09 April 2023 , 18:07
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Trent Alexander-Arnold insisted he saw "nothing wrong" with his fiery clash with Granit Xhaka towards the end of the first half of Sunday's spicy encounter between Liverpool and Arsenal.
With the Gunners 2-0 up and cruising thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, they had looked to be picking up a huge three points in their battle to win the Premier League.
But a shove from Xhaka on Alexander-Arnold four minutes before half-time appeared to wake up both Liverpool's players and Anfield crowd, and as the atmosphere turned the Reds pulled a goal back from Mo Salah before the break.
Salah then missed a penalty in the second period, before substitute Roberto Firmino headed home Alexander-Arnold's cross for the equaliser.
The Reds could have won it late on but for excellent saves from Aaron Ramsdale to deny Salah and Ibrahima Konate.
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Alexander-Arnold made no excuses for the Reds' first half display, but praised their response.
"Intense. Very good game of football," he told Sky Sports.
"Both sides played great football at times. We didn’t start like we wanted to but we showed character. We had a huge chance to win it at the end but we’ll take a point.
"We lacked intensity and weren’t compact enough as a team [at the start]. Towards the end of the first half we started playing the way we wanted to and definitely in the second half. Against a team like that you’ll get punished for not starting quickly enough."
Alexander-Arnold and Xhaka went head-to-head (PA)On his clash with Xhaka, he smiled and added "I think a little bit of fire in a game like that, there’s nothing wrong with it. He nudged me off the ball so it’s a natural reaction to do it back. It got the crowd going.
"Every game we want three points. Disappointed to not get it today but there are lessons in there."
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp also said his side should have won the game.
"A bit typical for us this season," he told Sky Sports.
Xhaka was booked for the incident (Jon Super/AP/REX/Shutterstock)"An open game, completely open, they score with the first situation and the second one. Our reaction was good. It was a spectacular game in the end. How we didn’t win it with those late chances I don’t know.
“I’m caught in between [being happy and not]. I have no problems with drawing. Arsenal were good but they could and should have lost this game. The point for them is better.
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“We had moments and chances where we didn’t finish the situations off. Slightly typical. They’re flying so they score with their first chance. The goal we scored helped massively. At half-time it wasn’t over. It was a sensational atmosphere. Good moment to get the equaliser.
“All of a sudden we were in charge of a wild game. We deserved at least a point. If Ibou [Konate] uses his head [for a late chance] it’s a goal. Maybe he slipped. He had a chance, it was just there.”