Liverpool v Arsenal: Premier League – live!

4.09pm EDT 16:09

51 min Alexander-Arnold’s dangerous volleyed cross is calmly chested away by David Luiz at the near post. He’s played well tonight. As has been said many times, he looks so much better in a back three.

4.08pm EDT 16:08

50 min “I had 13 vodka red bulls one night and didn’t sleep until the day after,” shivers Matthew Stephens. “I was as shaky as an Arsenal’s defensive line. Haven’t touched the stuff since.”

The hipster booze revolution came too late for our generation of students, eh. The closest thing to craft beer at Keele was Carlsberg Export.

4.07pm EDT 16:07

49 min Arsenal have started the second half with greater intent. Lacazette tees up the off-balance Maitland-Niles, whose shot would have gone out for a throw-in had it not hit van Dijk.

4.06pm EDT 16:06

49 min Alexander-Arnold is booked for a late tackle on Tierney.

4.05pm EDT 16:05

47 min Mane almost makes it 3-1, blasting over the bar from the edge of the area after a clipped ball over the top from Wijnaldum. Leno had it covered.

Updated at 4.05pm EDT

4.00pm EDT 16:00

“For melodic heavy metal look no further than Norway’s finest – Kvelertak,” writes Iain Gray. “Utterly bonkersly magnificent.”

3.53pm EDT 15:53

“What do you do to counteract Liverpool’s full backs?” wonders John Dublin. “Do you invent a position called the holding winger, where the main function of the player is to basically cover every run of the full back and not much is expected from them in an attacking sense; think James McClean as a reference. This would put extra pressure on Liverpool’s midfield to be creative which hasn’t always been their strong suit but, the arrival of Thiago has probably solved that issue.”

Plenty of teams have tried that – not just against Liverpool but also Barcelona when they had Jordi Alba and Dani Alves. Sir Alex Ferguson often used Park in that role, not just against Barcelona.

I’ve never seen a better pair of attacking full-backs in English football, so goodness knows what you’re supposed to do. The threat is so different as well: Robertson is all about buccaneering runs and precise low crosses, whereas Alexander-Arnold can put in devastating crosses from almost any position.

3.49pm EDT 15:49

Half time: Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal

Peep peep! Arsenal had the effrontery to take the lead through Alexandre Lacazette after a comedy howler from Andy Robertson. Liverpool – who were already well on top – responded ferociously. Sadio Mane equalised a few moments later and Robertson summed up Liverpool’s mentality monstrousness by making up for his error and putting Liverpool ahead. It’s not entirely palatable for supporters of their rivals, but Liverpool are just awesome.

3.43pm EDT 15:43

42 min David Luiz waves a long pass over the top of the Liverpool defence to put Maitland-Niles, but his first touch is poor and the ball runs through to Alisson. It wasn’t the easiest ball to control, but had he done so he would have been clear.

3.40pm EDT 15:40

40 min “In the mid-1970s, a ‘hosepipe’ was briefly all the rage down our way,” says Duncan Edwards. “Half of Guinness, double brandy, and a barley wine all in a pint glass. A fearsome combo. More recently I took a sip of Red Bull which was more than enough.”

Why can I suddenly smell Embassy Regal?

3.40pm EDT 15:40

39 min Arsenal cannot get out. Holding’s pass goes straight to Firmino, 30 yards from goal. He combines with Wijnaldum and Mane to almost release Robertson, who is superbly tracked by the second right-back Willian.

3.38pm EDT 15:38

38 min Here’s Scott Blair on the subject of melodic heavy metal. “I’d suggest UFO, which rather nicely opens the door to a they’re Too Hot To Handle reference at some appropriate juncture in the match.”

3.37pm EDT 15:37

36 min Arsenal have done quite well in this half, yet they have been absolutely battered.

