Mamadou Sakho began the game against Arsenal on Sunday feeling a hint of trepidation - but by the time the final whistle sounded he was overcome with emotion after a whirlwind return to action.

Brendan Rodgers named the towering French defender in his starting side for the first time in the Barclays Premier League since Liverpool were edged by Aston Villa at Anfield in mid-September.

Dejan Lovren's groin problem led to Sakho being restored to the team as part of a three-man defence, a formation which has been deployed since the Reds' trip to Old Trafford earlier this month.

Sakho was punching the air in delight when Philippe Coutinho fired Liverpool's opener in off the post in the 45th minute - but the Frenchman was left frustrated moments later when Mathieu Debuchy hit back for Arsenal.

Olivier Giroud drove the ball through the legs of Brad Jones to score what was seemingly the match-winner, yet with seven of nine added minutes played at the end of the second half, Martin Skrtel battered a header home to clinch a point.

Watch the video here »

"It was an exciting match because it's a big game," Sakho told Liverpoolfc.com. "We had a very good mentality. We worked very hard and I think it was a good game for us. We deserved more than one point.

"I had a lot of emotion [at the end of the game] and I was very, very happy for the team because we worked for more than 90 minutes and we worked together with the fans. We were backed by the whole stadium and the whole team felt the same emotion.

"I'm happy because, before the game, I was thinking [about] whether I would be OK to play for 90 minutes because I'd been out for three months. But I'm happy because I feel very good. The team helped me. I felt a little nervous, but I think that's normal after three months."

Following the final whistle at Anfield, Rodgers expressed his belief that the Reds are capable of mounting a substantial top-four challenge this season, and Sakho was keen to echo his manager's sentiments.

"I think [finishing in the top four] is possible," said the No.17. "We have lots of quality. We saw in the game against Arsenal - we know that if we play together, we do better. We can play well and play stronger and play good football and this is a positive for the future.

"For me, we have to take it game by game because every point is important for Liverpool. Now we have to concentrate on each particular game to make sure we take three points. We have to communicate and we have to help each other. We have to stick together for the team."

Skrtel's 97th-minute equaliser was hammered bravely into the back of Wojciech Szczesny's net with the same bandaged head that had sustained a nasty cut earlier in the game due to a collision with Giroud.

"I went to speak with Martin and he told me he was OK," said Sakho, reflecting on the moment his defensive colleague lay injured on the Anfield turf. "He felt he could continue in the game. I'm not surprised by him. I know he has a big mentality and he is tough."