Liverpool blew Arsenal away to surge to second in the Premier League and add to Arsene Wenger’s woes.

Liverpool picked up where they left off against Hoffenheim in midweek as they ripped Arsenal apart with their scintillating football.

Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and substitute Daniel Sturridge scored for Jurgen Klopp’s side and but for Petr Cech, they would have won by a cricket score.

Klopp sprung a surprise before kick-off when he dropped Simon Mignolet completely from his matchday squad and replace him with Loris Karius.

Firmino's header opened the scoring for Liverpool (
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Mane's curling effort doubled the scoring before the break (
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Klopp feels Karius moves the ball quicker than Mignolet and his decision to axe the Belgian casts a question mark over his Anfield future.

Arsenal were a complete shambles and their limp display will do nothing to persuade Alexis Sanchez to stay.

The unsettled Chile star returned from his abdominal injury, but made no impact before being subbed along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who could also leave before the transfer window closes.

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It was a disastrous return to the line-up for Sanchez (
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Sturridge rounded off the scoring late on (
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Arsenal are languishing near the bottom of the table with just three points and their title hopes already appear over.

Liverpool have the attacking talent to challenge for the Premier League and Arsenal had no answer to their fluid football.

View the latest Premier League table and all of the weekend results here.

Alexis Sanchez posts cryptic message on social media

Alexis Sanchez has posted a cryptic message on social media after Arsenal were hammered 4-0 by Liverpool at Anfield.

The Chilean is desperate to leave the club for Manchester City and Sunday’s battering will have done little to encourage him to stay at the Emirates.

It was Sanchez’s first performance of the season but he didn’t last the full 90 minutes, with Arsene Wenger taking him off for Alexandre Lacazette mid-way through the second half.

After the match, he tweeted “Just published a photo” and linked out to his Instagram account.

The photo on his Instagram showed him on his haunches, looking dejected.

Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal stat attack

  • This was Arsenal’s heaviest Premier League defeat since a 0-4 loss to Southampton at St. Mary’s on Boxing Day 2015.
  • Four of Arsenal’s eight Premier League defeats by a margin of 4+ goals have come against Liverpool at Anfield.
  • Arsenal have lost their first two Premier League away games in a season for only the second time under Arsene Wenger (the other was 2005-06).
  • Only West Ham United (10) have conceded more Premier League goals this season than Arsenal (8).
  • Arsenal didn’t attempt a single shot on target in this match – the first time they haven’t had one in a Premier League game since October 5th 2014 (vs Chelsea).
  • Liverpool have kept four clean sheets in a row at Anfield in the Premier League for the first time since September 2013.
  • Arsenal have lost nine of their last 14 Premier League away matches (W4 D1 L9) – their previous nine away defeats in the competition came over a period of 47 games (W25 D13 L9).
  • Liverpool’s third goal (Mohamed Salah) came only 12 seconds after Arsenal took a corner.
  • Roberto Firmino has scored four goals in five Premier League games against Arsenal – more than against any other opponents in the competition.
  • The Brazilian has scored in all three of his Premier League appearances against Arsenal at Anfield.
  • Roberto Firmino has scored and assisted in a game on eight occasions since his Premier League debut in August 2015; no player has done so more often than him in this period (Costa & Lukaku also on 8).
  • Sadio Mané is only the 3rd player to score in the first 3 PL games of a season for Liverpool (after Robbie Fowler in 1994-95 & Daniel Sturridge in 2013-14).
  • Mané has scored in all three of his Premier League appearances for Liverpool against Arsenal.
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Arsenal player ratings

Cech 7

Produced a string of saves to stop Liverpool winning by a cricket score.

Holding 4

Booked. Was left with third-degree burns after being scorched by Mane.

Koscielny 6

Not even the skipper’s return could steady Arsenal’s rocky defence.

Monreal 4

Wilted under the white heat of Liverpool’s almost-constant pressure.

Oxlade-Chamberlain 5

Another victim of Mane in what could be his last Arsenal game.

Xhaka 4

Booked. Was a virtual spectator at times as Liverpool bypassed him.

Ramsey 4

Struggled to get a foot in against Liverpool’s rampant play.

Bellerin 5

Lost the ball to Salah for Liverpool’s third and was poor.

Ozil 5

Booked. Dragged a shot wide and can do better than this.

Welbeck 5

Booked. Missed a good early chance when he shot over off balance.

Sanchez 5

Pretty anonymous on his return and possibly farewell appearance.

Subs: Coquelin (Ramsey 45mins) 6, Giroud (Sanchez 62mins) 6, Lacazette (Oxlade-Chamberlain 62mins) 6.

