In an evening where Liverpool’s consistency was questioned following the departure of their star man Mohammed Salah to AFCON, Jurgen Klopp fielded an attacking side in the testing third-round encounter at Emirates Stadium in a bid to get all three points.
Luis Diaz, Gody Gakpo, and Nunez all started in the attack for Liverpool, but they struggled to find their feet in the first half with Arsenal enjoying the better chances of the first half in which both sides hit the crossbar. Liverpool were battered in the first half by an Arsenal side playing with ferocious intensity.
The Reds began to assert themselves after the interval. Jurgen Klopp’s decision to switch Nunez to the left and Diaz to the right was inspired, and as the second half progressed Liverpool looked increasingly menacing.
The first goal came in the 80th minute when Jakub Kiwior sent Trent Alexander Arnold’s free-kick into his own goal.
The 2-0 victory was capped off deep into stoppage time when Luis Diaz rasped in a finish that ensured Liverpool’s name is in Monday’s draw for the next stage.
The win against Arsenal meant that Liverpool inflicted a third consecutive defeat on Arsenal thanks to a Jakub Kiwior own goal and a superb Luis Diaz strike.
Arsenal’s well-documented struggles in front of goal continued as chance after chance went begging against Liverpool. Martin Odegaard’s shot rattled the crossbar, while Reiss Nelson and Kai Havertz were also guilty of missed opportunities.
Arsenal have only one win in their last seven matches in all competitions as the pressure builds on Arteta to find a solution to his side’s struggles in front of goal.
Without Mohamed Salah for Liverpool, Diaz stepped up in front of goal and claimed a big win for Liverpool in the FA Cup third round.
