🔬 The Debrief as Liverpool-Arsenal draw; Man Utd and Spurs lose again

It was yet another day of high drama in the Premier League, as Sunday’s four games brought drama aplenty.

Here’s what we made of it all.

What happened?

In the game of the weekend, Arsenal and Liverpool played out a 2-2 draw that both sides might feel they could have won.

Bukayo Saka marked his injury return with a brilliant goal after nine minutes, but Virgil van Dijk levelled things up less than 10 minutes later with a stooping header. Mikel Merino scored a header of his own before half-time but the Gunners lost control and maybe some belief, and Gabriel and Jurrien Timber to injury, leading to Mohammed Salah scoring a near-inevitable second equaliser in the 80th minute.

Earlier in the day, Manchester United suffered their latest defeat, falling 2-1 away to West Ham in a game that saw them miss countless chances, as well as a concede an incredibly harsh penalty late on. All of the goals came in the final quarter of the game, Crysencio Summerville and Casemiro trading goals before Jarrod Bowen won it from the spot.

Elsewhere, it was the Cole Palmer show again at Stamford Bridge, as he scored and provided an assist in the Blues’ 2-1 win over Newcastle, and Crystal Palace got off the mark with their first win, Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring in a 1-0 win over Spurs, whose up and down form continues.

Player of the day

Much of the talk in the build-up to today’s game was dominated by Arsenal’s apparent “injury crisis”, despite Liverpool also missing two starters in Alisson and Diogo Jota.

Bukayo Saka’s potential absence was the main worry for the Gunners, but he started as captain, and showed why he is their main man just nine minutes into the game.

Credit must be given to Ben White for his searching ball, and both Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson should have done better, but Saka made it just look so easy, as he took the ball down, nutmegged the left-back before smashing past Caoimhín Kelleher to give his side the early lead.

The 23-year-old’s goal made it 50 for the club in the league, overtaking royalty in Thierry Henry as the youngest to do so in the Premier League (post-1992) era, and continued his brilliant start to the season.

It wasn’t just his goal, though as his overall game added further evidence to the notion that he has taken things to a new level in recent months.

If Arsenal are to do anything this season, both his fitness and form will be critical.

Stat of the day

No goals in the first half of eight of their nine league games this season, and their lowest goal tally at this point of the season since the relegation campaign of 1973/74.

Surely ten Hag’s time is running out.

What this means

Liverpool’s fightback saw them maintain their unbeaten away record so far this season, but the point was not enough for them to return to the top of the table, where Manchester City now reside.

Arsenal are four off the Reds, and five off Pep Guardiola’s side, and will know they can not afford to fall much further behind in the coming weeks.

Chelsea’s win over Newcastle pushes them to within a point of the Gunners, as well as Aston Villa, while Spurs sit in eighth after their fourth defeat of the season already.

In the bottom half, Eddie Howe’s side lie in 12th, a point clear of West Ham. The Irons, and manager Julen Lopetegui, got a much-needed victory over Erik ten Hag’s increasingly hapless side.

United are in 14th position after nine games, and could soon be looking over their shoulder the way things are going under the Dutchman.

What they said

There were contrasting emotions from the Arsenal and Liverpool captains after the game.

Bukayo Saka said: “We’re a bit disappointed. Credit to Liverpool, they’re a good team, but we feel like we didn’t show our best selves for the full 90 minutes. First half we showed our qualities and dominated. We gave them nothing in open play. In the second half we sat back a bit and we weren’t at our best.”

Virgil van Dijk was happier with the point, and poked a bit of fun at the pre-match chat surrounding Arsenal: “It’s a very tough place to come, so to come back twice is a good thing. We take the point and move on. I think they only had two players injured today didn’t they? They played a very, very strong team.”

Erik ten Hag lamented both his side’s poor finishing and perceived injustices in their latest loss: “Three times this season we feel injustice. We have to score, we created so many chances. We should’ve been two or three up. Unfair and unjust the way we conceded the penalty.”

After a starring role in Chelsea’s 2-1 win against Newcastle, Cole Palmer was typically calm but confident: “We just try to play our own game, block the noise out from the outside. We don’t mind proving people wrong. We are all young and we have a top coach, but there are improvements still.”

Ange Postecoglou was well aware that another loss for Spurs won’t sit well with their supporters: “I’d be very surprised if they were happy right now. Why would I be happy? If I’m unhappy then they’ll be unhappy. If you’re suggesting that our fans weren’t happy with today then that’s a fair assessment.”

On the other hand, Jean-Phillippe Mateta was understandably delighted with his goal and the win: “Very important, first win this season and we worked hard to have another win. It was important to win against Tottenham. The first three points. I say every time, if he [Eberechi Eze] played good then we would win. Today he gave me the pass.”

What comes next?

After the midweek EFL Cup fourth round, the Premier League roars back into life with several big games.

In the early Saturday kick-off, Arsenal travel to Newcastle, while Sunday sees Aston Villa host Tottenham, and an ailing Manchester United take on Chelsea on Sunday evening.

Elsewhere, Liverpool face Brighton and Manchester City go to the South Coast for a clash with Bournemouth.