Subs not used: Ospina, Walcott, Mustafi, Kolasinac.

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Liverpool player ratings

Karius 6

The German surprisingly replaced Mignolet and kicked well.

Gomez 8

Booked. Won possession for Liverpool’s two goals and shackled Sanchez.

Matip 6

Enjoyed a great battle with Welbeck and was solid.

Lovren 6

Booked. Did everything asked of him at the back.

Moreno 7

Grafted hard and created a headed chance for Can.

Can 8

Headed wide and set up Salah for a great opportunity.

Henderson 8

Bossed the centre of the park, but missed a good chance.

Wijnaldum 8

Schooled Ramsey and set up a chance for Mane.

Salah 8

Scored a solo effort for the third and created the fourth.

Firmino 8

Headed home the first before setting up the second.

Mane 9 MOTM

Volleyed wide before finishing his goal expertly.

Subs: Sturridge (Mane 74mins) 7, Milner (Firmino 80mins) 6, Grujic (Can 83mins).

Subs not used: Ward, Klavan, Solanke, Alexander-Arnold.

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Sanchez scout report: How did he fare on his return?

Alexis Sanchez’s return to the Arsenal team counted for little, as the Chilean played only 62 minutes during the Gunners woeful 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield.

The Chilean’s first appearance of the season came following his extended break following Chile’s Confederations Cup exploits and an abominable injury amid near-constant speculation speculation over his future at the club.

And he didn’t take long to show his intent, as he provided the first real chance of the match when he showed quick feet and excellent close control to surge through the middle and find an off-balance Danny Welbeck, who fired over.

The Gunners failed to build on that chance as Liverpool grew into the game and would take the lead on 17 minutes thought Robert Firmino.

Read more of the scout report here.

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5 talking points from Anfield

Arsene Wenger cut a desolate figure on the Anfield touch line, as his side were destroyed by Liverpool’s brilliant brand of attacking football.

The Arsenal boss is already under massive pressure just three games into the new season, and no wonder, after his baffling decisions here at this famous old ground.

Liverpool’s devastating wide duo of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah each scored a goal as they exploited weakness - yet again - in the visiting back line, after the outstanding Roberto Firmino had opened the scoring.

It left the Reds three up by the hour mark and strolling... and questions being asked about Wenger’s decision to start the want-away pair of Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who were both replaced on 62 minutes after shocking displays.

Wenger must now face questions about his future after an awful start to the campaign from his side, as the obvious dissent from the visiting fans grew into a crescendo by the end, when Daniel Sturridge added a brilliant fourth just three minutes after coming on.

Here are five things we learned from the game.

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The #WengerOut tweets are back

We’ll be honest, we thought we’d at least get to September before we did one of these.

Arsenal were run completely ragged by Liverpool at Anfield at Sunday afternoon, with the Reds winning 4-0 and unfortunate not to score more .

Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and substitute Daniel Sturridge all found the net in the rout, with the Gunners completely powerless to stop the rampant hosts.

It all left Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger - who signed a new two-year contract in the summer, remember - looking completely powerless to stop Liverpool, and meant that Twitter was alight with a particular hashtag.

See the best of the #WengerOut tweets here.

FT Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal

That was far easier than even Liverpool could have imagined.

Very, very poor for Arsenal, who appeared to just roll over for the hosts.

Four different scorers for Liverpool on an emphatic afternoon.

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Sturridge heads home - pictures

Four goals up for Liverpool - and four different goalscorers.

Sturridge came off the bench and joined the party on the scoresheet within a matter of minutes.

All very easy for him, as he headed home at the back post.

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GOAL! Sturridge gets in on the act!

It’s gone from bad, to worse, to embarrassing for Arsenal.

Salah turns provider for this one, whipping the ball into the box and substitute Sturridge is on hand to head home.

Great quality from Liverpool, but more abject defending from the Gunners.

Salah's breakaway goal in pictures

He had all the time in the world.

Charging through, Salah probably could have made himself a cup of team before a defender challenged him for the ball.

Very, very simple stuff.

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How do we reckon Sanchez is feeling right now?

He’s been subbed off with the game getting beyond Arsenal.

Could this be his final game in at Arsenal shirt?

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GOAL! Salah breaks clear and makes it three!

A quick insight into life at Mirror Football HQ...

The whole office just burst into complete laughter at the calamity of Arsenal’s defending - or lack of it, at least.

Salah is free and clear through on goal before he even leaves his own half as Liverpool break from a corner.

