Gary Neville explains tactical change that ‘shocked’ Arsenal vs Liverpool

Gary Neville has explained the tactical adjustment Liverpool made at the Emirates that he believes genuinely caught Arsenal off guard during their midweek Premier League stalemate.

The 0-0 draw in north London extended Liverpool’s unbeaten run to 10 matches under Arne Slot, even if sections of the fanbase remain unconvinced by the overall direction. Crucially, however, the Reds remain firmly in the Champions League places — and the performance drew praise from several pundits.

Liverpool’s approach in the first half was clear and cautious. Arne Slot set his side up deep, with players retreating close to their own penalty area as Arsenal dominated possession.

That pattern shifted dramatically after the interval — and it was that switch which impressed Gary Neville.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville highlighted how difficult it is to execute such a turnaround mid-game.

“Everybody watching, but brilliant what Liverpool did in the second half,” Neville said.

“It’s very difficult to actually turn the performance around when you’re so defensively minded, like they were, to go and then flip it into a dominating possession-based performance in the second half.
That was the big surprise. I think that shocked Arsenal.”

Rather than continuing to sit deep, Liverpool pushed higher, retained the ball for longer spells and prevented Arsenal from building sustained pressure.

Neville’s view echoed earlier praise from Daniel Sturridge, who also backed Slot and his players after the draw.

While Liverpool fans have voiced concerns about style and ambition, the underlying results remain solid. The Reds have not lost in 10 games and continue to occupy a Champions League position following the stalemate at the Emirates.

Despite the improved display, the draw appears to have ended any lingering hopes of a Premier League title defence for Liverpool.

Opta’s projections now make Mikel Arteta’s side overwhelming favourites, giving Arsenal an 86.98% chance of lifting the title.

Behind them, Manchester City are tipped for second place with an 8.62% probability, while Aston Villa sit at 4.21%.

Liverpool’s own title chances have dropped to just 0.16%, though Opta still back them to secure fourth place and a return to the Champions League.

Liverpool’s focus now turns firmly to securing a top-four finish rather than chasing an unlikely title push. Performances like the second half at the Emirates suggest Slot’s ideas are beginning to translate on the pitch — but consistency will be key.

For Arsenal, the draw represented another step towards the title, even if they were briefly unsettled by Liverpool’s tactical shift.

Was Liverpool’s second-half turnaround a glimpse of progress under Arne Slot — or simply a one-off surprise at the Emirates?