Arsenal ended Liverpool’s 16-year, 600-match streak.

The goalless draw with Arsenal prevented Liverpool from advancing and broke their 16-year streak of 600 consecutive games with shots on target in the Premier League.

The goalless draw between Liverpool and Arsenal at the Emirates marked a special milestone for the visitors, as The Reds failed to register a single shot on target in a Premier League match for the first time in 16 years and 600 games. Although reigning Premier League champions, Liverpool couldn’t break through the home team’s defense in a tightly contested match in North London.

At Emirates, Arne Slot’s side gradually took control, forcing Arsenal into a defensive posture at times. However, they were completely unable to test goalkeeper David Raya with any shots on target despite attempting a total of eight shots.

For a team known for its attacking power, Liverpool’s struggle was unusual. In fact, you have to go back to 2010 to find the last time The Reds had a top-flight match without a shot on target. This impressive streak of 600 consecutive games ended, leaving Liverpool with a sense of regret.

Part of the reason was the absence of key attacking players. Mohamed Salah was away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, record signing Alexander Isak was injured, and top scorer Hugo Ekitike, with 11 goals this season, was not at full fitness.

Still, coach Arne Slot expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance. After the match, he emphasized that Liverpool can compete with any top club: “We have shown, not just today but before, that we can hold our own against any big team. Except for the match against Manchester City, where we clearly scored an equalizer that was disallowed by the referee and VAR, that is our only loss.”

The Dutch manager also acknowledged the team’s weaknesses: “We struggle against teams that defend deep and are 20 goals behind Arsenal from set-pieces. However, in both fixtures, Liverpool showed strong competitiveness. At Anfield, we won thanks to a free-kick, but today there was no such moment, so the game ended 0-0.”

Slot praised Arsenal’s defensive abilities, especially inside the box, and admitted his team needs to improve chance creation despite dominating possession.

After this draw, Liverpool still remain fourth in the Premier League standings and will now focus on the FA Cup. The Reds face Barnsley in the third round on Monday before returning to Anfield to host Burnley in the Premier League on January 17.