Roy Keane was concerned about Liverpool's midfield heading into the Premier League meeting with Arsenal, but the Reds ended up dominating for large parts of the game
10:16, 09 Jan 2026
Roy Keane was impressed with Liverpool's midfield performance
Roy Keane was impressed with Liverpool's midfield performance(Image: Sky Sports)
Roy Keane admitted that Liverpool expelled his worries about the team's midfield after the Reds put in an impressive performance to emerge with a point against Arsenal.
Liverpool went into the game as the clear underdog against the Premier League's leading team, but after a slow start dominated much of the game.
The result stretches Liverpool's unbeaten run in all competitions to 10 games, and adds a point to the tally as Arne Slot's men chase Champions League qualification.
Curtis Jones was named among the substitutes, with Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai starting in a midfield three.
READ MORE: Dominik Szoboszlai makes feelings clear on Gabriel Martinelli after Conor Bradley incidentREAD MORE: Liverpool achieved unfortunate stat for first time in 600 Premier League games vs Arsenal
Keane was concerned about how that trio would stack up against Arsenal's ahead of kickoff, but he needn't have been.
"I was worried about Liverpool's midfield before the game," Keane said. "I shouldn't have been because, the second half particularly, they controlled it and were by far the better team.
"All credit goes to Liverpool for the way they dominated possession."
Meanwhile, ahead of kickoff, Keane criticized Liverpool for what has so far been a meek title defense, with the club sitting 14 points adrift of Arsenal in the standings.
Liverpool cantered to the title last term – securing top spot with four games to spare – but the Reds have endured a difficult season this time around.
Liverpool drew 0-0 at Arsenal in a game that threatened to boil over(Image: AFP or licensors)
A run of six defeats in seven league games between September and November gave Liverpool a mountain to climb in order to defend the title, and despite picking up 16 points from the following eight games going into the clash with Arsenal, Slot's men have not beeen able to make up ground on Mikel Arteta's relentless Arsenal side.
"They've been poor champions," Keane said. "To be that many points behind. When you play for the big clubs, when you win the title, it's always about what you do the following season.
Article continues below
"When they won it four or five years ago, the following year they were well of it as well. Obviously there'll be reasons for it, injuries, recruitment. To be so far off it, that's a big drop-off.
"They're the challenges you face. You face challenges when you're the champions. People are going after you. Injuries and setbacks or whatever, I still think they''ve not done the hard yards."