After ending the year as the Premier League toppers, Arsenal looked motivated to overcome Liverpool in their first big game of 2026 on a drenched evening in North London. Both teams appeared sloppy in the first few minutes due to the wet surface.
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Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool Player Ratings: Dramatic EPL Clash See Teams Share Points in North London
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Liverpool accelerated the game after 25 minutes and were so close to taking a lead in the away fixture. Due to a misunderstanding in the defence, Arsenal keeper David Raya came out from his usual position, giving Conor Bradley a chance to try a long-range strike. The Liverpool side-back connected the shot perfectly, only to hit the woodwork, with the Gunners breathing a sigh of relief.
Just ahead of the break, Declan Rice tried his luck from outside the box, but Alisson was in the right position. Despite an end-to-end game, no team was able to break the deadlock in the first 45 minutes at the Emirates.
The second half was quite the same, with both teams struggling to showcase their A-game in terms of attacks. Mikel Arteta’s side made some positive moves, while Liverpool was also impressive in holding their defence. Dominik Szoboszlai struck some long-range shots in the later phase of the game but failed to put Liverpool ahead in the contest.
Tempers flared in the dying moments as players of both teams collided on the sidelines following a foul on Conor Bradley. Ibrahim Konate and Martinelli were shown the yellow card for their gestures. The Arsenal vs Liverpool game was ultimately wrapped up in a goalless draw. Here, let's check out Arsenal vs Liverpool Player Ratings from the EPL fixture.
Key Takeaways:
- Conor Bradley nearly gave Liverpool the lead after 25 minutes, striking the woodwork following a defensive mix-up and David Raya rushing off his line.
- Declan Rice and Dominik Szoboszlai tested the goalkeepers with long-range efforts, but strong defending kept the score level throughout.
- Tempers flared near full-time after a foul on Bradley, with Ibrahim Konaté and Gabriel Martinelli both shown yellow cards as the match ended 0–0.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Final Score | Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool |
| Competition | Premier League |
| Date | 8th January, 2026 |
| MOTM (Player of the Match) | Alisson (8.5/10) |
| Best Performer (Arsenal) | Declan Rice (7.5) |
| Best Performer (Liverpool) | Alisson (8.5/10) |
| Worst Performer (Arsenal) | Viktor Gyökeres (5/10) |
| Worst Performer (Liverpool) | Cody Gakpo (5.5/10) |
Here are Sportsduia's Liverpool Player Ratings from the Premier League fixture:
Goalkeeper
Alisson - 8.5: Our man of the match, without a doubt. He was a spectator for large parts but came alive when it mattered most. His late saves, especially the one from Gabriel Jesus's header were sensational. He commanded his area with authority making a good high claim and four crucial saves. What stood out to us was his sheer presence; he looked unbeatable.
Defenders
Virgil van Dijk - 7.0: A typically composed performance from the captain. He was rarely flustered and his distribution was excellent, completing 91% of his passes. He marshalled the backline effectively, making a key interception and two clearances. From our perspective, he made everything look easy which is the sign of a world class defender.
Ibrahima Konaté - 7.0: A powerful and dominant display alongside his captain. He was aggressive, making seven clearances and blocking two shots. His yellow card was a slight blot on an otherwise very solid performance. We noticed his recovery pace was vital in stopping a couple of dangerous looking Arsenal attacks.
Milos Kerkez - 7.5: An impressive outing for the left-back. He was defensively sound, winning 100% of his four tackles. He also offered a threat going forward, though his final ball could have been better. We were surprised by his energy levels, as he covered a lot of ground up and down the flank.
Conor Bradley - 7.0: So unlucky not to be the match-winner. His shot that cannoned off the crossbar was the closest either team came to scoring for much of the game. He was a constant outlet on the right but was sometimes caught out defensively, being dribbled past four times. His night ended early with an injury.
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Midfielders
Dominik Szoboszlai - 6.5: A frustrating game for the Hungarian. He was always looking to make something happen, taking five shots in total. However, none of them truly tested the keeper. His energy was undeniable but his decision-making in the final third let him down on this occasion.
Alexis Mac Allister - 6.5: A real battler in the middle of the park. He got stuck in with tackles and tried to dictate the tempo. However, he lost possession a few too many times and picked up a late yellow card. He created a couple of chances but it was a mixed bag from the Argentine.
Cody Gakpo - 5.5: We personally found his performance underwhelming. He struggled to get into the game and make a real impact. While he drew four fouls, he offered very little in an attacking sense and lost possession 10 times. It felt like the game passed him by.
