Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal: Dreadful Gunners picked apart at Anfield as goals from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Daniel Sturridge earn easy win

  • Roberto Firmino headed Liverpool ahead after dominant opening 17 minutes as Arsenal left him unmarked
  • Sadio Mane curled in exquisite second after fast-paced break, scoring after cutting in from the left wing
  • Mo Salah ran 65 yards following corner kick to tuck ball home for third in second half after Arsenal corner
  • Daniel Sturridge came on as a second-half sub and got a goal with a back-post header following Salah cross 
  • Simon Mignolet dropped by Liverpool while Alexandre Lacazette started on the bench for Arsenal
  • Disappointing Arsenal suffer second successive defeat, while Liverpool move to seven points from nine 

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Liverpool were magnificent. That needs to be said before the Arsenal inquest starts, because it is going to be long and painful and on a day like this it is all too easy to forget the winners.

So, Liverpool: outstanding. Joe Gomez: superb. Emre Can: immense. Roberto Firmino: brilliant. Mohamed Salah: electric. Sadio Mane: a joy to watch. One could go through the whole team individually and rave over what they brought to this display. But Arsenal? Good heavens, where do you start?

They try to be fair, ex-players. A lot of them are not so far from the dressing room that they relish delivering criticism. They know what it was like to have a bad day. They know a good footballer doesn't need to be told when it has all gone wrong.


Roberto Firmino heads Liverpool ahead after a dominant opening 17 minutes after the Arsenal defence left him unmarked

Roberto Firmino heads Liverpool ahead after a dominant opening 17 minutes after the Arsenal defence left him unmarked

Sadio Mane curled in an exquisite second goal after a fast-paced passing break, scoring after cutting in from the left wing

Sadio Mane curled in an exquisite second goal after a fast-paced passing break, scoring after cutting in from the left wing

Mo Salah ran 65 yards following a Gunners corner kick to tuck the ball home for the third goal to end the game as a contest

Mo Salah ran 65 yards following a Gunners corner kick to tuck the ball home for the third goal to end the game as a contest

Daniel Sturridge came on as a second-half sub and got a goal four minutes after with a back-post header from Salah's cross

Daniel Sturridge came on as a second-half sub and got a goal four minutes after with a back-post header from Salah's cross

PLAYER RATINGS, LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE 

LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Karius 6: Gomez 8.5, Matip 7, Lovren 6.5, Moreno 7: Wijnaldum 7.5, Henderson 7, Can 8 (Grujic 83): Mane 8 (Sturridge 74), Firmino 8 (Milner 80), Salah 8

Unused subs: Ward, Alexander-Arnold, Klavan, Solanke

Goals: Firmino 17, Mane 40, Salah 57, Sturridge 78 

Booked: Lovren 20, Gomez 23

Manager: Jurgen Klopp 8 

ARSENAL (3-4-3): Cech 7: Holding 5, Koscielny 5, Monreal 4: Oxlade-Chamberlain 4 (Lacazette 62, 4), Xhaka 4, Ramsey 5 (Coquelin 46, 5), Bellerin 4: Sanchez 4 (Giroud 62, 5), Welbeck 6, Ozil 4

Unused subs: Ospina, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Walcott

Booked: Welbeck 22, Xhaka 40, Ozil 49, Holding 72

Manager: Arsene Wenger 4 

Referee: Craig Pawson 7

Man-of-the-Match: Joe Gomez 

Attendance: 53,206

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga
Manchester City dominated after Liverpool were reduced to 10 men and they strung together 20 passes for Gabriel Jesus' goal. For more stats, visit our exclusive MATCH ZONE service.

Liverpool deservedly took the lead when right back Joe Gomez started a good team move, before crossing in for Roberto Firmino to head home. For more stats, visit our exclusive MATCH ZONE service.

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But here, the harshest judgment was simply unavoidable. They all piled in. Thierry Henry, Gary Neville, Graeme Souness, Michael Owen, Alan Shearer, Jamie Carragher. Hell, even AP McCoy took a swing at it, and he rides horses. 

They used words reserved for the most damning of verdicts. Embarrassing. Disgrace. Shocking. Schoolboys. Arsene Wenger, it was suggested, could put the entire team up for sale, or substitute any one of them. 

