Arsenal's French striker Alexandre Lacazette (R) goes around Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker to score their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London on July 15, 2020. (Photo by Shaun Botterill / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

Gunners dash Liverpool’s 100-point dream

2020-07-17 Sports

AP

London

Liverpool will have to settle for just lifting the Premier League trophy next week. They won’t be accompanied by a record-breaking points total after losing 2-1 at Arsenal on Wednesday.

Having ended the club’s 30-year title drought, Liverpool have eased up and the bid to match or overhaul Manchester City’s 100-point record is over.

Arsenal scored from their first two shots on target — to cancel out Sadio Mane’s opener — and Liverpool provided the assists through carelessness.

“We are all human,” Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp said. “I cannot make a negative out of something so positive — becoming champions so early in the season. These boys have played an exceptional season and no one can take that away
from them.”

Under pressure from Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson on the edge of the penalty area, Virgil van Dijk opted for an ill-judged back-pass. Alexandre Lacazette intercepted the ball and rounded goalkeeper Alisson before tapping in Arsenal’s equaliser in the
32nd minute.

Alisson was at fault for Arsenal’s winner by clearing the ball straight to Lacazette, and Nelson applied the finish in the 44th.

“The goals we gave them were a present,” Van Dijk said. “Until the first goal it was totally us and we were dominant. But if you give goals like that away, including myself, you get what you deserve.

“Goals like that shouldn’t happen and it happened twice tonight. Until I make the mistake, we did nothing wrong. I take the blame for it, of course, I take it as a man and
we move on.”

This was only Liverpool’s third loss of the season but it means it can only finish with 99 points by winning its remaining two matches.

The title was sealed in record time three weeks ago, with seven games to spare after a three-month pandemic-enforced break in the season.

The trophy will be presented to Liverpool players after final home match of the season next Wednesday against Chelsea.

With no fans allowed into Anfield due to the coronavirus, a podium will be built in the iconic Kop stand for Jordan Henderson to become the first Liverpool player since 1990 to lift a league championship trophy.