Constantine Hatzidakis will not face any punishment for appearing to aim an elbow at Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson, The Football Association (FA) has confirmed.

The incident occurred at half-time of Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday, with Robertson approaching Hatzidakis, an assistant referee, who then seemed to throw his arm up with a pointed elbow towards the Scotland captain.

The FA opened an investigation into the incident and said Hatzidakis would not be assigned to any games until it was completed.

On Thursday, it was confirmed that the official would not face any further action, with a statement reading: "We have thoroughly reviewed all of the evidence in relation to the recent incident at Anfield involving the Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson and match official Constantine Hatzidakis, and we will be taking no further action.

"Our comprehensive process involved reviewing detailed statements from Liverpool and PGMOL, as well as multiple angles of video footage, in relation to both the incident and its surrounding circumstances."

Hatzidakis also released a statement via the PGMOL, explaining that he had apologised to Robertson wanted to draw a line under the incident.

"It was certainly not my intention to make any contact with Andy as I pulled my arm away from him and for that I have apologised," Hatzidakis said.

“I fully assisted The FA with their investigation and have discussed the matter directly with Andy Robertson during an open and positive conversation. It was certainly not my intention to make any contact with Andy as I pulled my arm away from him and for that I have apologised.

"I look forward to returning to officiating matches."

Joao Cancelo has spent the second half of this season on loan at Bayern Munich, having fallen out of starting XI favour at Manchester City.

The Portugal full-back had penned a contract extension with City in January last year, tying him down to 2027.

But Cancelo's time at Bayern has reportedly not convinced the Germans to pursue a permanent deal, creating uncertainty about his future.


TOP STORY – MADRID TO MAKE CANCELO BID

Real Madrid are interested in a move for Joao Cancelo and will submit a bid of around €60million (£52.8m) to Manchester City for his services, claims Fichajes.

The report claims Madrid are eager to improve their current first-choice full-backs Ferland Mendy and Dani Carvajal, hence the interest in the Portuguese.

Los Blancos like the versatility of Cancelo, who has made 13 appearances with only eight starts since joining Bayern in January.


ROUND-UP

– Florian Plettenberg claims Liverpool's shortlist for midfielders includes West Ham United's Declan Rice, Wolves' Matheus Nunes, Inter's Nicolo Barella and Brighton and Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo having dropped out of the race for Jude Bellingham.

Barcelona are ready to ramp up their advances to sign Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan after being impressed by his midweek Champion League display against Bayern Munich, reports Sport.

– Bayern midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has interest from Premier League trio Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, reports Footmercato.

Chris Smalling is set to pen a new two-year deal with Roma according to iSport, amid interest from Inter, Juventus and some Premier League clubs.

– Bild claims RB Leipzig midfielder Konrad Laimer will join Bayern on a four-year deal in the off-season. Laimer's Leipzig deal ends at the end of this season.

Borussia Dortmund's England international midfielder Jude Bellingham is expected to be the topic of widespread speculation in the next transfer window.

Several top clubs are circling to sign the 19-year-old, with Dortmund slapping a staggering £130million transfer fee on him as their asking price.

Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been linked with Bellingham, who is contracted to the German side until 2025.


TOP STORY – REDS PULL OUT OF BELLINGHAM RACE

Liverpool have withdrawn from the race to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, according to The Athletic.

The Reds had previously made him their number one priority signing but have now opted out of the race given the price tag and impact that would have on their off-season transfer budget.

Football.London claims Liverpool will instead turn their attention to Chelsea's Mason Mount as a priority midfield target.

Other potential targets mentioned by The Athletic are Brighton and Hove Albion pair Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister along with Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch.


ROUND-UP

Real Madrid are pondering a free transfer move for Liverpool's Roberto Firmino, according to El Nacional. The Brazilian will depart Anfield when his contract expires at the end of this season.