Absolutely no idea where the defenders were, but Salah used his pace to drive clear and slot home past Cech.

That should be that.

Fair play to Arsenal, they do look like a changed team this second half.

There is a lot more heart and desire about their performance; something that was missing in abundance during the first 45.

They are going to need their big name players - specifically Sanchez and Ozil - to step up in the final third of the pitch now.

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An early chance for Arsenal will give them hope at the start of the second half.

They are going to have to significantly up the tempo from the first half if they are going to salvage anything from this game.

Meanwhile, for anyone following the other Premier League game, Tottenham have just taken the lead against Burnley through Dele Alli. That’s 1-0.

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Mane's stunning finish in pictures

Sadio Mane is definitely not a man that you want to give too much time on the ball.

But that is exactly what Arsenal did and they felt the consequences.

You can’t take anything away from the finish, though. It’s a succulent strike.

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Half-time! Liverpool lead 2-0

What a first 45 minutes for Liverpool!

They have slowly but surely become more and more dominant as the time has passed.

Klopp will be delighted with the intensity that his team has shown.

We’ll be back in 15 minutes for the second half.

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GOAL! Mane curls home to make it two!

It’s a stunning finish from Mane and it’s now two.

Firmino played in Mane down the channel, who gets too much time on the ball and is able to bend the ball across goal.

Arsenal will be asking questions as to why Mane, one of Liverpool’s most dangerous players, could get so much space on the ball.

It has been a frustrating afternoon for Alexis Sanchez so far.

He’s not had much chance to get on the ball and prove his worth to Arsenal.

Not good for Arsenal.

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So, how have Arsenal responded to Liverpool’s goal?

Answer: not too well.

Liverpool still have the upper hand at the moment and opportunities for Arsenal players to break are few and far between.

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Firmino's opening goal in pictures

It was the most perfect of glancing headers.

He pulled off his man, found space and expertly directed the ball into the corner of the goal.

It’s all smiles around the majority of Anfield!

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Here we go again, eh Arsene?

Arsenal have not exactly been out of this game by any stretch of the imagination.

But frailties at the back have once again been exposed, leaving the Gunners boss with plenty to think about.

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GOAL! Firmino gives Liverpool the lead!

Firmino finds room in the centre of the box and is perfectly placed to head home.

It’s a superb cross from Gomez, who whipped the ball right onto Firmino’s head.

You can’t say that it hasn’t been coming!

We’re just 13 minutes into this game and it’s already living up to its billing.

Chances at both ends and an electric atmosphere in the stadium.

Liverpool, however, have had the majority of the possession.

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A positive start for Liverpool as Emre Can heads wide of the post.

The game has started with a high tempo - just as we expected.

Looks like it will be difficult to split them.

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Kick-off! We are underway...

Here we go!

Fingers crossed that this will be just as exciting as when the two teams met at the start of last season.

And for those who had to sit through West Brom vs Stoke earlier, let’s definitely hope it’s more exciting than that!

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Liverpool paying tribute to Owen McVeigh

The Liverpool team are warming up today in special t-shirts in memory of Owen McVeigh, who lost his battle with leukaemia in December 2015 aged just 11.

Liverpool are hoping to raise awareness for the Owen McVeigh Foundation, which was set up in his honour.

There will also be a huge flag in the Kop in honour of the youngster.

Writing in the programme, Jordan Henderson said: “The flags on the Kop are an incredible sight and there is always one that catches my eye. It features a dad holding his son’s hand and carries the words: ‘It’s off to the match we go’.

“I can say without hesitation that all of the players know what the banner stands for and who it represents.”

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Sanchez out for warm-up

Here he is, the main man, making his return to Arsenal action today.

His future remains up in the air and there is every chance that this could be the final time he ever pulls on the Gunners’ shirt.

But he does look in high spirits and if his past is anything to go by, he won’t be taking it easy out on the field today.

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Excitement building at Anfield

The fans are taking their seats at Anfield.

They will be hoping for another classic between these two sides, who have played out some stunning fixtures in recent times.

With blips next to both teams’ names already this season, there is plenty on the line here.

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About that Liverpool side...

The Liverpool side is pretty interesting, also.

Headline there is that Simon Mignolet is nowhere to be seen, with Loris Karius set to make his first appearance since January, with Danny Ward, who impressed last season on loan at Huddersfield, on benchwarming duty.

Joe Gomez comes into the team in place of Trent Alexander-Arnold in the only other change from the side that saw off Hoffenheim midweek.

Still no sign of Philippe Coutinho.

And here’s how the home dressing room a Anfield is looking...