Heading into the final stages of the contest at Goodison Park, Liverpool were going nine points clear at the top of the Premier League having turned things around, with Beto’s early opener for Everton swiftly cancelled out by Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah then adding a 73rd-minute strike.
Arsenal, who did not bolster their attack in the January transfer window, already have Gabriel Jesus (anterior cruciate ligament) out for the season, while Gabriel Martinelli suffered an injury at Newcastle last week and Bukayo Saka has been sidelined since December, with it hoped he could return next month.
But Celtic managed to hit back with 11 minutes of normal time remaining, Maeda heading in to keep Celtic in with a shout heading into next Tuesday’s second leg.
Celtic were beaten 2-1 at home by Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League play-off, Harry Kane netting the visitors’ second before Daizen Maeda’s goal gave Brendan Rodgers’ men some hope.
Third-placed Burnley made English Football League history as they became the first second-tier side to register 10 consecutive clean sheets after a 2-0 win over Hull, while Sheffield United kept the Clarets three points behind them and closed to within two of leaders Leeds with a 3-1 triumph over Middlesbrough.