3.36pm EDT 15:36

I’m sorry, this is just awesome. They are utterly relentless. Alexander-Arnold’s deep cross skims off the head of Bellerin and reaches Robertson, who controls it on the chest and pokes it past Leno. I’m surprised VAR didn’t look at it for a possible handball, if only because his arms were tight to his body. That said, I’m pretty sure it was okay.

3.35pm EDT 15:35

GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal (Robertson 34)

Andy Robertson makes up for his mistake by putting Liverpool ahead.

Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson pokes in the second. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/AFP/Getty Images

Updated at 3.49pm EDT

3.34pm EDT 15:34

33 min “Right,” says Matt Dony. “Only Connect is finished, I can give the match my full attention. Heavy metal football, but with plenty of melody. Also, an astonishing amount of technical ability and creativity. By way of comparison, I offer the musical stylings of Between The Buried And Me to the MBM collective. Listen to their album Colors, and thank me later.”

3.33pm EDT 15:33

32 min Liverpool’s intensity with and without the ball is incredible. It’s a shame they didn’t play Bayern Munich in the Champions League final; it could have been an all-time classic.

3.32pm EDT 15:32

31 min “Jürgen Klopp has a tough job,” says Peter Oh. “With so many good midfielders at his disposal he can’t possibly Keita to everyone’s preferences.”

3.29pm EDT 15:29

The equaliser came from an excellent advantage by the referee Craig Pawson after a foul by David Luiz on Keita. Firmino picked up the loose ball and played it to Salah, who surged thrillingly away from Tierney – his first touch into the space was marvellous – and whipped a shot that was beaten away by Leno. It rebounded straight to Mane, who cushioned a volley into the empty net.

Updated at 3.54pm EDT

3.28pm EDT 15:28

GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal (Mane 28)

Going ahead against Liverpool isn’t always advisable.

Sadio Mane scores Liverpool’s equaliser from close range. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/AFP/Getty Images

Updated at 3.33pm EDT

3.28pm EDT 15:28

27 min Lacazette was miles offside but it didn’t matter because Robertson played the ball through to him. It was Hackney Marshes fare.

Updated at 3.30pm EDT

3.27pm EDT 15:27

That was Arsenal’s first decent counter-attack of the entire game. They broke the Liverpool press and Lacazette found Maitland-Niles on the left. His cross was poor but Robertson made a complete hash of a routine clearance, miscuing the ball straight to Lacazette in front of goal. He turned and mishit a volley that bounced over the stretching Alisson, who had gone down expecting a cleaner contact.

Updated at 3.53pm EDT

3.25pm EDT 15:25

GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal (Lacazette 25)

Arsenal take the lead with a farcical goal!

Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette mishits a volley but still scores. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Reuters

Updated at 3.29pm EDT

3.25pm EDT 15:25

24 min David Luiz gets away with his first mistake. He tried to play out from inside the Arsenal area and gave the ball to Alexander-Arnold. He combined with Keita to tee up Wijnaldum, whose low shot from inside the D was straight at Leno.

3.23pm EDT 15:23

23 min “The midfield tonight for Liverpool is missing its best two players,” says Ciaran Hanley. “I was looking forward to seeing Thiago against a deep-lying defence as that was the main reason he was bought. Henderson is often missed when he’s not playing. So Fabinho, Wijnaldum and in particular Keita need to step up tonight. Fab has to be good defensively, Wijnaldum has to get in the box and Keita has to create.”

You’re right, but sometimes it feels like the front three and full-backs are so good that they could play me, you and Homer Simpson in central midfield and still score three or four.

3.22pm EDT 15:22

21 min: Alexander-Arnold hits the bar! Robertson’s outswinging corner was headed away by David Luiz. It came to Alexander-Arnold, who spanked the sweetest half-volley towards goal from 25 yards. The ball hit Bellerin, bounced into the ground and then up onto the bar.

3.21pm EDT 15:21

21 min “Another Everton fan hoping for a draw,” says Mary Waltz. “It’s positively juvenile how much pleasure I get from being above the Reds, I know winter is coming and it will not last, but every day at the top, point wise, is an amazing opportunity for joy. Sad, but true.”