– Marca claims Madrid are also interested in Villarreal's Samuel Chukwueze, who netted twice against Los Blancos on Saturday. The Nigerian is contracted until 2024 and has a €100m buyout clause on the deal, although Villarreal may reportedly be willing to accept around half of that at the end of this term.

Bayern Munich have come into the picture to sign Napoli forward Victor Osimhen with the German champions weighing up a bid for the Nigerian, reports Sky Germany.

– Football Insider reports Brighton and Hove Albion are willing to accept a £80m bid from Manchester United for midfielder Caicedo, who penned a new long-term deal until 2027 in March following January interest from Arsenal.

– AS claims Chelsea have held talks with Barcelona midfielder Gavi's agent to discuss a potential free transfer to the Blues in the off-season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold believes there were flashes of the old Liverpool on display in Sunday's fightback against Arsenal but accepts it was probably too late for a top-four push.

Liverpool drew 2-2 with the Premier League leaders at Anfield, battling back from 2-0 down to earn a commendable point – and they probably should have completed the turnaround late on.

A positive outcome did not always look likely, however, as Arsenal were utterly dominant at the point of going 2-0 up and were arguably unfortunate not to have scored more themselves.

The turning point seemed to come in the 41st minute when an altercation between Granit Xhaka and Alexander-Arnold sparked a fiery atmosphere in the stadium, and Mohamed Salah pulled one back shortly after.

Liverpool looked the bigger threat from that point and inexplicably failed to get a late winner after Roberto Firmino's equaliser, with Darwin Nunez and Ibrahima Konate passing up gilt-edged opportunities.

 

The point did not do much for the Reds' Champions League hopes, but Alexander-Arnold felt the performance showed Liverpool are not a lost cause even during a difficult season.

"We showed a different side to us, one that we've had in previous seasons, where we get past disappointment and are able to get back into games – and we showed that, so that's a decent sign," he told Liverpool's official website.

"But we need to be getting three points. No matter whether we're playing top of the league or bottom of the league, three points is our aim and we know we could have got that [on Sunday].

"We showed a different side to us. We showed that we really wanted to go out there and put a good performance in.

"Even though you're playing probably the best team in the league, we still showed our quality and dominated them for the whole second half and should've won the game."

However, the Reds remain 12 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United with nine matches remaining.

 

Alexander-Arnold accepts overturning such a deficit looks a tall order.

"We take the point and try to improve it next week," he continued. "We've got a full week to go and train, and that's what we need to go and do.

"We have our targets and it's going to be difficult to get Champions League football now I think. But it's still mathematically possible, so as long as that's possible then that's what we go for.

"We're not in the position we want to be in at all but there's still nine games to go. That's where our heads are at – let's go and try to win all nine."

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has said the assistant referee who allegedly elbowed Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson will not be appointed during the investigation into Sunday's incident.

After the half-time whistle was blown at Anfield during Liverpool's 2-2 Premier League draw with Arsenal, images showed Robertson approaching Constantine Hatzidakis, who was seen to lift his elbow into the Scotland captain.

The PGMOL released a statement on Monday confirming that while The Football Association's investigation is ongoing, the assistant referee will not be appointed to any games.

The statement read: "PGMOL will not be appointing Constantine Hatzidakis to fixtures in any of the competition it serves whilst The FA investigates the incident involving the assistant referee and Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson at Anfield."

Hatzidakis was also one of the assistant referees for Liverpool's game at Tottenham last season in which Robertson was left angered by the decision not to send Harry Kane off for a foul on him, before later seeing red himself.

Sunday's incident came just weeks after Fulham striker Alexandar Mitrovic received a red card for putting his hands on referee Chris Kavanagh during their FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

The Serbian was given an eight-game suspension, with The FA appealing for a longer ban.

Virgil van Dijk may have struggled for Liverpool this season but Jamie Carragher says no centre-back in the Premier League has ever had a greater impact on their team.

