Alisson.

Klopp, too, had turned to his bench with Darwin Nunez, Harvey Elliott, Andrew Robertson and fit-again Thiago Alcantara all introduced in a forlorn attempt to salvage a result.

Instead, Konate was dismissed – booked a second time for blocking Trossard – before Trossard’s low near-post shot flashed between the legs of Alisson to secure the points for Arteta’s men.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice told BBC Sport: "When you get that energy transmitted from the fans it gives you more energy.

"We were top at Christmas and then had a few sloppy results. We seem to have ourselves back on the right track."

Liverpool defender Van Dijk said: "A very tough day. The 2-1 goal I take full responsibility for at it was a big turning point in the game. I should have done better, should have made a better decision there and it hurts. It hurts for me and for the rest of the team.