Jump directly to the content
Highlights
OUT GUNNED

Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0: Watch highlights as Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge score as Reds smash terrible Gunners on way to simple win

Arsene Wenger's side picked apart at Anfield as front three all on target for Jurgen Klopp

LIVERPOOL completed a hat-trick of victories over Arsenal for the first time in 19 years as they took full advantage of a simply woeful performance from the gruesome Gunners.

The home team’s electric front three of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah all found the net as Liverpool threatened to run riot.

 Sadio Mane celebrates after helping Liverpool humiliate Arsenal at Anfield
18
Sadio Mane celebrates after helping Liverpool humiliate Arsenal at AnfieldCredit: Reuters
 Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez reacts after Liverpool scored the third goal of a humbling 4-0 defeat
18
Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez reacts after Liverpool scored the third goal of a humbling 4-0 defeatCredit: Reuters

Liverpool do not need any encouragement to take the fight to the opposition at Anfield, and their speed and movement were simply too much for Arsenal to cope with.

But despite completing the double over the Londoners last season they must have been amazed at how much time and space Arsenal allowed them.

The Gunners were lucky to beat Leicester in their opening game, and squandered a glut of possession when they lost to Stoke.

But this is the performance that will really set the alarm bells ringing.

Their midfield quartet of Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Granit Xhaka and Hector Bellerin were even more guilty of ball-watching than their back three.

The Arsenal fans predictably turned on manager Arsene Wenger, who sprang a surprise by leaving out £52million man Alexandre Lacazette to accommodate the return of fit-again Alexis Sanchez.

 Roberto Firmino broke the deadlock and was unmarked to head in from close range
18
Roberto Firmino broke the deadlock and was unmarked to head in from close rangeCredit: Getty Images - Getty
 Arsene Wenger reacts after seeing his team concede a poor first goal
18
Arsene Wenger reacts after seeing his team concede a poor first goalCredit: EPA
 Jurgen Klopp was delighted after Liverpool scored their second goal
18
Jurgen Klopp was delighted after Liverpool scored their second goalCredit: Rex Features

The unsettled Chilean barely got a look-in as Firmino started the rout with his fourth goal in his last four appearances against Arsenal.

He glided the ball home with a stooping header after Xhaka surrendered possession in a dangerous area, and Mane made it 2-0 before half time with a curling shot that gave Petr Cech no chance.

Wenger tried to change things round at half time by replacing Ramsey with Francis Coquelin, and switching to an orthodox back four.

But it did little to stem the attacking flow, and Liverpool deservedly added to their tally when Salah robbed Bellerin and ran the length of the pitch before slipping the ball past Cech.

 Arsenal record signing Alexandre Lacazette was DROPPED by Arsene Wenger
18
Arsenal record signing Alexandre Lacazette was DROPPED by Arsene WengerCredit: Getty Images - Getty
 Lacazette's replacement, Danny Welbeck, missed an excellent early chance
18
Lacazette's replacement, Danny Welbeck, missed an excellent early chanceCredit: Rex Features
 Mo Salah should have had an early goal but was saved at point-blank range from Petr Cech
18
Mo Salah should have had an early goal but was saved at point-blank range from Petr CechCredit: Reuters
 Roberto Firmino was unmarked and scored soon after
18
Roberto Firmino was unmarked and scored soon afterCredit: AFP or licensors
 Sadio Mane scored again after cutting inside Rob Holding and firing into the far corner
18
Sadio Mane scored again after cutting inside Rob Holding and firing into the far cornerCredit: Reuters
 Mane now has three goals in three Premier League matches this season
18
Mane now has three goals in three Premier League matches this seasonCredit: Reuters
 Aaron Ramsey (right) was hauled off at half-time after a terrible performance
18
Aaron Ramsey (right) was hauled off at half-time after a terrible performanceCredit: AFP or licensors
 Mohamed Salah scored the third after all of Arsenal's players were caught upfield from a corner
18
Mohamed Salah scored the third after all of Arsenal's players were caught upfield from a cornerCredit: Reuters
 Arsene Wenger cut a furious figure on the sideline
18
Arsene Wenger cut a furious figure on the sidelineCredit: Reuters
 Alexis Sanchez waves at the Arsenal fans after he was subbed off in the second-half
18
Alexis Sanchez waves at the Arsenal fans after he was subbed off in the second-halfCredit: Reuters
 Liverpool players mob Salah after his breakaway goal
18
Liverpool players mob Salah after his breakaway goalCredit: Reuters
 Daniel Sturridge climbed off the bench to score the fourth goal at Anfield
18
Daniel Sturridge climbed off the bench to score the fourth goal at AnfieldCredit: Reuters
 It was the striker's 99th goal of his career
18
It was the striker's 99th goal of his careerCredit: PA:Press Association

