Diogo Jota scored three goals in two games during the international break and has now 14 club goals this season
Liverpool firmly returned to the battle for a top 4 spot in the Premier League when they left evil Arsenal behind at the Emirates Stadium.
Chelsea’s shock hit West Brom at home Liverpool opened the door earlier in the day – and Jürgen Klopp’s men stormed straight through the door with a win that leaves them in fifth place, just two points behind Thomas Tuchel’s side.
The only surprise was that it took the dominant Liverpool so long to count their superiority.
After 64 minutes they finally achieved the breakthrough they deserved when Diogo Jota led Trent Alexander-Arnold’s brilliant performance past Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno three minutes after joining Andy Robertson.
It was not only the decisive moment of the competition, but also a timely reminder of the quality that Alexander-Arnold possesses at a time when the English coach Gareth Southgate believes he can do without him, even though Euro 2020 is on the horizon .
Liverpool doubled their lead four minutes later when Mohamed Salah took advantage of Arsenal’s Gabriel’s poor defense and then slid a cool finish through Leno’s legs.
Jota benefited from more of Alexander-Arnold’s good work when he slammed home his second goal from close range eight minutes before the end – by then the game had already become a formality.
Alexander-Arnold makes his point
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp praises Trent Alexander-Arnold after Arsenal win
The exclusion of Alexander-Arnold by English coach Southgate for the inaugural World Cup qualification shocked Klopp – and the defender’s performance in north London showed why.
Southgate currently prefers Kyle Walker from Manchester City and Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid. Alexander-Arnold has to improve his club form in order to be accepted in a season relatively indifferent for the Premier League champions.
Klopp is clearly pleased with Alexander-Arnold, however, and that comes as no surprise as he showed the threat he posed when Liverpool overpowered Arsenal.
He showed his first-class performance for Jota opener and then demonstrated his energy and awareness to steal possession back up ahead of the prolific Portuguese striker’s second goal.
It was a display that responded perfectly to Southgate’s decision, indicating that if Alexander-Arnold is in serious danger of missing out on Euro 2020, England on the right must have some serious quality.
Liverpool and Klopp had an extremely satisfying night all round. Brazilian Fabinho gave a masterclass in the midfield anchor role, demonstrating what he missed when stepping up in central defense for injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.
Klopp’s side may be in a miserable streak of six straight home defeats, but their away form supports them and those comfortable three points on the back of the previous win at Wolves, gives them real hope of qualifying for the Champions League.
With a first leg in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Real Madrid on Tuesday, Liverpool suddenly look like a team with a new goal and new momentum.
The lackluster arsenal gets what they deserve
Diogo Jota has scored four Premier League goals against Arsenal – more than any other team in the competition
The only positive thing about this Arsenal performance was the fact that Liverpool stayed out for 64 minutes – although this was due more to the Premier League champions ‘lack of excellence than the Gunners’ particularly good work.
The hosts were terrible and were lucky enough not to be beaten much harder. That was lousy Arsenal stuff.
The only job Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson had to do all night with his flamboyant new mustache was a direct shot from substitute Cedric Soares in the second half.
Yes, Arsenal lost influential left-back Kieran Tierney at halftime but that was no excuse for the performance of Mikel Arteta’s side. They offered no attack in attack, no fight in midfield and were ultimately overwhelmed in defense.
Arsenal saved themselves by coming down from three goals to deserve a point in theirs last league game at West Ham But there was never the slightest hope of a comeback against Liverpool.
They’re in ninth place, four points behind Everton after playing two more games, and a lot now rests on their Europa League quarter-finals against Slavia Prague.
You have to produce much better than here. Their night is summed up by the anonymous performance of lead striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who spent much of his game as a left-back before being substituted off.
“I take the blame, it is my responsibility” – what they said
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he remained “in shock” after losing 3-0 to Liverpool
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: “They were better in every department. I’ll take the blame, it’s my responsibility. They were the best team by far. They won by three goals and it could have been more.”
“They’ve won every duel, every second ball, every challenge. To be fair, I’m shocked. I didn’t expect it. It’s my job to make things better. Today we hit a really low level. It. It.” was. ” unacceptable.
“Of course we cannot reach that level again. If you represent this club, you have to stand up and accept the challenge.”
Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp: “As a package it was a good performance. We ended our situation. Arsenal weren’t really in the game for the whole 95 minutes. That was up to us.
“We had to keep going and keeping the momentum. I wasn’t frustrated at halftime. We had to work hard and if you do that you have a good chance of winning.
“When people talk wrong about you, you want to react. It was a sensational flank from Trent for them [first] Gate.”
Red wines stay in good shape on the streets – the statistics
- Each of the last six Premier League wins in Liverpool has been away from home. This was only the second time in their league history that they had such a run. Each of her six victories between February and August 1955 came on the streets.
- Mohamed Salah was directly involved in nine goals in nine Premier League games against Arsenal, scoring seven goals and assisting two more.
- Liverpool recorded their biggest lead in an away game against Arsenal.
- Premier League games between Arsenal and Liverpool have now scored 169 goals, more than any other game in the history of the competition.
- Arsenal have only won one win in their last 12 Premier League games against Liverpool (D4 L7).
- This was Mikel Arteta’s 50th Premier League game for Arsenal (W21 D12 L17). The Spaniard lost four more games than his predecessor Unai Emery during this period.
What’s next?
Liverpool will play the away game of the Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid on Tuesday (8:00 p.m. CET) before Aston Villa visit the Premier League next Saturday (3:00 p.m.).
The home game of the Europa League against Slavia Prague will take place on Thursday (8:00 p.m.). After that, they visit Sheffield United in the Premier League on Sunday (7:00 p.m.).
Constellations
arsenal
formation 4-2-3-1
1Leno
21Chambers16Hold6thGabriel3rdTierney
18thparty8thCeballos
19thGrandpa11Ødegaard14thAubameyang
9Lacazette
- 1Leno
- 21Chambers
- 16Hold
- 6thGabrielBooked at 90 minutes
- 3rdTierneyReplaced byCédric Soaresat the 45 + 1 ‘protocol
- 18thparty
- 8thCeballosReplaced byElnenyat the 58 ‘protocol
- 19thGrandpa
- 11Ødegaard
- 14thAubameyangReplaced byMartinelliat the 77 ‘protocol
- 9Lacazette
replacement
- 2Bellerin
- 12thWillian
- 17thCédric Soares
- 22ndMarí
- 24Nelson
- 25thElneny
- 30thNketiah
- 33Ryan
- 35Martinelli
Liverpool
formation 4-3-3
1Alisson
66Alexander-Arnold47Phillips19thpumpkin26thRobertson
6thThiago Alcantara3rdFabinho7thMilner
11Not correct9Firmino10mane
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 47Phillips
- 19thpumpkinReplaced byR Williamsat the 84 ‘protocol
- 26thRobertsonReplaced byWhomat the 61 ‘protocolBooked at 73 minutes
- 6thThiago Alcantara
- 3rdFabinho
- 7thMilner
- 11Not correct
- 9FirminoReplaced byWijnaldumat the 78 ‘protocol
- 10mane
replacement
- 5Wijnaldum
- 8thKeita
- 13thAdrian
- 15thOxlade-Chamberlain
- 17thJones
- 20thWhom
- 21Tsimikas
- 23Shaqiri
- 46R Williams
Live text
End of game, Arsenal 0, Liverpool 3.
The second half ends, Arsenal 0, Liverpool 3.
Attempt saved. Sadio Mané (Liverpool) right footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the center of the box by the goalkeeper. Prepared by Mohamed Salah.
Missed attempt. Sadio Mané’s header from the center of the box missed the goal to the left. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold with a cross from a set piece.
Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Diogo Jota (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal).
Away from Liverpool. Diogo Jota attempts a pass, but Sadio Mané is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Thomas Partey (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, arsenal. The corner was caused by Rhys Williams.
Substitution, Liverpool. Rhys Williams replaces Ozan Kabak.
Gate! Arsenal 0, Liverpool 3. Diogo Jota (Liverpool) right footed shot from the center of the box to the center of the goal. Prepared by Sadio Mané.
Attempt saved. Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the center of the goal.
Substitution, Liverpool. Georginio Wijnaldum replaces Roberto Firmino.
Substitution, Arsenal. Gabriel Martinelli replaces Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Diogo Jota (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal).
Foul by Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).
Bernd Leno (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the lower left corner. Assisted by Roberto Firmino with a through pass.
