Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal: 5 hits and flops as rampant Reds overwhelm hapless Gunners at Anfield | Premier League 2021-22

Liverpool crushed Arsenal 4-0 at Anfield in the Premier League to end The Gunners' eight-game unbeaten league run.

Goals from Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Takumi Minamino brought the rampant Reds back to winning ways after a 3-2 loss to West Ham before the international break. The Gunners, who were eight games unbeaten in the league before this game, failed to cope with Liverpool's pace and intensity.

In fact, things were so heated that managers Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta nearly came to blows on the sideline. That required referee Michael Oliver booking both of them.

The defeat, Arsenal's first in 11 games across competitions, kept them in fifth place with 20 points from 12 games. Meanwhile, Liverpool are now up to second. However, Manchester City can usurp them with a win over Everton on Sunday.

On that note, here's a look the five hits and flops from the game:

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Hit: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)

Sadio Mane scored his seventh goal against Arsenal.

Sadio Mane loves facing Arsenal. With seven goals and four assists in 16 previous games against them, Mane was always likely to score against The Gunners. That duly happened on Saturday.

The irrepressible Senegalese was in inspired form at Anfield, opening the floodgates with Liverpool's first goal of the night. He then assisted Salah for the hosts' third.

Mane was also involved in Minamimo's strike. He squared the ball neatly to Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right, displaying impeccable vision and quick thinking.

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Flop: Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal)

Liverpool handed the Japanese defender a massive reality check.

Takehiro Tomiyasu was twisted inside out by Mane, with one of their clashes sparking a touchline fracas between Klopp and Arteta. Following that managerial face-off, the game intensified. Liverpool upped the tempo and threw the kitchen sink on the hapless visitors.

That really got to Tomiyasu, as he struggled to keep up with the game's pace. The Japanese defender looked dangerous early on, and was also partly at fault for Liverpool's opening goal.

Having started life brightly at Arsenal, Tomiyasu came up against his toughest opposition last night. Suffice to say, he didn't come through with flying colours.

Hit: Diogo Jota (Liverpool)

Diogo Jota scored his fifth league goal of the season

Liverpool's Diogo Jota had a terrific game. He scored a superb individual goal against Arsenal before playing a huge role in The Reds' third of the night with a fabulous header.

Watching him score that goal was like poetry in motion. Jota showed insane ball-control under enormous Arsenal pressure while slaloming through a tight space to fire the ball into the back of the net.

As if that wasn't enough, Jota then proceeded to pull off another incredible piece of individual skill. He played the ball through accurately for Mane with a perfectly-weighted header.

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Flop: Nuno Tavares (Arsenal)

Nuno Tavares had a nightmare against Liverpool.

Aside from two good attacking moments, Nuno Tavares was a disaster at the back for Arsenal. He capped off arguably his worst performance of the season. Tavares' passing was sloppy, and he twice gave away possession, one of which resulted in a Liverpool goal, with Jota capitalising on it.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hounded the young Portuguese like a Terrier, and Tavares simply had no answer.

He was widely hailed for improving Arsenal's defence lately, and also appearing confident in his pre-match talk. However, Tavares was left to eat his own words with an error-strewn performance.

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Hit: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

It was another masterclass from the marauding Liverpool right-back at Anfield.

Last but certainly not the least, a big shout out goes to Trent Alexander-Arnold. He was at his playmaking best once again, making two assists on the night. He demonstrated his set-piece prowess with a wicked free-kick to set up Mane for Liverpool's opener before squaring off Minamino late on to cap off the rout.

In between these moments, the youngster was simply unplayable. He created several chances with his crisp passing and switches of play, while also backing Liverpool' press with his pace and directness.

It marked the third consecutive game Alexander-Arnold has been involved in at least two goals for club and country. He has now made nine assists in his last seven games for club and country.

World-class indeed.