Liverpool moved to within one point of Premier League leaders Manchester City as they emerged impressive winners after a tough examination at Arsenal.
The Gunners, well in the fight to finish in the top four, pushed Liverpool hard until Jurgen Klopp’s quadruple-chasing side ruthlessly took control after the break.
Liverpool keeper Alisson saved crucially from Martin Odegaard after Thiago’s misplaced backpass before Diogo Jota put Liverpool ahead, beating Aaron Ramsdale at his near post in the 54th minute.
Jota and Luis Diaz were immediately replaced by Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino, the latter doubling Liverpool’s advantage just after the hour mark with a perfect flick from Andrew Robertson’s cross.
Liverpool have now reeled off nine Premier League wins in succession while Arsenal remain in fourth, a point ahead of Manchester United but with two games in hand.
Liverpool move through the gears
Once Jota made the breakthrough for the visitors there was no way back for the Gunners, but before then the Reds were indebted to Alisson’s significant contribution when he made that block from Odegaard.
To that point Arsenal were in confident mood, playing fearlessly, but they were again undone by Jota – the scourge of Mikel Arteta’s team in the Carabao Cup semi-final in January – although the Portuguese was helped by Ramsdale’s weak effort to save his near-post shot.
Klopp’s Midas touch worked again when he removed Jota and substitute Firmino showed his silky touch to slide a near post flick past Ramsdale.
Arsenal were deflated and Liverpool moved even closer to Manchester City, who were held to a draw here in the capital by Crystal Palace on Monday.
The advantage still lies with Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions – but the margin is slender and this was another potentially difficult hurdle to overcome by Liverpool.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 32Ramsdale
- 17Cedric Soares
- 4White
- 6Gabriel
- 3Tierney
- 5party
- 3. 4Xhaka
- 7sakaSubstituted forpepeat 74′minutes
- 8ØdegaardSubstituted forSmith Roweat 67′minutes
- 35Martinelli
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forNketiahat 80′minutes
substitutes
- 1Log
- 10Smith Rowe
- 16Holding company
- 19pepe
- twentyTavares
- 23Sambi Lokonga
- 25Elneny
- 30Nketiah
- 69swanson
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Allison
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 32Matip
- 4van Dijk
- 26Robertson
- 14Henderson
- 3fabinho
- 6Thiago AlcantaraSubstituted forjonesat 90′minutes
- 10Mane
- twentyJotSubstituted forfirminoat 56′minutesBooked at 63mins
- 23DiazSubstituted forSalahat 56′minutes
substitutes
- 5Konate
- 8Keita
- 9firmino
- elevenSalah
- 12Gomez
- fifteenOxlade-Chamberlain
- 17jones
- 18Minamino
- 62Kelleher
- Referee:
- Andrew Marriner
- attendance:
- 59,968
LiveText
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Match ends, Arsenal 0, Liverpool 2.
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Second half ends, Arsenal 0, Liverpool 2.
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Substitution, Liverpool. Curtis Jones replaces Thiago.
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Sadio Mané (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Benjamin White (Arsenal).
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Attempt missed. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Granit Xhaka.
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Foul by Sadio Mané (Liverpool).
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Cédric Soares (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution Arsenal. Eddie Nketiah replaces Alexandre Lacazette.
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Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Thiago.
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Offside, Arsenal. Kieran Tierney tries a through ball, but Gabriel Martinelli is caught offside.
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Corner, Liverpool. Granted by Gabriel Martinelli.
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Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).
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Offside, Arsenal. Cédric Soares tries a through ball, but Nicolas Pépé is caught offside.
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Substitution Arsenal. Nicolas Pépé replaces Bukayo Saka.
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Hand ball by Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
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Foul by Fabinho (Liverpool).
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Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Roberto Firmino (Liverpool).
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Reference-www.bbc.co.uk