Liverpool will be happy that Fabinho is back in the heart of midfield tonight. He’s one of the best holding midfielders in the league and always makes his presence known. It does, however, mean that Phillips and Kabak are the centre-back partnership for tonight. Inexperienced.
Mane turns well again and feeds the ball down the line for Robertson to run onto. Chambers reads the play well and gets across to sweep the ball out of play. Shortly after, the linesman has his flag up for offside and Arsenal have a free-kick.
Ceballos looks to lead Arsenal forward but he is brought down by Thiago. The Liverpool midfielder pleads his innocence, but the referees decision stands. To be fair to Thiago, it looked like he won the ball.
Mane loses his marker and drives into Arsenal’s penalty area before playing a wonderful pass aimed for Firmino. The Brazilian doesn’t feel the presence of Gabriel and his fellow countryman retrieves the ball for Arsenal.
Arsenal are enjoying their first real spell of possession and all ten of their outfield players are inside Liverpool’s half. Gabriel then tries to spread play out wide to the left-hand side, but his wayward pass hands possession back to Liverpool.
The visitors are continuing to hold onto the ball inside the opening minutes. Arsenal are pressing, looking to force a mistake and hit Liverpool on the counter attack.
Thiago plays the ball back to Phillips in the heart of defence and the centre-back takes one touch before punting the ball long. Mane manages to shield the ball and maintain possession for the visitors down the left-hand side.