3.20pm EDT 15:20

20 min Arsenal have barely had a kick, yet Mikel Arteta will be pretty happy I think. They’ve been compact and error-free at the back, and Leno has only one save to make.

3.16pm EDT 15:16

16 min “I really want to see a team kick off and score while the opposition are taking a knee,” says Andrew. “Don Revie’s Leeds might have done that. And it was brandy and Red Bull if you really liked mixing your stimulants.”

I’ve drunk some filth in my time but that is too much.

Updated at 3.41pm EDT

3.16pm EDT 15:16

15 min It’s all Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold crosses towards the near post, where Mane sweeps a half-volley at goal. It’s beautifully struck but straight at Leno, who beats it away.

3.13pm EDT 15:13

13 min A nice training-ground corner from Liverpool. Robertson, on the left, angles it sharply back towards Salah, who arrives late and spanks it over the bar. It was a difficult chance, on the run and under pressure, though it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see him roof it.

3.12pm EDT 15:12

12 min: David Luiz heads off the line! Alexander-Arnold won the ball off Tierney on the right wing and hit a magnificent first-time cross towards the far post. Van Dijk, who was still up from a corner, headed back across Leno and David Luiz nutted the ball behind for a corner. I’m not sure it was going in but David Luiz took no chances.

David Luiz heads the ball clear. Photograph: Getty Images

Updated at 3.25pm EDT

3.11pm EDT 15:11

11 min Arsenal are sitting very deep, as they did so successfully against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final. They haven’t yet had any decent counter-attacks, but then nor had Leicester at this stage of their game yesterday.

3.10pm EDT 15:10

9 min “Now that your lot are shite for the foreseeable, I can look back with a less jaundiced eye,” says Paul Ewart. “So the question I have for you, is was Anderson a) any good, b) a solid citizen, or c) a disappointment. We can all see that Naby’s a player but it’s make-or-break for him now.”

He had some great games in his first season, especially away to the bigger sides, but got worse as time went on. He remained an essential part of the Arsenal Kryptonite midfield (Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson) but became more of a cult figure. Ultimately he was a disappointment because he had such potential. He was 19 when he played brilliantly at the Emirates and Anfield.

Updated at 3.11pm EDT

3.06pm EDT 15:06

5 min Lots of early possession for Liverpool, who are playing with a level of confidence that is almost illegal. They are so good to watch. It might be heavy-metal football but there’s plenty of melody in there as well. There’ll be even more once Thiago gets in the team.

3.03pm EDT 15:03

3 min Tierney goes down after being hit in the face by Mane. It was more of a shove than a punch, and Mane is booked. It wasn’t a million miles from a red-card offence, but a yellow card was probably right.

Updated at 3.04pm EDT

3.01pm EDT 15:01

2 min “I am a committed Naby fan as I watched him carry Red Bull,” says Ian Copestake, “and I don’t just mean in bags from the offie.”

That last image gave me a little chill. Remember when trolleying double vodka Red Bulls by night seemed a good idea?

3.00pm EDT 15:00

1 min Peep peep! Arsenal, in their bloody away kit, kick off from left to right.

Liverpool’s Sadio Mane kneels in support of Black Lives Matter. Photograph: Paul Ellis/Reuters

Updated at 3.05pm EDT

2.59pm EDT 14:59

“Can we play Xhaka yellow card bingo?” says Ruth Purdue. “I have the 12th minute. Any takers?”

Bingo responsibly.

2.58pm EDT 14:58

The players are out on the field and ready for action. The next two hours shouldn’t be dull.

2.31pm EDT 14:31

“Under Arteta, Arsenal seem to have coherent strategies,” writes Juan. “Team selection is easy to understand and appropriate to his tactics for each game. The players look as if they know what they are doing. Won’t help us tonight, mind.”

