Liverpool battled to a draw against Arsenal on Thursday as they turned in a much better all-round performance.
The Reds have been deservedly criticised recently after falling well below the standards which made them champions last season.
Heading into the game against Arsenal there had been worries that Liverpool would get turned over by the clear Premier League leaders.
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Who was your Man of the Match during Liverpool’s battling draw with Arsenal?
Much better from the Reds today!
Milos Kerkez battles with Bukayo Saka during Liverpool's Premier League match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
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However, Arne Slot set his team up well at the Emirates Stadium, and they could even have claimed an unlikely win. In the end, a 0-0 result and a much better display should bring confidence back to the Liverpool fanbase.
There were several good performers on the day, but after creaking for much of the campaign, Liverpool’s defence deserved much of the credit. Frustrated by them all night long, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was certainly full of praise for both Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk post-game.
Mikel Arteta hails Liverpool centre-backs
While Liverpool should get credit for a top defensive display against the Premier League leaders, they were arguably helped by a blunt Arsenal performance.
Perhaps the worst performer of all for the Gunners was misfiring striker Viktor Gyokeres, whom Arteta was asked about by Sky Sports at the full-time whistle.
Ibrahima Konate reacts during Liverpool's Premier League match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
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Instead of highlighting what his striker could have done better, the Spaniard instead turned the spotlight on Konate and Van Dijk.
“He [Gyokeres] did a lot of things right,” Arteta said. “At the end, the ball has to arrive there to have the opportunity to do it and you play against two world-class centre-backs as well.
“They know very well how to stop you that’s why they are the champions.”
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DISGUSTING behaviour
Gabriel Martinelli appeals while Liverpool's Conor Bradley sits injured during the Premier League match between the two teams at the Emirates Stadium.
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Michael Owen seconds Arteta’s praise
Arteta was not the only one impressed by Liverpool’s centre-back pairing on Thursday.
In the studio for Premier League productions, former Reds striker Michael Owen also opined that Konate and Van Dijk had sent a reminder about why they are champions.
“When you are champions, when you are playing against other great players and playing on a stage like this, you have something about you that says we aren’t going to get embarrassed,” Owen said.
“The performances of the likes of Van Dijk and Konate were ones of champions.”
Liverpool belied pre-match worries that they would simply lie down and be beaten, and showed some pride in their performance for the first time in what feels like a long while.
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