Carragher jumped to the defence of the Reds centre-back on Twitter, suggesting Van Dijk was far better than former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic and had performed on the same level as Kevin De Bruyne in recent years.

That came after Liverpool's entertaining 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday, when Jurgen Klopp's defence left much to be desired as Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus fired in the first half.

Van Dijk's performances have repeatedly been questioned this season, with Carragher delivering a scathing assessment of the defender after Liverpool's 5-2 Champions League home thrashing by Real Madrid in February.

While former Reds captain Carragher acknowledged the disappointing nature of the Netherlands international's season, he believes no centre-back comes close to Van Dijk in the Premier League era.

Responding to another tweet criticising Van Dijk's form, Carragher wrote: "VVD [Van Dijk] is far better than Vidic, who was a top CB [centre-back], but have you forgot [Vidic's] performances against [Liverpool's Fernando] Torres?

"Rio [Ferdinand] and JT [John Terry] had poor seasons in their career like all players, VVD is having one now. No CB in the PL era has ever had VVD's impact on a team."

Seemingly irked by football followers questioning Van Dijk, Carragher doubled down on his defence of the 31-year-old, likening his impact on the Premier League to City's De Bruyne.

"Never mind the best CB in the league, he's been the best player in the league along with KDB [De Bruyne] for four years before this one," Carragher added.

"We have never spoken about other CBs being the best player before, that shows the level he was at."

When questioned on the topic of impact, with Vidic's five Premier League titles, one Champions League and three EFL Cups at Manchester United put to him, Carragher insisted Van Dijk still reigns supreme.

"If you or anyone thinks Vidic is better than VVD you're not watching the same game! He's miles better!!"

Trent Alexander-Arnold must forget the idea of being a midfielder and focus on not being a "liability" defensively, otherwise he risks his chances with England in future.

That was the message from former England and Manchester United captain Gary Neville, now a Sky Sports pundit, who was left unimpressed by Alexander-Arnold's defensive lapses against Arsenal.

The Liverpool right-back was caught out of position when Gabriel Martinelli crossed from the left for Gabriel Jesus to head in Arsenal's second, after Martinelli had earlier opened the scoring at Anfield on Sunday.

Alexander-Arnold would make amends by creating Roberto Firmino's late leveller in the 2-2 draw, with his sixth Premier League assist against the Gunners (only Steven Gerrard has more with seven).

But Neville, who has regularly questioned the England and Liverpool defender's abilities at the back, says Alexander-Arnold's error-laden defensive performances cannot be masked by his output going forward.

"He was absolutely sensational going forward," Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast. "I don't know what to say about him anymore because his defensive play is that bad.

"Some of the positions he takes up against Martinelli to defend a straight pass is schoolboy defending.

"I don't understand it. But some of his attacking play, his deliveries and his courage to get on the ball despite those mistakes has got to be admired. I admire him enormously.

"He doesn't need to become the best defender in the world. He just cannot be a liability. He doesn't have to be a great defender with the way in which he attacks. I don't think anybody is asking for that.

"You're just asking for a little bit of competence and attention to your work. The conversation will continue about him.

"I hope somehow over the summer the penny drops and he realises that his defensive work is hurting him.

"It's hurting him because he's been left out of the England squad. How can that talent be left out of an England squad?

"When you're playing for a team that is out of form such as Liverpool, those weaknesses get exposed a little bit more."

Klopp opted to utilise Alexander-Arnold as an inverted full-back when in possession, much like Oleksandr Zinchenko did for Arsenal.

Alexander-Arnold delivered in an attacking sense, with game-leading returns for final-third entries (13), chances created (four), touches (76) and passes into the opposition's third (24).

But Neville remains unsure whether Alexander-Arnold could replicate a similar showing if tasked with operating as an out-and-out midfielder.

He added: "Alexander-Arnold would drift into midfield in any case given the freedom being at right-back gives him, but if he was actually down to play in midfield away from home in the Premier League and he was getting the ball popped into him, when he's got his back to play, that's a different ball game.

