Liverpool overwhelm Arsenal at Anfield

Consecutive defensive mistakes caused the Gunners to lose their second consecutive Premier League match with a score of 0-4.

Arsenal could not keep up with Liverpool's fast-paced attacking style. Photo: Reuters.

Goals: Firmino 17', Mane 39', Salah 57', Sturridge 77'.

Liverpool stifled a weak Arsenal side at home thanks to the pace of their wingers, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane the main culprits. Three of the home side's four goals came on the counter-attack and a series of chances were created after Arsenal's midfielders and defenders lost possession.

Liverpool’s pre-emptive intent was evident early on and Arsene Wenger seemed to have taken notice, fielding a team packed with defensively capable players. But on a day when Arsenal’s central midfielders Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey were playing poorly, the game slipped out of the visitors’ hands and they began to be drawn into their opponents’ style of play.

Salah had a chance to open the scoring in the 10th minute when his close-range tap-in from Emre Can was saved by Petr Cech. But the home side only had to wait a few more minutes for another close-range finish, this time with a header, to hit the back of the net. Firmino finished unmarked and the pass was passed by Joseph Gomez.

Arsenal lost their second consecutive match and showed signs of instability in their fighting spirit. Photo: Reuters.

Arsenal were forced to search for an equaliser after falling behind. But as the visitors pushed forward, Liverpool's most dangerous weapons were revealed. At the end of the first half, after stealing the ball from Arsenal's attacker, it took Liverpool just three passes to get the ball to the left flank for Mane to accelerate. The Senegalese reached the left corner of Arsenal's penalty area, turned the ball to beat Rob Holding and then curled the ball into the far corner, beating Cech.

Apart from these two goals, Liverpool created many other scoring chances in the first half while Arsenal were just defending. Their play lacked energy, lacked rhythm and they did not have a single shot on target. This improved at the start of the second half when Arsenal players showed more effort. At times, Wenger's students pushed their opponents but Liverpool quickly extinguished that hope.

Also from a counter-attack, this time stemming from Hector Bellerin's mistake in controlling the ball too much, allowing Salah to steal it. The former Chelsea player dribbled the ball from his own field to Petr Cech's goal with the speed of an athlete and easily scored. At this point, Wenger decided to bring Olivier Giroud and Alexandre Lacazette onto the field but it was too late.

Mane and Salah, Liverpool's dangerous wing duo in counter-attacks. Photo: Reuters.

Daniel Sturridge ended a sad day for the Gunners, scoring the decisive goal just a minute after coming on. The England striker took advantage of Salah's cross and headed the ball past Cech from close range.

Before Sturridge scored, many Arsenal fans had left the stands. On the coaching bench, Wenger sat rooted to the spot, shaking his head. On the pitch, before being substituted, Alexis Sanchez sat down, looking helpless after his team conceded the third goal. Mesut Ozil stood there in a daze while his teammates fumbled inexplicably in each phase of ball control.

This defeat has left Arsenal in 16th place in the table. In all three matches of the season, the Gunners have not shown a positive face. In the defeat at Anfield, Arsenal players showed that they are having problems with their fighting spirit. As for Liverpool, three points and four goals have helped them rise to second place in the table, just behind Man Utd.

According to VNE