And while this was going on, Liverpool's lead kept steadily increasing. Goals in the 17th minute, the 40th, the 57th, the 77th. Split the game into quarters and there was not one in which Liverpool did not score, not one in which they were not the superior team. 

Their dominance was total, Arsenal's surrender abject. It could have been worse because Petr Cech needed to be on top form, just to keep it to four.

Jurgen Klopp was jubilant at the end and rightly so, but how could Wenger defend this? It was everything the dissenters complained about last season, squared, and telling that there was little criticism from the away end. 

It was almost as if they had made their feelings known, Wenger got another two years anyway, and here was the result. If the club did not listen to the critics in May, what would be the point of rebellion three matches into the new deal, and the new campaign?  

Firmino headed Joe Gomez's low cross down and home, escaping between the Arsenal defence which was very static

Firmino headed Joe Gomez's low cross down and home, escaping between the Arsenal defence which was very static

Firmino celebrates his opener, which came after a good move - although Arsenal sloppily gave the ball away in their half

Firmino celebrates his opener, which came after a good move - although Arsenal sloppily gave the ball away in their half

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp applauds his players after they scored the opening goal, which was thoroughly earned

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp applauds his players after they scored the opening goal, which was thoroughly earned

Arsene Wenger in contrast will have been thoroughly unimpressed by what he saw from his side as they did not impress

Arsene Wenger in contrast will have been thoroughly unimpressed by what he saw from his side as they did not impress

Mane celebrates his first-half goal, the sixth he has been involved in during his last six games against the Gunners

Mane celebrates his first-half goal, the sixth he has been involved in during his last six games against the Gunners

Liverpool dominated possession - 75 per cent in the first half - and the second goal through Mane was the least they deserved

Liverpool dominated possession - 75 per cent in the first half - and the second goal through Mane was the least they deserved

The worry is that Arsenal are now in 16th place, and it isn't a fluke. When Alexis Sanchez was withdrawn midway through the second-half, the image of his forlorn presence on the bench seemed to sum up Arsenal's sorry status. 

Sanchez looked almost tearful, before pulling his shirt up to hide his face. What must he make of his club, his ambling, shambling team-mates? This was a match between two of the Premier League's elite, but only one side lived up to that label. 

Liverpool were everything Klopp wishes them to be – energetic, hard-working, ferocious in transition. Yet Anfield won't witness too many away performances as lame. Liverpool will get a harder game from Arsenal's supposed inferiors, most weeks.

Criticism followed Arsenal's defeat at Stoke, too, but if Mesut Ozil or any of his team-mates wished to prove Steven Gerrard wrong in his brutal assessment that day, this was no way to do it. 

Ozil was every bit as ineffectual as Gerrard suggested, except his attitude appeared to have spread through the rest of the team. Arsenal were mediocre, half-hearted, and utterly dominated by a Liverpool group who may feel they underachieved by just being four ahead when Craig Pawson's whistle blew on a mismatch every bit as great as Mayweather-McGregor. 

Salah robbed the last Arsenal man - 30 yards inside the Liverpool half - and sprinted through before tucking past the keeper

Salah robbed the last Arsenal man - 30 yards inside the Liverpool half - and sprinted through before tucking past the keeper

It was the Egyptian's first home league goal and came in front of the Kop, after he demonstrated great athleticism

Alexis Sanchez was left dejected on the Anfield turf on his return to the first team and was subbed off after an hour was gone

Alexis Sanchez was left dejected on the Anfield turf on his return to the first team and was subbed off after an hour was gone

The Chilean, whose future at Arsenal remains unclear, was substituted after 62 minutes after a disappointing performance 

The Chilean, whose future at Arsenal remains unclear, was substituted after 62 minutes after a disappointing performance 

He could at least appear to afford a wry smile during a terrible afternoon for the Gunners against their top-flight rivals 

He could at least appear to afford a wry smile during a terrible afternoon for the Gunners against their top-flight rivals 

But generally his expression was as gloomy as everyone else of an Arsenal persuasion - it was an afternoon to forget 

But generally his expression was as gloomy as everyone else of an Arsenal persuasion - it was an afternoon to forget 

Sturridge was brought on after 74 minutes by Klopp, and just four minutes later he too got his name on the score sheet

Sturridge was brought on after 74 minutes by Klopp, and just four minutes later he too got his name on the score sheet

Sturridge glided around the back of Laurent Koscielny and headed the ball home, showing he still has attacking quality

Sturridge glided around the back of Laurent Koscielny and headed the ball home, showing he still has attacking quality

It was a truly chastening afternoon for Arsenal, with the fourth goal for Liverpool representative of their dominance

It was a truly chastening afternoon for Arsenal, with the fourth goal for Liverpool representative of their dominance

From the sixth minute, when Can headed just wide, to the 90th, when Cech tipped over a Salah shot, there was only one team in it.

