How Shot-Shy Liverpool Ruined a 600-Game Premier League Streak in Arsenal Stalemate

Liverpool had recorded at least one shot on target in each of their last 600 Premier League games prior to Thursday night’s 0-0 draw at Arsenal.

But that streak came to an end as a Reds team without Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak and Mo Salah failed to test Gunners keeper David Raya once at the Emirates Stadium.

Ekitike and Isak missed the game through injury, while Salah is one of the many Premier League players away at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

In their absence, Reds boss Arne Slot’s 4-2-3-1 formation featured a starting front four of Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Dominik Szoboszlai (pictured above).

Their biggest threat came from long-range efforts by Szoboszlai, who registered five shots but missed the target with all of them.

The only other Liverpool players to try their luck were Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Conor Bradley.

It was Bradley who came closest to scoring when he rattled the crossbar in the first half.

Bradley was later subbed off with a serious knee injury, although Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli appeared to think the right-back was time-wasting and attempted to aggressively shove him off the pitch.

Martinelli, who was arguably lucky to avoid a red card, later apologised to Bradley.

Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool: Match stats

Arsenal	Stat	Liverpool
47.6%	Possession	52.4%
4	Shots on Goal	0
9	Shot Attempts	8
10	Fouls	9
2	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0
3	Corner Kicks	0

Liverpool complete a Premier League game without a shot on target for the first time since 2010

Prior to Thursday’s stalemate at Arsenal, the last time Liverpool had gone through an entire Premier League game without registering a shot on target was in March 2010, when they lost 1-0 away at Wigan Athletic.

Roy Hodgson was in charge of Liverpool that day. Since then, Kenny Dalglish, Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp have all taken turns managing Liverpool, with none of their teams going a full league game without a shot on target.

Thursday’s result was also the first 0-0 draw between Arsenal and Liverpool in the Premier League since 2015.

But despite the lack of goals — and, for Liverpool, the lack of shots on target — Slot’s team actually came away from the Emirates with some credit.

Liverpool’s second-half performance was generally impressive as they completed 207 passes in Arsenal’s half of the pitch. That was the most such passes recorded by a visiting team at the Emirates in any of the last five Premier League seasons.

Roy Keane gives Liverpool credit for their performance against Arsenal

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane was among the pundits to praise Liverpool for aspects of their performance.

Keane said on Sky Sports: “Liverpool didn’t deserve more than what they got because obviously you’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net. They lacked that cutting edge.

“I was worried about their midfield before the game but I shouldn’t have been. They controlled it. Liverpool were by far the better team.”

He added: “Credit goes to Liverpool in terms of the way they dominated possession. Liverpool took the energy out of the stadium perfectly well. Liverpool showed a bit of fight and swagger that they are champions but just lacked that cutting edge.”

Despite dropping two points against Liverpool, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are currently rated as 1/5 favourites to win the Premier League title this season.

Arsenal recently ended 2025 top of the Premier League’s calendar year table.