Gabriel and Liverpool star's reaction spoke volumes after Nunez blazed shot over

04 February 2024 , 18:57

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Gabriel and Liverpool star's reaction spoke volumes after Nunez blazed shot over

Liverpool lost for just the second time this season in the Premier League, with Arsenal running out deserved 3-1 winners at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta's side were the better side throughout the contest, and would have taken a lead into half-time thanks to Bukayo Saka's goal had Gabriel not bizarrely handed the visitors an equaliser when he handled the ball into his own net. In the second half it was Liverpool who proved to be the generous ones though, with a mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson allowing Gabriel Martinelli in to score, before Leandro Trossard added a third late after Ibrahima Konate's red card.

The defeat will have huge ramifications on the title race, with table-toppers Liverpool potentially seeing their lead cut to five points on Monday night when Manchester City visit Brentford.

Try as they might the Reds simply couldn't get a foothold in the game after Martinelli's goal, which came shortly after Jurgen Klopp had made a triple substitution when he introduced Andy Robertson, Harvey Elliott and Darwin Nunez.

The Uruguayan brought his usual sense of attacking threat despite being an injury doubt before the game, but there was one moment as the Reds sought a second equaliser which appeared to sum up both his frustrations and those of his teammates.

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Gabriel screamed in delight after Nunez's shot (Sky Sports)

Nunez had burst into the box from the right hand side, and despite Diogo Jota being free in the centre of the goal and asking for the ball, he opted to shoot and blazed his effort over the bar.

Jota cut a frustrated figure after the chance, demanding to know why Nunez didn't cross the ball, while Gabriel - perhaps reflecting on his earlier error - screamed in delight in the face of the Liverpool forward.

Arsenal midfielder Jorginho was named man of the match after the win, and said: "We believe in ourselves and rely on each other. The Liverpool goal did not change anything that we had done. We knew how to get back in the second half. We had to push each other and keep the energy high."

"It is such a good group and a humble group who listen to each other and no-one is selfish. Here everyone thinks for the group and the maturity of our team was demonstrated today."

Mark Jones