"Some of the best midfielders in the world, the Xavis, [Andres] Iniestas, they're the ones who can manipulate the ball and Rodri does it very well. Trent wouldn't be able to do that, honestly.

"It's something we've said before about Declan Rice, and his ability to receive the ball on the half turn. You've got to be a top player who has played hundreds of games as a kid, looking over your shoulder.

"I've heard it said a number of times about full-backs being able to play in midfield before... 'he can play wide, he can play as a winger' – no they can't. That's why they're full-backs."

Mikel Arteta hailed Aaron Ramsdale for producing "magic moments" that could be pivotal in the Premier League title race after Arsenal's 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Sunday.

The Arsenal goalkeeper produced a trio of expert saves to deny Liverpool a late winner after Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino scored to drag the Reds back into the game from 2-0 down.

Ramsdale denied Darwin Nunez when one-on-one, superbly tipped a deflected Salah curling effort around the post and somehow thwarted Ibrahima Konate from point-blank range in the dying seconds.

Arteta likened Ramsdale's influence to the impact Alisson has had for Liverpool in recent years after the England international starred at Anfield, where Salah missed a second-half penalty.

The Arsenal manager said during his post-match press conference: "You need your goalkeeper if you want to win and be in title races. How many times has Alisson done what he has to do?

"You have to have that, you have to have those magic moments from the keeper. We had some exceptional moments from players today as well and to win at grounds like that, you need that."

The draw leaves the Gunners six points clear of second-placed Manchester City at the Premier League summit, albeit Pep Guardiola's reigning champions have a game in hand.

While Ramsdale stepped up in the decisive moments, the drew could be seen as a missed opportunity for Arsenal after Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus fired the visitors into the ascendancy.

A short trip to London rivals West Ham follows next Sunday for Arsenal, who then host strugglers Southampton before a trip to City on April 29.

Arteta acknowledged the late heartbreak of Firmino's 87th-minute leveller but backed his side to continue responding as they have done all campaign.

He added: "When you concede at the end, you always focus on dropping two points because you have it and you are suffering, but you are relying on certain moments and the feeling is 'Ah, we should have done it!'

"But being fair to ourselves, they had four big chances where they could have scored and [Salah] missed the penalty.

"We will have to look at ourselves in the mirror and we should have done much better in the second half.

"We've been responding for 31 games now. Every single day is a test and the test is now: how good are we going to be on Monday and how well are we going to prepare to beat West Ham and to play the way we want to beat West Ham."

Mikel Arteta called on Arsenal to take their point and move on after the Premier League leaders squandered a two-goal lead to draw with Liverpool, claiming the result was a fair one. 

Arsenal looked set to restore their eight-point lead over title rivals Manchester City when Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus handed the Gunners a comfortable first-half lead.

While Mohamed Salah rolled a penalty wide after pulling a goal back, Roberto Firmino came off the bench to net his 11th Premier League goal against the Gunners – only Harry Kane (14) and Wayne Rooney (12) have more against them in the competition.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the draw, Arteta lamented Arsenal's loss of control following their flying start, but conceded Liverpool deserved their share of the spoils.

"Very intense game. The game was under control but just before half-time we conceded a really sloppy goal and the game shifted momentum," Arteta said.

"We had to reset after half-time and started well in the first few minutes, but then we lost control. It became a very transitional game, very chaotic. 

"Liverpool could have scored three or four. It is true we could have scored two or three, so maybe at the end the score is fair.

"We could take three points. We should have played like the first half for another 15 minutes and then the game would have taken a very different trajectory. We didn't. We have to take the point."

Asked why Arsenal failed to maintain their early dominance, Arteta said: "I haven't seen anybody do that here. Nobody. They [Liverpool] beat every big team here, they played Real Madrid and could have been four up after 20 minutes. 

"They are going to have moments. You need to deal with them and we did. Our goalkeeper had a big part in that."

