Liverpool 3, Arsenal 3: First Thoughts

Liverpool 2: Firmino 10' 19' , Allen 90'
Arsenal 0: Ramsey 14', Giroud 25' 55'

• Pre-match: I think I pulled a hamstring rushing home to make the match. Kidding but not really. Seeing Captain Hendo in the line-up gives me much more hope of getting a result from tonight's affair. I'm sure the rest of the team feel the same with our midfield dynamo out there honey badgering all around. 
  
  
• Early penalty claim as Lallana goes to ground at the top of the box. Didn't look like much to be honest, and Lallana didn't really make a meal of it. Either way good stuff early.
• GOAL! Emre Can picks up the ball at the top of the box, and fires a low driving shot at Peter Cech. The Arsenal keeper can only palm it into the path of Roberto Firmino, who bangs in the rebound with a left-footed shot through the legs of Koscielny. Liverpool were creating all the pressure early, and they were justly rewarded. Firmino picks up a yellow for the unforgivable sin of removing his shirt in celebration.
• Goal. Ramsey is played through on goal, and beats Mignolet to the near post with a clinical first-time finish. 1-1 at Anfield.
• GOAL!! Bobby Firmino bangs in his second, this time a brilliant curling shot from the top of the box. It was going to take something special to beat Cech from there, and special it was. Reds back in front, 2-1.
• Moments later, another big chance as Moreno nearly beats the offside trap, but the flag was (rightfully) up. Also, he hit the crossbar. So.
• Liverpool are attacking in waves now, with the Reds absolutely buzzing around the pitch.
• Goal. Arsenal Equalize again. Giroud claims the goal off the corner, but the defending was inexcusable (if totally predictable). Both goals for the Gunners have come against the run of play, but they've looked dangerous just about every time they've made their way forward.
• After a fantastic opening spell by Liverpool, the Gunners have had the best of it since their second equalizer. It appears that Klopp's men have thrown their best punch, and the current league leaders took it on the chin and hit back hard. 
  
  
• Halftime: A wonderful half for the neutral observer. But I'm not neutral, and I'd have to rank this half more along the lines of "frustrating." Going forward, the game plan and execution has been fantastic. This is arguably the best half we've seen from Firmino, with two excellent goals, and several other half-chances created in and around the box. Unfortunately, we had to work exceptionally hard for our two goals, and Arsenal's came exceptionally easy. Game could go either way. Firmino hat trick for the win? Pretty please? 
  
  
• I'm going to go out on a limb and say Ibe comes off in a few minutes. Already in this half he's killed several attacks by dribbling either to nowhere or directly into a defender. Then again, the options are Benteke and Teixeira, so
• Goal. Arsenal take the lead for the first time with a fantastic finish by Giroud (and a great deal of sloppy defending by the Reds).
• Liverpool's pressing is looking to be more on the risk than the reward side of the ledger. The Reds don't look likely to produce an equalizer at this rate.
• Benteke comes on for Milner. So, Christian, today would be a good day to payback some of that hefty transfer fee. Just putting that out there.
• Now that Liverpool need a goal, they look completely out of ideas. Benteke standing around and demanding the ball whilst completely unconcerned with what other players are doing around him isn't helping.
• Joe Allen comes on for Emre Can. Hopefully Wee Joe can put in a few minutes like his last performance against Stoke City.
• Caulker comes on for Lallana, which is, um, weird, right? I guess for attacking corners?
• GOAL!!! WEE JOE COMES THROUGH WITH THE EQUALIZER HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!!1!
  
  
• Full time: To be honest, I didn't see that equalizer coming. If you say nothing else about Klopp, he has this team playing to the bitter end. What a moment for Joe Allen, who is starting to give some reasons why he should be a more integral part of this team.

We'll be back shortly to take an in-depth look at everything that happened in today's game with the full recap. Until then, let us know your take on the ups and downs of the match in the comments, and if you haven't already, join the community on the Liverpool Offside, where we'll have full coverage and lively in-game discussion for every match this season.