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Liverpool produced their greatest display of the campaign to
pulverise Barclays Premier League leaders Arsenal 5-1 with a ferocious
attacking performance at Anfield on Saturday.
Brendan Rodgers' dream vision for his team - a combination of pace,
power, pressing and unerring finishing - became reality to reduce the
gap to the summit and extend the Reds' advantage in the battle for
Champions League qualification.
Martin Skrtel burst open the floodgates with a double inside 10
minutes, Raheem Sterling slotted home for a third and Daniel Sturridge
completed an outrageous session of play to hand the hosts a 4-0
half-time lead.
Sterling increased that advantage even further with his second of the
afternoon at the outset of the second half, with Mikel Arteta providing
a consolation for the Gunners midway through the period from the
penalty spot.
When teams were announced before kick-off, Rodgers named an unchanged
line-up for the third consecutive fixture - with exactly the same
starting XI and substitutes as against Everton and West Bromwich Albion.
Liverpool wasted no time whatsoever in setting about their task for
the day and registered on the scoresheet with a minute played; Luis
Suarez won a free-kick on the left channel, Steven Gerrard provided a
sublime delivery and Skrtel prodded in from close range.
In scenes reminiscent of the recent Merseyside derby, the Reds' tempo
was scarcely believable, and Wojciech Szczesny was forced into a
reaction save low to his left when Sturridge skipped inside and
unleashed a rocket to the near post.
The Slovakian goalscorer was needed at the other end on seven
minutes, mopping up following an unfortunate incident which saw Simon
Mignolet's parry away from danger bounce off the onrushing Nacho Monreal
and on a path to the net.
Back came the hosts, with Szczesny taking his turn to keep an
opponent at bay by thwarting Jon Flanagan - but from the subsequent
corner, Gerrard planted a set-piece onto Skrtel's head and the
centre-half looped perfectly home.
Rodgers has described his team as 'relentless' on several occasions
this season and they truly were here; Sturridge narrowly dinked wide
from a Suarez assist and the No.7 then crashed a sensational volley from
25 yards onto the post.
Neither the woodwork nor Arsenal could do anything to prevent
Sterling from providing a third for a buoyant Liverpool, however, with
the winger tapping home easily at the back post from Suarez's accurate
drive across the area to conclude a rapid counter-attack.
Were the Reds content? Not a chance - Philippe Coutinho dissected the
Gunners' backline with a trademark through ball, Sturridge took control
and, in the blink of an eye, the ball was nestling beyond Szczesny for a
fourth time.
Finally, the match settled and the home side swapped goals for
possession during what remained of the opening period, although Suarez
delivered a further warning shot in the closing seconds with a whistling
left-footer from distance that carried wide.
While the fledgling moments of the second half could not quite match
those of the first, the supporters in L4 only had to wait a mere seven
minutes to celebrate yet another strike - this time in front of the Kop.
Sterling zipped in behind the Arsenal defence along the left channel
and, afforded the freedom of the penalty area, converted underneath
Szczesny after his initial hit had been blocked by the Polish 'keeper
for his second effort of the match.
Forced to find a response, the visitors worked Mignolet when Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain moved forward centrally and blasted a daisy-cutter;
Arsene Wenger then made a triple substitution, with Kieran Gibbs, Lukas
Podolski and Tomas Rosicky entering the action.
The Reds' Belgian stopper handled a dipping curler from Jack Wilshere
shortly after the hour mark, prompting Suarez - keen to join the
goalscorers - to hurl a free-kick towards the top corner from the right
which Szczesny just about clawed away.
Jordan Henderson perhaps should have had a sixth having been released
courtesy of another Coutinho masterclass, before Arsenal struck back
with around 20 minutes remaining on the clock.
Gerrard was penalised for a challenge on Oxlade-Chamberlain as the
Gunners attacker darted for goal, allowing Arteta to step up and gently
clip the spot-kick past Mignolet, marginally reducing the arrears.
The Liverpool No.22 refused to be beaten moments later, though,
scrambling to his left to palm away a powerful set-piece by the former
Everton midfielder; his opposite number then handled smartly from a
Coutinho drive.
Sterling was denied a hat-trick by the leg of Szczesny and substitute
Jordon Ibe whipped an effort over, but enough damage had been achieved
long previously and the referee prompted Red celebrations by blowing the
final whistle.
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Liverpool vs Arsenal Picture
Liverpool vs Arsenal Picture
Liverpool vs Arsenal Picture
Liverpool vs Arsenal Picture
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Liverpool vs Arsenal Picture
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