The result means City are six points behind Arsenal at the summit with a game in hand and a home match against the Gunners – set for April 26 – to come.

Asked what the result meant for the title race, Arteta said: "We have to move on, and convince them to keep playing like we did in the first 30 minutes."

Arsenal are now winless in their last 10 Premier League trips to Anfield, drawing three and losing seven while conceding at least twice in each match.

Jurgen Klopp was left stunned and struggling to explain how Liverpool did not triumph after Aaron Ramsdale's two brilliant late saves secured a 2-2 draw for Arsenal.

Ramsdale expertly tipped a curling Mohamed Salah effort around the post before denying Ibrahima Konate from point-blank range as Liverpool were denied a last-gasp winner at Anfield on Sunday.

Those remarkable stops from England goalkeeper Ramsdale staved off hopes of a comeback victory for the Reds, who battled back from 2-0 down for a share of the Premier League spoils after goals from Salah and Roberto Firmino.

Liverpool manager Klopp was impressed with his side's reaction against the table-toppers after early goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, though he was without answers as to how the Reds did not manage to snatch victory.

He told Sky Sports: "It's a little bit typical for us this season. Arsenal have an open game, completely open, and they score with the first situation and not too long after they scored the second one. Our reaction was obviously good.

"It was a spectacular game in the end. How we didn't win it I don't know, with those chances we had. In the end it's a point and a good reaction on the two goals we conceded and that's positive.

"But I'm caught in between. I have no problems with drawing. For Arsenal, it's a super-important point because if you draw these kind of games you have a good chance to become champions. You cannot always be super, super, super convincing.

"They were good, but I think they would agree they could or should have lost this game today. They didn't, so the point for them is better than for us, but it's one for us as well."

Klopp said Salah's goal shortly before half-time "helped massively".

"We were in half-time [and thinking] OK, this game is not over, and maybe it didn't really even start. It was a sensational atmosphere, then we missed the penalty, and we got the equaliser at a good moment."

He added: "All of a sudden we were in charge in a wild game. In the end we deserved at least a point."

Klopp said Ramsdale's save from Salah in the closing stages was "exceptional", and added of the later chance: "If Ibou [Konate] uses his head, the ball goes under the crossbar, so then it's a goal. Maybe Ibou slipped. He had a chance, it was just there."

An entertaining draw left Liverpool 12 points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United, and a chance to play in the Champions League next season is slipping away.

The end-to-end thriller was somewhat marred by a half-time incident involving Andy Robertson, as the left-back appeared to be caught by an elbow from assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis.

Scotland captain Robertson seemed to be approaching Hatzidakis before television cameras captured a video of the official appearing to raise his elbow and make contact with the Liverpool defender.

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body responsible for Premier League match officials, said it will investigate the footage after being made aware of the incident.

Klopp says the video evidence will tell the story as Liverpool await a decision from the PGMOL.

Asked for his thoughts on the incident, Klopp said: "I know what happened, but I didn't watch it. If it happened, the pictures will speak probably for themselves."

The body responsible for Premier League match officials will investigate after an assistant referee appeared to elbow Liverpool's Andy Robertson during Sunday's draw with Arsenal.

Liverpool recovered from 2-0 down to dent Arsenal's title hopes in a thrilling game at Anfield, with Roberto Firmino heading a late equaliser to deny the Gunners a crucial win.

The match was played out in a fierce atmosphere, and the end of the first half saw a bizarre altercation between linesman Constantine Hatzidakis and Reds left-back Robertson.

As Robertson spoke to the official, television pictures seemed to show Hatzidakis raise his right elbow and make contact with the Scotland international.

According to Sky Sports, Robertson alleged the official had elbowed him in the throat upon entering the tunnel at half-time, with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson reportedly complaining to referee Paul Tierney.

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body responsible for referees, vowed to examine the incident.

