It was a historic robbery, Arsenal player accepts it was an Odegaard penalty

Arsenal retained their lead at the top of the English Premier League with a 1-1 draw at second-placed Liverpool in a high-intensity duel in which each side went all the way for the win in Saturday's 18th round of fixtures. The weekend's star-studded clash in England was an explosive battle, animated from the first to the last minute, in a stadium with an electric atmosphere and an awareness of the importance of the contest.

With the points shared, Arsenal remain a point ahead of Liverpool and third-placed Aston Villa, who drew 1-1 at home to 20th-placed Sheffield United on Friday. Tottenham, fourth after a 2-1 win at 16th-placed Everton on Saturday, are four points behind the leaders. The draw leaves no-one entirely satisfied. What's more, it leaves the battle for the lead wide open. None of the top three managed to win. Neither Unai Emery's Aston Villa, in third, who could not beat bottom side Sheffield Wednesday.

Neither Arsenal, first, nor Liverpool, second. Only Tottenham, fourth, managed to win against Everton. Either side could have won. No one did and the game ended level. With Arsenal top, one point ahead of Liverpool and Aston Villa, four ahead of Tottenham; and six ahead of Manchester City, with a game in hand.

<strong>Saliba accepted it was a penalty</strong>

The refereeing controversy takes over the match because the Arsenal captain committed a handball inside the box but the referee did not mark it. At the end of the match the Frenchman Saliba made clear the referee's mistake and accepted that it should have been a penalty for Liverpool which could have won the game for the Reds and taken the lead in the Premier League standings.