Christmas Eve Eve delivered a record-setting English Premier League match.
Then top-of-the-table Arsenal and then second-place Liverpool played to a riveting 1-1 draw on Dec. 23. The game became the most-watched Premier League match in U.S. history, NBC Sports announced Wednesday.
The highly anticipated clash drew an average of 1.96 million viewers across NBC, Peacock and NBC Sports digital platforms.
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It also drew an additional 328,000 viewers on Telemundo's Spanish-language broadcast.
The mark surpassed the average of 1.92 million viewers set by the Arsenal-Manchester United thriller last season on Jan. 22, 2023, which the Gunners prevailed 3-2 on a late winner by Eddie Nketiah.
In the statistically even match between Arsenal and Liverpool, it was the Gunners who struck first when defender Gabriel Magalhaes towered for a header inside the five-minute mark.
Soccer
But star right winger Mohamed Salah equalized in the 29th minute off an exquisite long ball from right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. Alexander-Arnold had a prime chance to make it 2-1 in the second half on a clear four-on-one opportunity, but his effort clanged the crossbar.
Arsenal and Liverpool will meet in the league for the reverse fixture at the Emirates on Sunday, Feb. 4.
