Roy Keane: Liverpool were ‘by far the better team’ against Arsenal | OneFootball

Roy Keane’s Praise Came With a Warning for Liverpool After Arsenal Stalemate

There are matches that reveal more in what they withhold than in what they offer. Liverpool’s goalless draw with Arsenal at the Emirates was one of those games: intense, controlled, and strangely unresolved. It was a contest that spoke loudly about authority, resilience and maturity, but whispered doubts about sharpness where it matters most.

That contradiction sat at the heart of Roy Keane’s post-match analysis. The former Manchester United captain, speaking on Sky Sports, admired much of what Liverpool did against Arsenal, yet could not ignore the one failing that ultimately defined the evening. His comments, originally reported by Empire of the Kop, captured both the reassurance and the unease that now surround Arne Slot’s side.

This was not a critique driven by nostalgia or pundit theatre. It was precise, grounded, and uncomfortable precisely because it rang true.

Premier League 2025/26 Arsenal v Liverpool Emirates Stadium 08.01.2026 Liverpool manager Arne Slot Premier League 2025/26 Arsenal v Liverpool Emirates Stadium 08.01.2026 Photograph By Marc Aspland The Times PUBLICATIONxINxGERxAUTxSUIxONLY Copyright: xMarcxAsplandx NINTCHDBPICT001050202858

Control Without Conclusion at the Emirates

Liverpool arrived in north London carrying questions about injuries, absentees and attacking fluency. They left with a point, control of large stretches of the match, and a sense that they had removed Arsenal’s momentum almost entirely.

Keane acknowledged that dominance. He noted how Liverpool “took the energy out of the stadium”, a phrase that spoke volumes. The Emirates, often reliant on tempo and emotion, was subdued by Liverpool’s composure in midfield and their willingness to dictate rhythm rather than chase it.

This was not passive control. Liverpool pressed intelligently, recycled possession with confidence and prevented Arsenal from building sustained pressure. For long spells, particularly after the interval, they looked like the side most likely to win.

Yet football is not scored on territorial authority or composure alone. And that, for Keane, was where the analysis sharpened.

Roy Keane’s Verdict on Cutting Edge

Keane’s central criticism was delivered without drama: Liverpool did not do enough where it matters most. “You’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net,” he said, pointing out that dominance without incision ultimately leads nowhere.

Despite controlling midfield areas and limiting Arsenal’s threat, Liverpool failed to register a single shot on target. For all the structure and discipline, there was a bluntness in the final third that undermined the rest of the performance.

Keane was careful to balance criticism with context. He admitted he had been concerned about Liverpool’s midfield before kick-off, only to be proven wrong by how comprehensively they handled Arsenal in that zone. “They controlled it,” he said, describing Liverpool as “by far the better team”.

But that superiority demanded a payoff. Without it, the performance became admirable rather than decisive.

Fight, Swagger and a Familiar Absence

One of Keane’s most striking observations was his reference to Liverpool’s “fight and swagger”. These are qualities that have, at times this season, appeared intermittent. Against Arsenal, they returned in full.

Liverpool were combative without being reckless, assertive without being chaotic. They won duels, disrupted Arsenal’s build-up and showed the mentality of a side that still believes itself to be among the league’s elite.

Yet swagger alone does not win matches. It must be paired with clarity in the attacking third, with moments of precision that transform pressure into goals. Without that, Liverpool risk becoming a side admired for control but defined by frustration.

The absence of key attacking options offered partial explanation, but not absolution. At elite level, opportunity must still be converted, even when resources are stretched.

What the Draw Means for Liverpool and Arsenal

For Arsenal, the draw was functional. They avoided defeat, limited damage and remain firmly embedded in the title conversation. For Liverpool, the implications are more complex.

Keane’s analysis suggested a team close to something coherent and dangerous, but not quite complete. Defensive structure and midfield authority appear increasingly reliable. The question is whether Liverpool can rediscover the ruthless edge that once turned control into inevitability.

As Empire of the Kop originally reported, Keane’s criticism was not dismissive. It was almost encouraging in its clarity. Liverpool, he implied, are not far away. But until they marry their fight and swagger with cutting edge, they will continue to leave games like this with points earned rather than points seized.

In a season where margins are slim and narratives shift weekly, that difference may yet prove decisive.