In a thrilling FA Cup third-round clash, Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over Arsenal, with a notable own goal by Jakub Kiwior and a stunning late strike by Luis Diaz.
The match was marked by Arsenal’s missed opportunities in the first half, as they squandered several chances to take the lead. Liverpool, the Premier League leaders, struggled in the opening period, with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard coming close to breaking the deadlock by rattling the crossbar with a powerful drive.
However, Liverpool improved their performance after halftime, and their 7,000 traveling supporters were in for a treat. In the 80th minute, Liverpool’s skipper, Trent Alexander-Arnold, delivered a free kick that deflected off the head of Jakub Kiwior, resulting in an own goal that put Liverpool in the lead.
The decisive moment came in stoppage time when Luis Diaz unleashed a thunderous strike into the back of the net, securing Liverpool’s place in the fourth round draw and marking their eighth FA Cup victory.
Arsenal, on the other hand, continued to struggle, extending their dismal form into the New Year with three consecutive losses in all competitions.
Reflecting on the match, Alexander-Arnold commented on Liverpool’s improved performance in the second half, stating, “We changed things around at halftime internally, and we came out and played football and created chances. There were times in the first half that we were a little bit naive… We hit the woodwork a couple of times, so we’ve had our chances, and towards the end, we put them away.”
