Published : Dec. 22, 2014 - 20:55
LONDON (AP) ― Liverpool is starting to produce the kind of fluid attacking that led to a second-place finish in the English Premier League last season. Now the Reds need a striker to finish their chances.
Liverpool outplayed Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday, yet needed a goal deep into stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw. Arsenal is four points behind in qualifying for the Champions League. Liverpool is nine points from the top four with almost half the season gone.
The rest of Europe’s leagues are closing for the winter break, with Marseille leading in France after winning Sunday.
Wearing a bandage to cover a head wound, Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel leapt high at a corner kick to score on a header in the seventh minute of stoppage time and rescue a point against Arsenal.
Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel (right) celebrates his goal on Sunday. (EPA-Yonhap)
Liverpool created a slew of chances, as it did in a 3-0 loss to Manchester United last weekend, but again lacked a cutting edge in the absence of injured striker Daniel Sturridge.
Philippe Coutinho opened the scoring for Liverpool in the 45th minute. Arsenal’s goals came from France internationals Mathieu Debuchy in the 45th minute and Olivier Giroud in the 64th.
Liverpool substitute Fabio Borini was sent off at the start of second-half stoppage time.
A late goal was decisive in Sunday’s other game, with Adam Johnson volleying home a 90th-minute winner for Sunderland in a 1-0 victory at northeast rival Newcastle. It sealed an unprecedented fourth straight win for Sunderland in this rivalry.
Marseille beat Lille 2-1 Sunday to ensure it ended the year top of Ligue 1, while Lyon thrashed 10-man Bordeaux 5-0 to leapfrog Paris Saint-Germain into second spot.
An own goal from Lille forward Nolan Roux and Michy Batshuayi’s strike ― shortly after Idrissa Gueye’s equalizer ― saw Marseille head into the winter break three points clear of Paris Saint-Germain, which drew 0-0 against Montpellier on Saturday.
In Bordeaux, goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso either side of the break had given Lyon a comfortable lead before Nicolas Pallois was sent off in the 16th minute for a dangerous tackle on Clinton N’Jie.