Liverpool duo made to look foolish by Bukayo Saka in 'brutal' Arsenal moment

Bukayo Saka enjoyed a strong first half against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, and Gary Neville hailed the Arsenal winger as his "brutal" moment made Milos Kerkez look foolish

Bukayo Saka troubled Milos Kerkez in the first half of Thursday's clash(Image: 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Plc)

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka looked menacing in the first half of Thursday's game against Liverpool, and Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville couldn't help but comment on a "brutal" moment.

Liverpool traveled to the Emirates Stadium on Thursday to take on the league leaders, but head coach Arne Slot was forced to field a weaker team due to striker Hugo Ekitike's absence through injury. Although Liverpool held their own in the first half, they were outplayed by Arsenal.

Arsenal suffered a 1-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield earlier this season, but after Manchester City were held to a draw by Brighton on Wednesday, it presented a golden opportunity. Saka was up to the task and embarrassed Milos Kerkez and Alexis Mac Allister in the early stages.

Saka danced past Kerkez, who lunged in, and then glided past Mac Allister to find space behind the Liverpool defense in the penalty area. While it didn't lead to the opening goal, it served as a significant warning.

The crowd was on their feet inside the Emirates Stadium, and Neville was impressed in the commentary booth. "How good is that by Saka? They're on the ropes here a little bit, the away side," he said.

"What a joy. From the moment he came into the Arsenal team to this moment here, ripping full-backs to shreds. That's brutal. It would've been a beautiful goal."

Saka enjoyed a dominant first half, but neither team managed to find the breakthrough(Image: 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Plc)

Saka continued to test Kerkez during the half, twisting and changing direction on several occasions during a later attack. One of Saka's best highlights was a no-look pass to Jurrien Timber, which fooled Kerkez, Mac Allister, and Cody Gakpo, who was back defending.

Liverpool didn't force a save out of Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya in the first half, but were inches away from taking the lead. Defender Conor Bradley hit the crossbar from range with a looped effort, but Gakpo failed to convert the follow-up.

Arsenal entered Thursday's game with a five-point lead over Man City, who are second in the Premier League standings. Arsenal hasn't won the Premier League title since the 2003/04 season, when the team went unbeaten, but midfielder Declan Rice is certain that the drought will end this year.

Declan Rice believes that Arsenal can go all the way this season(Image: 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Plc)

"We’ve just got to relax and let ourselves do the talking and just keep winning our own games," Rice told Sky Sports. "There’s no point getting fixated on what other teams are going to do, because if they win a game, they win a game. That’s football.

"We’re probably more well prepared this year. You can just sense the lads’ experience, the players that we’ve brought in in the summer.

"There’s also that hunger now. There’s still such a long way to go but I think in football you want to achieve the best things.

"We believe we can do it and that just means we got to keep going."