In a widely reported statement issued shortly before full-time, the body said: "PGMOL is aware of an incident involving assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis and Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson at half-time during the Liverpool v Arsenal fixture at Anfield. 

"We will review the matter in full once the game has concluded."

Liverpool's fightback means Arsenal's lead over title rivals Manchester City stands at six points, though Pep Guardiola's champions have a game in hand and will host the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium later this month.

Liverpool know better than most just how fine the margins are when it comes to Premier League success.

In missing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City by one point last season, Jurgen Klopp's men were given a fairly brutal lesson in that regard.

A year on, it's Arsenal hoping to do what the Reds couldn't and beat City to the title, and whichever way their season ends, there is a huge possibility they will look back on Sunday's 2-2 draw at Liverpool as decisive.

You would have been forgiven for predicting an impressively comfortable away win, such were the two teams' respective performances in the first half.

Arsenal resembled the Liverpool of 12 months ago. They were furious in their pressing, electric and incisive on the ball.

Even if you'd seen Arsenal on a regular basis this season, the swagger with which they were playing at such a famously vociferous arena was outstanding, particularly when you also consider their dreadful record at Anfield.

Arsenal had lost each of their previous six away games against the Reds in the Premier League, while they had not won at Anfield since September 2012.

Liverpool, on the other hand, looked lost, confused, almost as if they were suffering from an identity crisis.

Of course, this certainly wasn't an isolated example of such a display, but this was the kind of occasion one expects to bring the best out of Anfield and the Reds.

Diogo Jota looked every inch a player without a goal in over a year as he failed to influence proceedings. Curtis Jones was similarly unconvincing, while Trent Alexander-Arnold was all over the place, struggling in his usual role and then taking up central positions that left gaping holes at the back.

The England right-back was left for dead by Gabriel Martinelli early on and then failed to track Gabriel Jesus at the back post as the striker failed to convert a Bukayo Saka cross.

Of course, by that point Arsenal were already ahead thanks to the lively Martinelli, who made the most of a kind ricochet to dart into the box and prod beyond Alisson in the eighth minute.

It was then 2-0 just before the half-hour mark. Jesus did apply the finish this time, heading in from Martinelli's cross as the Liverpool defence were out of sync once again.

But the contest seemed to flip in the 41st minute, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta's fears of what he described as the Anfield "jungle" becoming reality.

Granit Xhaka was rather innocuously bundled over by Ibrahima Konate, but no free-kick followed, and he reacted with a forceful barge into the back of Alexander-Arnold, appearing to whack him with his forearm.

Alexander-Arnold retaliated with a shove of his own and the two went head-to-head. Referee Paul Tierney issued both a yellow card, but more significantly the incident appeared to get the home crowd engaged finally.

Suddenly there was also fire in the Liverpool ranks, and a minute later Salah nudged home from close range to breathe life into the contest, with Arsenal presumably delighted by the half-time whistle soon after.

That was followed by a downright bizarre incident that could have even helped Liverpool's siege mentality. Assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis appeared to elbow Andy Robertson in the face after being approached aggressively by the left-back, with the Reds left furious.

That fury was channelled well by Liverpool after the break, spending much of the second half in the ascendancy as they sought an equaliser.

Mohamed Salah failed to score it from the spot after a clumsy foul by Rob Holding on Jota, but there was unquestionably a hint of predictability above the leveller three minutes from time as Roberto Firmino headed in from Alexander-Arnold's excellent cross.

An incredible finale was ushered in.

Liverpool piled on the pressure. Aaron Ramsdale denied Darwin Nunez when one-on-one, and then the goalkeeper somehow saved Arsenal as Konate inexplicably failed to chest the ball over the line.

Had it not been for Ramsdale's heroics, Arsenal would have been on the end of a potentially crippling defeat. Not necessarily crippling in terms of a huge deficit, but rather in relation to their mentality and the pressure being applied by City.

