Liverpool Maul Arsenal To Go Nine Points Clear

By Max Wise  

Liverpool produced a devastating attacking display to come from a goal down to beat Arsenal 5-1 at Anfield on Saturday, going nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

The Reds, in search of their first Premier League title in 28 years, are unbeaten this season as Roberto Firmino's hat-trick took them to 54 points from 20 games.

Arsenal remain 5th on 28 points as they battle for a top-four spot.

Arsenal capitalised on some sloppy play in midfield by Dejan Lovren in the 11th minute, allowing Iwobi to take advantage and fire an inch-perfect cross for the unmarked Maitland-Niles to tap in his first ever Arsenal goal.

Arsenal's goal galvanized Liverpool into life, and the Reds levelled up within three minutes. The visitors' desperate attempt to halt a Liverpool attack ended in vain as the ball deflected kindly on to the path of Roberto Firmino to easily tap home.

Just a minute later, Firmino gave Liverpool the lead, weaving in and out of three Arsenal players before slotting past Bernd Leno in the Arsenal goal to complete an astonishing individual goal.

Arsenal's leggy defence were caught out by a long diagonal ball in the 32nd minute, allowing Salah to smartly lay it off for Sadio Mane to tap into an open goal.

Mohammed Salah scored from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time after being fouled by Sokratis for his 13th Premier League goal of the season.

Liverpool got their second penalty of the day after Kolasinac's apparent shove on Lovren, allowing Firmino to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 65th minute.