2.31pm EDT 14:31

“Keita moves the ball forward in central areas by running with it or quick short passes,” says Niall Mullen. “ I’m not sure how effective that’s been in this team that likes to attack from out wide but I like watching it.”

Oh aye, I’m not saying he’s the new Istvan Kozma; he just hasn’t stood out when I’ve seen him. That said, and odd as it sounds, it’s hard to judge non-highlights players when you do a liveblog because you spend half the match typing/looking at emails/being asked whether you get paid to write this.

Updated at 2.42pm EDT

2.23pm EDT 14:23

“As an Everton fan it’s exceedingly rare to be looking down on either of these teams in the table, let alone both of them, so under the circumstances my desired outcome is a draw,” says Matt Burtz. “If Liverpool must win, I would prefer it if it’s only by one goal. If Arsenal wins, well, let’s reckon with that if it actually happens. And yes, I’m aware that only three games have been played, but I’ll take what I can get.”

2.23pm EDT 14:23

“Naby Keita seems to be getting a run of games at the moment, regardless of who else is fit,” says Ben Raza. “He’s blown hot and cold (and, mainly, lukewarm) since he came to Anfield. The early part of this season looks like his last big chance I reckon.”

I half thought Curtis Jones might start tonight. Keita has never been that impressive when I’ve seen him, but I get the impression I’ve missed his better games. Liverpool have serious depth in central midfield now.

2.10pm EDT 14:10

Team news

Diogo Jota is on the bench for Liverpool, but Thiago is out with a minor injury. Alisson starts – he was doubtful with an unspecified injury – and Fabinho moves back into midfield to replace the injured Jordan Henderson.

Mikel Arteta has picked a slightly more cautious team: Rob Holding, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Mohamed Elneny preferred to Gabriel, Bukayo Saka and Dani Ceballos. The new goalkeeper Alex Runarsson is on the bench.

Liverpool (4-3-3) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Keita, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.Substitutes: Adrian, Williams, Milner, Jones, Minamino, Jota, Origi.

Arsenal (3-4-3) Leno; Holding, David Luiz, Tierney; Bellerin, Elneny, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles; Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang.Substitutes: Runarsson, Gabriel, Saka, Kolasinac, Ceballos, Pepe, Nketiah.

Updated at 2.14pm EDT

12.13pm EDT 12:13

Preamble

Arsenal: your country needs you. Sure, it’s the same country that has sneered at you for most of the past decade, but you must understand that it was only banter. Besides, we all need a favour. Because if somebody doesn’t undermine Liverpool pretty soon, the 2020-21 title race will be over by Christmas for the second year in a row.

While the rest of the Big Six have started the season in varying states of shambles, Arsenal have won their first two games and start tonight’s match above Liverpool on goal difference. Yes, those wins were against Fulham and West Ham, but they have continued Arsenal’s obvious improvement under Mikel Arteta.

They beat Liverpool, albeit in a dead rubber, at the back end of last season and then again on penalties in the Community Shield. Anfield is a whole new level of difficulty, a place where Arsenal have been taken apart in recent seasons. On their last eight visits, they have conceded a bruising 30 goals.

Arsenal do have the players to hurt a Liverpool defence that has been a bit slapdash in recent months. But while they have improved at the back themselves, keeping Liverpool quiet at Anfield is nigh-on impossible. For Gabriel, David Luiz and Kieran Tierney – for the whole Arsenal team – this is the real quiz.

Liverpool are an awesome team who, at the moment, look unstoppable. So did Arsenal in the autumn of 2002 and 2004, yet they didn’t win the league in either season. Things can change, such is the primacy of confidence, but for that to happen somebody needs to urgently introduce Liverpool’s mentality monsters to the concept of self-doubt. Leeds almost managed it; Chelsea didn’t come close. Now it’s Arsenal’s turn. For once, the nation is with them.

Kick off 8pm BST.

The Fiver | A weekend of Premier League football that put the ‘ugh’ in laughable

Updated at 2.15pm EDT