Ryan Gravenberch - 7.5: One of Liverpool's best outfield players. He was dynamic, winning six of his nine duels and completing 94% of his passes. He drove forward with purpose and was a constant presence in midfield. From our perspective, he looked confident and composed on the ball.
Jeremie Frimpong - 6.0: Lots of running but very little end product. He got into some promising positions on the wing but his delivery was often lacking, completing only one of six crosses. He worked hard for the team but we expected more of an attacking threat from him.
Attacker
Florian Wirtz - 6.5: A tidy but ultimately quiet game. He linked play nicely with a 94% pass accuracy but failed to create any clear-cut opportunities. He was neat on the ball but lacked the spark to unlock a stubborn Arsenal defence. A decent performance, but not a game-changing one.
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Substitutes
Joe Gomez - N/A: Came on late for the injured Conor Bradley and didn't have time to influence the game.
Manager
A. Slot - 7.0: Set his team up perfectly for a tough away fixture. They were defensively solid and difficult to break down. He earned a valuable point on the road against a title rival. A very pragmatic and effective game plan.
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Check out Arsenal Player Ratings from the EPL game:
Goalkeeper
David Raya - 6.5: Had a relatively quiet evening compared to his counterpart. He wasn't tested often but was alert when needed. His distribution was okay, but he looked a little shaky on a couple of occasions. A steady, if unspectacular, performance.
Defenders
William Saliba - 7.0: The personification of calm at the back for Arsenal. He dealt with everything that came his way with ease and his passing was immaculate. An error that led to a shot was a rare blemish on his record. He even created a huge chance for Jesus late on.
Piero Hincapié - 6.0: His evening was unfortunately cut short by injury. Before he was substituted, he had been solid enough, making a couple of important interceptions. It's hard to give a full rating but he was doing his job adequately until the injury.
Gabriel Magalhães - 6.5: A real warrior at the back, making three clearances and blocking two shots. However, he'll be kicking himself for missing a big chance to score. That miss brings his rating down a notch in what was otherwise a very strong defensive showing.
Jurriën Timber - 7.0: What stood out to us was his tenacity. He was involved in 11 duels, winning seven of them. He was a very busy man on the flank, making three clearances and three interceptions. He was aggressive, sometimes too much so, committing four fouls.
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Midfielders
Martin Ødegaard - 6.5: The captain was neat and tidy in possession but struggled to impose his usual influence on the game. He created one chance before being substituted surprisingly early. We expected him to be the one to unlock the Liverpool defence but it never quite happened for him.
Martín Zubimendi - 7.0: A really solid performance in the engine room. He broke up play effectively, winning three of his five tackles, and kept the ball moving. He was combative and disciplined throughout, providing a strong shield for the defence. A quietly effective game.
Declan Rice - 7.5: Arsenal's best player on the pitch. He was everywhere, making tackles, interceptions, and driving the team forward. He created two key chances and even had a decent shot on target himself. His energy and quality were evident throughout the entire match.
Attackers
Bukayo Saka - 6.5: A quiet game by his incredibly high standards. He had a shot on target saved but was well-marshalled by the Liverpool defence for most of the game. He was substituted in the second half, which tells you a lot about his limited impact on this occasion.
Viktor Gyökeres - 5.0: A really tough evening for the forward. He was completely anonymous, touching the ball just eight times in his 64 minutes on the pitch. He struggled to get involved at all. It was no surprise to see him substituted.
Leandro Trossard - 6.0: Full of energy and effort as always, but lacked quality in the final third. He had a couple of shots blocked and worked hard defensively. However he gave the ball away too often and was another forward who was hooked early.
Substitutes
Myles Lewis-Skelly - 6.5: Came on for the injured Hincapié and looked composed. He even set up a chance for Martinelli late on.
Gabriel Martinelli - 7.0: Added some much-needed spark and almost forced a late winner with a shot that was well saved.
Gabriel Jesus - 6.5: His header forced a brilliant save from Alisson. He looked lively after coming on.
Eberechi Eze - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact.
Noni Madueke - N/A: A late cameo with little involvement.
Manager
M. Arteta - 6.5: His team were solid and controlled possession for large periods but lacked a cutting edge. His substitutions almost paid off, but ultimately he couldn't find a way to break down a resolute Liverpool defence. He will see this as two points dropped at home.
Man of the Match
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker was the player of the match with 8.5/10 ratings after some tremendous saves.
Worst Performer
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres was unable to make any impact in the Arsenal vs Liverpool game.
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