Mohamed Salah cancelled out an opener from Gabriel as Liverpool came from behind to draw 1-1 with Arsenal in Saturday evening's Premier League at Anfield.

Gabriel's header sent Arsenal ahead in the fourth minute of the contest, but Salah's thumping strike levelled the scores in the 29th minute, with the two teams sharing the points.

The draw keeps Arsenal top of the table heading into Christmas, while Liverpool are back above Aston Villa into second position, just one point behind Mikel Arteta's side.

Arsenal made a fast start to proceedings, with Gabriel Jesus having a volley deflected over the crossbar inside the first minute, before the Brazil international saw a header kept out by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

The Gunners managed to make the breakthrough in the fourth minute, though, with Gabriel heading a brilliant Martin Odegaard delivery into the back of the net to spark jubilant scenes in the away end.

The goal was checked for a possible offside, but replays showed that Cody Gakpo had played the Arsenal defender on, and there were further celebrations from the visitors when their opener was confirmed.

Arsenal had another opportunity in the 13th minute when Gabriel Martinelli fed Jesus in a dangerous area, but the forward could only lift the ball over the crossbar.

Liverpool's first serious chance came in the 14th minute when a deep cross from Wataru Endo found its way to Salah, but the Egypt international could only strike wide of the post.

Odegaard then missed the target with a low strike in the 20th minute, shortly after he had handled inside his own box, with Liverpool feeling that they should have had a spot kick.

The match just started to settle in the period that followed, but there were still frantic moments at both ends, as the two sides were committing so many numbers to each attack.

Liverpool managed to level the scores in the 29th minute, with Salah working the ball onto his left foot following suspect defending from Oleksandr Zinchenko before smashing the ball past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya at his near post.

The home side continued to cause problems, with Salah's movement too much for Zinchenko, but Arsenal were able to show class and composure in possession of the ball when required.

The Gunners had a brilliant chance to score a second in the 41st minute when Bukayo Saka rounded Alisson before the ball came for Martinelli, but his effort missed the near post.

Joe Gomez found himself in a dangerous position late in the half, with Liverpool again on the counter-attack, but the defender failed to make the most of a brilliant chance to either shoot or feed Salah, and the two teams entered the half-time break at 1-1 following a pulsating half of action.

Salah had a strike deflected into the arms of Raya in the 49th minute, before Luis Diaz turned wide of the post, with Liverpool on the front foot in the early stages of the second period.

Gomez was next to try his luck, with the defender curling one just wide of the post in the 54th minute.

Arsenal had an opportunity of their own on the hour, with Saka delivering a wonderful low cross into the Liverpool box, but there were no takers, and Zinchenko then missed the target from distance moments later.

Dominik Szoboszlai struck wide of the Arsenal goal in the period that followed, and it was delicately poised heading towards the final 25 minutes of action.

Liverpool came close again in the 71st minute, with Harvey Elliott's strike from distance taking a deflection before clipping the outside of the post, and Trent Alexander-Arnold then smashed the ball against the crossbar from close range following a breakaway in the 73rd minute.

Arsenal had a shout for a penalty in the 81st minute when Kai Havertz went down under a challenge from Alexander-Arnold, but the referee was not interested and VAR agreed.

Five additional minutes were signalled at Anfield, but neither side could find a winner, with the points ultimately being shared at the end of a second period which was less eventful than the first.

Next up for Liverpool is a trip to Burnley on Boxing Day, while Arsenal will continue their campaign with a home game against West Ham United on Thursday night.