Klopp controversially rested first-choice goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, but who would have known it from Arsenal's forward play? Loris Karius, not entirely convincing on his previous appearances, was barely troubled. It was feared Klopp's call – does a goalkeeper really need a rest five games into the season? – might cost Liverpool but by the end most were wondering what the fuss was about. The action was all at Arsenal's end.

By the time Liverpool took the lead, Cech had already made arguably the save of the match, from Salah at the far post. The goals left him powerless, however; the mistakes higher up the field too plentiful to counter.

Throughout, Cech's team-mates conspired against him. Granit Xhaka, for instance, who, in attempting a flicked pass out to Hector Bellerin, allowed the excellent Gomez to intercept and set up Liverpool's first goal. Gomez is one of a queue of players forming to play right back for Liverpool and with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Nathaniel Clyne breathing down his neck, what a game he had. 

For the opener, he intercepted forcefully, broke, laid it inside to Can, got it back and whipped in a cross. Firmino, occupying the space between Arsenal's centre halves – or maybe he was merely holding it for the double-decker bus that could have comfortably parked there – headed the ball into the corner, leaving Cech no chance. 

Wenger, accompanied by assistant manager Steve Bould (centre), looks on glumly from the Arsenal dugout

Wenger, accompanied by assistant manager Steve Bould (centre), looks on glumly from the Arsenal dugout

Petr Cech made a stunning save from  Salah after 10 minutes from close range after Emre Can's low cross

Petr Cech made a stunning save from Salah after 10 minutes from close range after Emre Can's low cross

Cech kept Arsenal level for the first 15 minutes as Liverpool dominated, but was eventually beaten by Firmino's header

Cech kept Arsenal level for the first 15 minutes as Liverpool dominated, but was eventually beaten by Firmino's header

Simon Mignolet was not in the Liverpool match day squad after being dropped in favour of Loris Karius as No 1 goalkeeper

Simon Mignolet was not in the Liverpool match day squad after being dropped in favour of Loris Karius as No 1 goalkeeper

Karius had a couple of iffy moments however, dwelling on the ball and almost being robbed by Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck

Karius had a couple of iffy moments however, dwelling on the ball and almost being robbed by Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck

Alexandre Lacazette surprisingly started the game on the bench and was only introduced when Arsenal were 3-0 down

Alexandre Lacazette surprisingly started the game on the bench and was only introduced when Arsenal were 3-0 down

The second summed up the ambition and drive of the two teams. Arsenal had the ball around the Liverpool penalty area, but lost it feebly once more. Retribution was instant. Gomez won the ball, fed Georginio Wijnaldum, onto Can, moving it swiftly to Firmino who played the final pass to Mane. He cut inside from the left and curled a quite beautiful shot out of the reach of Cech.

Usually, such a lacklustre performance from a good team brings a second-half reaction. If anything, Arsenal got worse. Liverpool's third goal even had a practice run three minutes earlier. In the 54th minute, Salah was allowed to break one on one from close on the halfway line, his finish thwarted by Cech before Jordan Henderson shot over. Then, somehow, Arsenal let it happen again.

A Liverpool corner was cleared but fell to Bellerin 25 yards inside the Liverpool half. He miscontrolled and was caught in possession by Salah who then had a run of roughly 65 yards to Arsenal's goal with no other blue shirt to cover. Arsenal were like the Keystone Kops in pursuit, except not quite as well organised. Having been given a rehearsal, Salah knew exactly what to do this time: and then it was three.

The scoring was complete with 13 minutes to go. Gomez started it, as he so often did on Sunday, with fine reading of the game, picking out Firmino who fed Salah on the left. His cross was excellent and substitute Daniel Sturridge, was the man over, unmarked at the far post, to head into an unguarded net.

