Liverpool take advantage of Arsenal horror show

Liverpool have thrashed Arsenal 4-0 at Anfield.

The Reds put on an attacking masterclass and goals from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge completed the rout.

Arsenal should have been a goal up in the eighth minute when Alexis Sanchez played in Danny Welbeck but the striker’s shot went over.

Liverpool dominated the rest of the first half though and Petr Cech made a wonderful save just three minutes later to keep the game goalless. Emre Can’s ball across the six-yard box fell to Salah to finish from close range but Cech somehow sprawled across to get his body in front of the shot.

Firmino did send Liverpool into the lead in the 17th minute when Joe Gomez’s cross was headed in.

Jordan Henderson then struck over the bar before Salah forced Cech into a decent save.

The Liverpool onslaught continued through to half time and Mane volleyed just wide of the target.

It was Mane who doubled Liverpool’s lead just before half time. Firmino laid the ball off to Mane after a counterattack and the striker cut in before curling the ball into the far right corner.

Salah should have added a third five minutes after the restart when he stole the ball from Nacho Monreal but his shot was straight at Cech.

The wait for a third was not long for Salah though. From an Arsenal corner, the ball dropped to Hector Bellerin 30 yards from goal. Salah nicked the ball off him and, with no defenders back, ran the length of the pitch before placing the ball past Cech.

Olivier Giroud and Alexandre Lacazette combined for a rare Gunners attack but Lacazette shot wide.

That was the best Arsenal could do though, and it was back to script for Liverpool after that. Mane was put through on goal but Cech kept his shot out and Bellerin hacked off the line.

Sturridge added a fourth with 13 minutes remaining. Arsenal were all over the place at the back and Salah’s cross found Sturridge unmarked at the far post for the simplest of headers.

Granit Xhaka sent a long-range shot over the bar and Giroud headed over as Arsenal’s horrible afternoon finally came to an end.

The result sees Arsenal drop to 16th in the Premier League table, with just three points out of nine, while Liverpool rise to second.

Cover Photo: Reds Sky At Night by Ruaraidh Gillies used under license by CC BY-SA 2.0.

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