Of course, it's easy to look at the result as two points dropped. Considering Arsenal were 2-0 up, many fans – and players – will believe that to be the most apt appraisal of the situation.

But in the end, with an optimist's spin on it, Arsenal should feel happy to get away from Anfield with a point. After all, that's more than they managed in any of their previous six Premier League visits.

To understand the potential value of that point, all they need to do is look at Liverpool.

Aaron Ramsdale insisted Arsenal's 2-2 draw at Liverpool may eventually be considered a "very good point" despite the Gunners relinquishing a two-goal lead at Anfield.

Liverpool fought back through goals from Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino to earn a share of the spoils after Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus fired Arsenal into a 2-0 lead on Sunday.

The result left Arsenal six points clear at the Premier League summit, ahead of second-placed Manchester City who have a game in hand.

Mikel Arteta's side may count themselves fortunate to escape with a point. Ramsdale was required to make two brilliant late stops, repelling a deflected Salah effort before preventing Ibrahima Konate from bundling over a gilt-edged opportunity, as Liverpool threatened a last-minute winner.

The England goalkeeper said once the dust has settled on an enthralling fixture, Arsenal will reflect on the draw as a point earned rather than two dropped.

"Mixed emotions, but over the next few days I think it will be a very good point," Ramsdale told Sky Sports.

"We've been under pressure for 35 minutes and get the point away at Anfield. They're a top side. It might be two points dropped, but we could have dropped three.

"I thought we were excellent. For 50, 60 minutes we were very good, but we got unlocked by two goals.

"Now we have to go back in and build again. One point is a lot better than none.

"The manager will say that [to focus on the good aspects]. He's hugely positive. We'll digest it in the next few days."

Asked about his individual exploits, Ramsdale was delighted to make a difference, adding: "There's no better game to play in than these games. At least my saves have helped us out."

While Ramsdale remained modest about his impressive performance, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard thanked the goalkeeper for saving Arteta's side.

The Norway international told BBC Sport: "It was a crazy game. We started really well. The first 40 minutes before they scored, we controlled the game.

"After their goal the game changed a bit, and we didn't manage to keep the ball. They created a lot of chances.

"Aaron [Ramsdale] was very good back there and saved us. Frustrated not to win, but we have to take the point and move on.

"Against this team you need to be very good on the ball. If you give away the ball they will run at you and the fans create momentum."

Roberto Firmino's late header stunned Arsenal as Liverpool stormed back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 Premier League draw at Anfield.

Goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus put the Gunners in command, but Mohamed Salah reduced the deficit late in the first half.

Salah missed a penalty early in the second half, but Firmino came off the bench to rock Arsenal with an equaliser in the 87th minute of a thriller on Merseyside.

Aaron Ramsdale then produced two brilliant saves in injury time as the Gunners held on for a draw that leaves them six points clear of defending champions Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

Liverpool were fuming as defender Andy Robertson appeared to be elbowed by an assistant referee at the end of the first half of Sunday's game against Arsenal.

The left-back approached the official, who was identified by Sky Sports as Constantine Hatzidakis, and seemed to be making a point to him.

It was unclear from a distance what was said, but television pictures then looked to show the assistant referee raise his right elbow and make contact with the Scotland international.

What was not obvious was whether the linesman had intended to catch Robertson.

Asked if he had ever seen anything like it, pundit and former Manchester United hard man Roy Keane said: "No, not really, but Robertson, does he grab the linesman first? I'm not sure, but Robertson then is complaining.

"He should be more worried about his defending."

Keane then pointed the finger at Robertson and described him as "a big baby".

"You know what he is, that Robertson," Keane said. "I've watched him a number of times, he is a big baby. Just get on with the game and concentrate on your defending. He does grab the linesman first."

According to Sky Sports, Robertson said on entering the tunnel at half-time: "The linesman has elbowed me in the throat."

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson reportedly complained to referee Paul Tierney, before the players entered the dressing room.

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