Not that this was any grand surprise. As good as Liverpool were, Arsenal's entire performance was one big unguarded net, really. 

Liverpool midfielder Can shields the ball from Aaron Ramsey, who was subbed off at half time for Francis Coquelin

Liverpool midfielder Can shields the ball from Aaron Ramsey, who was subbed off at half time for Francis Coquelin

Benched England team mates Theo Walcott and Sturridge chat as they warm up for their opposing club teams

Benched England team mates Theo Walcott and Sturridge chat as they warm up for their opposing club teams

The home side warmed up wearing Owen McVeigh Foundation T-shirts prior to kick-off, in honour of a deceased young fan

The home side warmed up wearing Owen McVeigh Foundation T-shirts prior to kick-off, in honour of a deceased young fan

WHAT THE TV EXPERTS SAID ABOUT THE ARSENAL SHAMBLES

GARY NEVILLE 

'No respect for the shirt'

'It's a well-told story that I'm not a Liverpool fan but this Arsenal team deserve a battering.

Liverpool are brilliant going forward but how can you play like this in a big game for so many of Arsenal's players? Forget not turning up, forget not playing well but just the general attitude or lack of respect for the shirt from three or four of them in not running back and not bothering is disgraceful.

It's a great club… I came here quite composed today and I'm actually fuming and angry and I don't know how they (the travelling Arsenal supporters) feel.

The positives are there's six days left in the transfer window so he can try and get rid of as many of these as he can. I'd honestly stick them all up on the transfer list. There aren't many of them that would get a better club than where they are at.

Arsenal have players who don't (run back) and that's disgraceful. Players are walking, ambling and not showing any urgency and it's not good enough.

I'm sat up here in the gantry about an hour ago before kick-off and see West Brom sprint back and get in that shape and then we take for granted that teams of this ilk do that. A great team like Atletico Madrid do but an average Arsenal don't.'

 

JAMIE CARRAGHER

'Only word is cowards'

After the first goal: 'That's Aaron Ramsey not even looking at the ball.

Arsenal lose the ball through Xhaka and there you've got it.

Look at the space between the two midfield players, away from home, big game, Ramsey not even watching the ball — talk about a lack of discipline. Still not watching the ball, completely out of the game! This Arsenal midfield has been nothing short of embarrassing early on.

With a back three you'd expect an Arsenal defender to put his head on it but no, the same old problems.

Back four, back three, no one in there to attack the ball.

This midfield for Arsenal are absolutely shocking.'

After the game: 'It is like watching the same movie. The board bottled it in the summer, they bottled it.

Terrified of moving the manager on, who has been a legend there. There had to be a change of manager.

Last season I called them 'cowards' (at Crystal Palace) and got a little bit of stick for it, people said you can't say that on TV. I'll say it again: 'Cowards!' That was worse.'

 

GRAEME SOUNESS

'What a bunch of schoolboys' 

'I've officially given up on them. There was always something about Arsenal I liked. Unless they were playing against Tottenham or Liverpool, I always looked forward to watching them and hoping they'd do well.

Ozil and Sanchez were a disgrace today.

I played in central midfield. My job was to defend the two centre backs. Arsenal need proper disciplined central midfielders. How difficult is it to put that right? Roy Keane, Matic, Kante all did it. Arsenal are like a bunch of schoolboys. That first goal beggars belief.

You're watching them, 'show me something, show me you have turned the corner'. But they have taken one giant step back. That is a performance that can get the manager the sack. For professional players to be able to accept that level of performance is beyond belief.'

 

THIERRY HENRY

'I wanted to walk out'

'I wanted to leave (the stadium). I don't relate with this team.

I am not surprised. I was expecting this. Stagnation.

I knew what was going to happen today. But still when you see it you're like, no, not again! The way Arsenal lose the game is the problem. We are talking about desire, commitment. Have a go. The team I arrived into could fight. These guys? It is painful. As a fan, you try to be positive, but it's not nice to see.

Everything that you see on the day has been happening for the past 10 years.

We talk about Sanchez and is he staying, but they are not going to want to be part of this team. That is why players are not renewing their contracts, they can see something is wrong.

The word I have used for a long time — comfort. Everyone is comfortable at Arsenal. It's not the same pressure you have at a big club, that you should have. Everything is… nice. It cannot be like that.'

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