Mohamed Salah moment says it all as Liverpool rescued again - 4 talking points from Arsenal

EMIRATES STADIUM, NORTH LONDON // Liverpool avoided dropping points to a Premier League title rival by drawing 2-2 with Arsenal .

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring after too easily beating Andy Robertson in a running race and then turning inside him in the penalty area. That was on nine minutes, and nine more later, Liverpool found itself level.

When Trent Alexander-Arnold swung in a corner that was flicked on Luis Diaz, Virgil van Dijk headed home from close range. And then a third avoidable first-half goal, this time from Mikel Merino, who headed home when Diaz needlessly gave away a free-kick.

Liverpool leveled for a second time when Salah found the bottom corner after Darwin Nunez unselfishly squared the ball to him. A draw was a respectable result, clearly, but the Reds might have had more had they performed better, as they undoubtedly can. Here are the four things spotted as the game unfolded.

Dominik Szoboszlai call and Mohamed Salah decisive

With Curtis Jones preferred in the center of the field for Liverpool, Slot made a big decision. Jones, of course, was exceptional against Chelsea — but the Hungarian has a huge amount of running power which is suited to huge matches like this one, especially away from home.

In the first half, in particular, Jones wasn't able to close down the Arsenal midfield quickly enough and he couldn't keep hold of the ball well enough either. Hindsight is wonderful, of course, but Szoboszlai looked like the better-suited option. He showed that when he came on and injected some more physicality into proceedings.

After the interval, Jones improved. In the end, it was Alexis Mac Allister hooked instead of him when it came to the middle of the field. It took Salah's decisive goal but Liverpool came out of a difficult encounter with a point. The Egyptian, while not playing brilliantly, rescued his team when it was needed. Once again, talk of the contract will be inevitable.

It says everything about Salah that even when he and his team were far from their best, it was the Liverpool number 11 who stepped up with the decisive moment. Who else was it going to be? Time and time again, he proves to the man that the Reds turn to. Add that to the increasing number of things that mean an extended deals adds up.

Bukayo Saka returns

It was inevitable, wasn't it? After a week of talk that Saka wouldn't be involved in this fixture, he duly led the Arsenal team out as captain, starting on the right-hand side for the Gunners.

"They are playing because they could," Arteta said pre-match about Saka and fellow returning injury doubt Jurrien Timber. "They ticked every box they had to. We had to be safe because they're two very important players for us, but they're in great condition."

In under 10 minutes, Saka had looked lively a couple of times and opened the scoring. He was drawing fouls from Liverpool players all game — some given and some ignored — and showed why Arteta was so keen to see him return. He made a big difference and caused Andy Robertson plenty of problems.

Virgil van Dijk ruffled

In a strange moment early in the game, seemingly frustrated with Kai Havertz taking up an unusual position and doubling up with Saka down the right flank, Liverpool captain Van Dijk almost kicked out at the German striker off the ball. Seen by referee Anthony Taylor as a free-kick, it wasn't ever going to be a red card, but it seemed pretty pointless; the ball was 20 yards away.

When Van Dijk scored for Liverpool to level things, it wasn't the most popular. The Dutchman — and Alexis Mac Allister, for taking a knock — were booed by the home crowd. It isn't often that Van Dijk looks ruffled but both he and Robertson had their moments in this game. It was an intense environment but the Liverpool backline was nervy on a few occasions. Ultimately, they escaped.

Premier League title picture changes

Manchester City winning against Southampton earlier in the weekend was no surprise; the only shock about that was the fact that it was only by the one early Erling Haaland goal. With its two potential title rivals going head-to-head, there was going to be at least one team around Pep Guardiola's men that was to drop points.

That proved to be both Liverpool and Arsenal in the end. Like last season, the Reds arrived at the Emirates Stadium with a chance to put some distance between themselves and the Gunners. Again, though, they didn't rise to the occasion and perform; this time, the gap was maintained, at least, rather than cut.