The dust is settling and we can now look back upon what was a well-fought, hard-earned point at the Emirates against an Arsenal side who couldn’t quite do enough.
If Mikel Arteta’s men truly feel like they are the champions in waiting, about to end a 22-year wait for domestic honours, they still have a fair bit of convincing to do.
For Liverpool, the match provides an interesting digestion, a few success points coupled with a string of contradictions.
Analysis: Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool
Tactical vindication:Arne Slot used the 0-0 draw to prove his authoritarian methodology works against elite sides, luring critics of his conservative style into a trap.
The scoring problem: Despite the control, Liverpool failed to register a shot on target. A natural finisher is needed.
Bradley blow: **Conor Bradley**’s nasty injury creates a fresh midfield conundrum. Joe Gomez the only sensible long-term solution to avoid a “whirlpool of confusion.”
This Is Anfield takes a look at what comes next after an evening of attrition in north London.
Liverpool attack needs a game-changer – their best stayed on the bench
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool's substitute Federico Chiesa during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. Forest won 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
There has to be an immediate caveat here in the sense that Liverpool were without all three of Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak, and still managed to wrestle Arsenal into submission.
Indeed, the Reds had almost the same xG as the Gunners despite not registering a shot on target. But in these high-pressure, big-stakes moments when the ammunition left in the barrel is very limited, it begs the question of who can Liverpool turn to.
Arguably the best natural finisher remaining in the squad last night, Federico Chiesa, warmed the bench for the duration.
Arne Slot now very clearly does not trust the Italian to follow his stylistic approach for either discipline or tactical reasons. The perennial role of super sub will only ever be available to the 28-year-old, despite cries of a sizeable portion of the fanbase for otherwise.
Match Stats: Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool
Forward Output Szoboszlai Wirtz Frimpong Gakpo
Shots (On Target) 5 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (0)
Chances Created 0 1 0 0
Dribbles (Succ.) 1 (1) 3 (2) 3 (2) 0 (0)
Touches in Opp. Box 1 2 6 2
Stats via FotMob.
And so, the Emirates played host to a prime example of a match in which you’d be hard pressed to name a Liverpool goalscorer.
Cody Gakpo certainly has a finish or two in him, but the inconsistencies of the Dutchman means this is often a fall-back option, rather than a surefire Plan B.
In these moments it’s difficult not to dwell tragically once more on the loss of Diogo Jota.
Everyone within the club will always sorely miss a good friend and a remarkable human being, as do the fans. But a wider picture shows that Liverpool are now certainly without that special football player on the bench who you’d heavily back to come on and score, while fitting in perfectly with the principles of the team.
There is nobody in the Jota template. While Liverpool, still navigating the thick cloud of grief, are trying to continue as best they can given the circumstances, this needs to be acknowledged and taken on board going forward.
Arne Slot lures tactical critics into trap of contradiction
During the post-match press conference, Slot carried the air of a man who had been somewhat vindicated. It was a result the manager had been looking for.
Of course, it wasn’t three points on the road against the hottest side in English football, but it was a resolute, regimented and possession-dominant performance which yielded a clean sheet.
Slot took pride in putting it to the media that the strong showing his side were being lauded for comprised exactly the same tactics and game plan as recent results, namely the draws against Fulham and Leeds.
In many senses the Liverpool boss has a point, luring critics nicely into an imminent trap of contradiction.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Thursday, January 8, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot (R) and Alexis Mac Allister after the FA Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at the Emirates Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Speaking ahead of the trip to London, Slot made it clear that his outlook and style of setting the Reds up would not change. The stance provoked easy and predictable barbs, accusations of nullifying Liverpool’s creativity and risk-taking, all to ultimately squander three points regardless.
There is a trend emerging in this regard. Slot appears to run out of case studies until a clash with a superior opponent rears its head again.
Aside from the head-loss period spanning late September into October, Liverpool have been very much their composed and authoritarian selves against the big guns.
Results against Arsenal, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and the in-form Aston Villa illustrate Slot’s thinking. Naturally, the Dutchman will receive further criticism if Liverpool flop in upcoming clashes with Burnley, Marseille, Bournemouth and Qarabag.
He may well have made a rod for his own back in this regard, but Slot now has Arsenal as evidence that his methodology holds water.
Liverpool were a couple of untouched, fizzing Noni Madueke low crosses through the six-yard box away from throwing the match, but the score at the final whistle dictates that that’s a discussion for another day.
Liverpool need midfield consistency after Bradley injury
LONDON, ENGLAND - Thursday, January 8, 2026: (L-R) Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch and Arsenal's captain Martin Ødegaard during the FA Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at the Emirates Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool have to make big decisions on a weekly basis now that things are far from plain sailing, and getting them wrong can have miserable consequences.
The biggest right now is the midfield; exactly how to structure it and what you want it to do. This arrives as a red-hot priority in Slot’s in-tray, given what looks like a nasty injury sustained by Conor Bradley.
Three immediate options present themselves: revert to the Szoboszlai full-back experiment, abandon the Jeremie Frimpong winger project, or reintroduce Joe Gomez as the covering right back.
Regardless of the decision, it feels like one that has to be made and given total commitment to.
There has been far too much second-guessing, hesitation and inconsistency in the Liverpool squad for months. To add more, after a decent result against Arsenal, feels criminal.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Thursday, January 8, 2026: Liverpool's Conor Bradley receives treatment during the FA Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at the Emirates Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The midfield bears a large brunt of the outcome, given multiple changing dynamics are at play. At the Emirates, Slot was so religiously wedded to his tactical setup that Liverpool were poised to go 90 minutes plus added time without a single substitute for the first time this season.
From a manager who has been shotgunning on subs like it’s the latest trend, this was very much against the grain.
A set pivot of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch afforded the energetic trio of Frimpong, Szoboszlai and Wirtz to sit ahead, with the latter dovetailing in and out of the false 9 position with Gakpo.
Slots needs to be careful here and commit to whatever altered state he decides upon going forward. The natural and perhaps most sensible suggestion that seems to be crying out is a return of Gomez.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Thursday, January 8, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot during the FA Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at the Emirates Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Greater stature and defensive presence will be given to the back line, with the England international still very much capable of getting forward and delivering a cross.
More pertinently, though, the current midfield core can remain the same. Frimpong remains as a winger, where he is growing in both confidence and familiarity, and minimal disruption will be caused when Ekitike is ready to be reintroduced.
Having Frimpong back at full-back one week, then Szoboszlai the next, with the return of Curtis Jones to cover, before then testing out Gomez – this feels like a whirlpool of confusion Liverpool really do not need right now.
A pile of very winnable games sit on the immediate horizon.
Slot can take plentiful positive feedback from reducing Arsenal to a chessboard stalemate in their own backyard, but it has to act as a springboard, instantly.