INTERACTIVE STATS - CLICK on the categories to find out how the teams fared

Match Stats

INTERACTIVE LINE-UPS - CLICK on the player's number below to see their stats

MatchDay Live

FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

  • This is the first time Liverpool have won three matches in a row against Arsenal since May 1998 - they won four in a row before that streak ended.
  • Arsenal's struggles on the road continued. The Gunners have not won a game away from home against a team that finished in the top six the previous season in more than TWO YEARS. Their last victory came in January 2015, a 2-0 win at Manchester City, a run that has seen them lose eight and draw five of those matches.
  • Liverpool have proved to be Petr Cech's biggest bogey team. He has now conceded 28 goals against the Reds, more than any other side - Manchester United are second with 26.
  • Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino's stunning form against Arsenal continues. Mane has contributed six goals (four goals, two assists) in his last six starts against the Gunners and Firmino has four goals in five matches against them.
  • It only took three matches for the #WengerOut brigade to return, as angry as ever. Fans on social media were fuming at Wenger's team selection ahead of kick-off and it won't have got any better after such an embarrassing defeat.
  • Mohamed Salah now has as many goals for Liverpool, three, in four matches for the club as he got for Chelsea. Salah was on the books at the Blues for 29 months, although he spent more time out on loan than he did in West London.
  • Daniel Sturridge climbed off the bench to score his 99th career goal.
  • Such a humiliating defeat should be enough to spark Wenger into the kind of spending spree he went on after the Gunners were smashed 8-2 at Old Trafford in 2011. Trouble is, the transfer window closes at 11pm on Thursday night.
  • Wenger again started with the 3-4-3 formation that served the team well at the end of last season and helped the Gunners win the FA Cup. But Arsenal do not have the players to pull it off. Laurent Koscielny is a very good centre-back but not a commanding one. Hector Bellerin is not a left wing-back. Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka offer ZERO protection to their defenders. Mesut Ozil's complete lack of interest in working back means the Gunners are always light on one flank. Danny Welbeck can't hold the ball up... it didn't work at all.

WHAT THEY SAID

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson: "I thought we did very well. I always thought we were pretty solid, we defended well as a team, put them in areas we wanted them to be. And we devestated on the break.

"I felt as though we controlled the game everywhere really, delighted with the lads, they were brilliant, we worked ever so hard and got our just rewards."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: "I would say, of course, it was shocking. Our performance was absolutely disastrous.

"If you [can] find a manager who is happy after a performance like that - I wish you good luck."

SOCIAL SAYS

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

Liverpool: Karius 6, Gomez 8, Lovren 6, Matip 7, Moreno 7, Henderson 7, Can 8, Wijnaldum 8, Salah 9, Mane 7 (Sturridge 74, 7), Firmino 8 (Milner 80, 6).

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

Goals: Firmino, Mane, Salah, Sturridge

Booked: Gomez, Lovren.

Arsenal: Cech 7, Holding 5, Koscielny 6, Monreal 5, Bellerin 4, Ramsey 6 (Coquelin 45, 5), Xhaka 5, Oxlade-Chamberlain 6 (Lacazette 62, 6), Ozil 5, Sanchez 6 (Giroud 62, 6), Welbeck 6.

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

Booked: Welbeckl, Ozil, Xhaka, Holding.

Star man: Mo Salah


Keep up-to-date with all the latest transfer news and gossip in our live blog


Topics