Allen the hero as Liverpool salvage late draw against Arsenal

Carl Markham 05:59 14/01/2016
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  • Joe Allen arrives late.

    Substitute Joe Allen was Liverpool’s unexpected saviour with an added-time equaliser – just when Arsenal appeared to have sent a significant message in the Premier League title race.

    With Manchester City held to a goalless draw at home to Everton, Arsene Wenger’s side seemed to be underlining their title credentials having twice come from behind to lead 3-2. But Allen, on the pitch for just eight minutes, denied them victory by volleying home at the far post on Thursday night.

    Olivier Giroud looked to have won it for the visitors with two goals to take his tally to 12 in the league with two goals – after Aaron Ramsey had scored their first equaliser – to match a brace from Roberto Firmino.

    Jurgen Klopp’s preference of Firmino over Christian Benteke, his side’s top goalscorer with seven, was justified as the Brazil international revelled in his false nine role. His 10th-minute opener, turning to fire home a rebound after Petr Cech parried Emre Can’s shot, for his first Anfield goal since arriving from Hoffenheim in the summer, was the signal for a manic 16 minutes in which four goals of varying quality were scored.

    Liverpool’s lead lasted just four minutes as Joel Campbell’s through-ball allowed Ramsey to beat Simon Mignolet at his near post after Mamadou Sakho had lost his position after a clash of heads with Giroud.

    The Belgium goalkeeper is on the verge of signing a new five-year contract, but his near-post fallibility – allied to a weakness at set pieces – was his undoing again for Arsenal’s second equaliser.

    Giroud deflected in Ramsey’s corner, conceded by Sakho heading out from under his own crossbar after Ramsey’s lob had beaten Mignolet.

    That was after Firmino had put the hosts ahead again with a brilliant strike, shifting the ball onto his right foot from a pass from Jordan Henderson – making his first appearance of 2016 having been sidelined with a recurrence of his chronic heel problem – before curling it into the top corner.

    Giroud’s second, in the 55th minute, came after more flat-footed defending allowed the France international the time to spin and fire inside the far post.

    Per Mertesacker blocked one Adam Lallana shot but Christian Benteke’s introduction did not give Arsenal too many problems initially. If the intention was to go long ball it escaped Allen, but one of the smallest men on the field popped up to convert Benteke’s header.

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