Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal: 5 Talking Points, Premier League 2018-19

Liverpool brushed aside Arsenal on Saturday evening to solidify their position at the pinnacle of the table. The Reds capitalised on some loose defending by the Gunners to put five past a hapless Bernd Leno.

Liverpool started the game at a blistering pace yet found themselves trailing after Maitland-Niles ghosted past Robertson to turn in Iwobi’s cross. However, they weren’t chasing the game for long as Firmino’s double strike quickly propelled them into a position of ascendancy.

In the 32nd minute, Mane double the home side’s advantage when he clinically slotted past Leno. The action wasn’t to stop though as the Reds were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half time.

Salah coolly stepped up and smashed the ball down the middle to kill the game as a contest.

The second half was comparatively less exhilarating with the Reds easing off. However, some daft defending from Kolasinac handed Liverpool a chance to add some gloss to the score-line.

Firmino scored Liverpool’s second penalty of the game to complete his hat-trick and pile the misery on Arsenal.

The drubbing means that Arsenal are without an away win in four league games while the gap between them and Chelsea could extend up to four points by the end of tomorrow.

Here is a look at five talking points from the game:

#5 Liverpool’s explosion vs Arsenal’s implosion

Arsenal were in absolute shambles at the back

By the time Michael Oliver blew the final whistle at Anfield, Liverpool had already made the net bulge on five occasions. Yet, the home side never really displayed the invention they are capable of and that was mainly because they simply didn’t need to. Time and again, Arsenal presented them with chances on a golden plate.

The Gunners shot themselves in the foot on several occasions with their dubious defending contriving to concede two penalties to an already free-scoring Liverpool side. Additionally, the first goal was very scrappy with Lichtsteiner clattering the ball into Mustafi, only for it to fall for Firmino.

The third goal wasn’t any better as the aforementioned Arsenal duo was again caught ball-watching and allowed Salah to breeze past and set up Mane.

Yet, the visitors’ biggest embarrassment would’ve been the way Firmino made them look like a bunch of schoolboys in the lead up to his second goal.

Arsenal has suffered a spate of injuries recently and thus their inability to keep things tight could’ve been excused. However, on Saturday evening, they scaled new depths defensively and dug their own grave on more than a solitary occasion.

With the Gunners’ defensive frailties rearing its ugly head again, Emery has some serious questions to ponder upon.

As things stand now, Arsenal’s defence just doesn’t look capable enough of powering them to the top four. They are in dire need of reinforcements and even though there are rarely any top quality players up for grabs in January, Emery needs to identify the right personnel and bring them on board.

Arsenal’s boat has begun rocking yet again and at Anfield, they showed that they are very much a work in progress side.

The Gunners are enduring a sticky patch currently but with time running out, they need to break free soon or else they run the risk of sinking deeper into the quicksand.

#4 Torreira has a rare bad day at the office

Arsenal travelled to Liverpool’s fortress knowing that they were short-handed defensively. Hence, the onus fell on Arsenal’s midfielders and in particular, Lucas Torreira, to shield the goal from Liverpool's irresistible attacking force. However, the Uruguayan failed to do so and the Gunners found themselves on the wrong end of a pasting.

A lot of the Gunners’ successes this season have been built upon Torreira’s tenacity and drive in the middle of the park. The diminutive midfielder has been a bundle of energy which has led to Arsenal dominating games in the middle of the park.

A trip down memory lane would tell us that the last time these sides met, Torreira was absolutely immense and thus, Liverpool failed to bulldoze their way through midfield. However, at Anfield, players regularly whizzed past the Uruguayan with Firmino giving him a torrid time.

Torreira is a top-notch player and has displayed his qualities on numerous occasions this season. Thus, one can expect him to be back to his best once 2019 rolls in. Though it would be a little far-fetched to brand Arsenal a one-man time, it surely can’t be a coincidence that they fold like a pack of cards when Torreira is not on song.

For all of Torreira’s qualities, he might just have made the Gunners over-reliant on him. And if Arsenal harbour any hopes of making the top four, it is imperative that they cope better when Torreira is off the mark.

#3 Liverpool’s famed front three turn on the style

The 2018-19 season was a slow burner at the outset for Liverpool’s front three. However, over the course of the past few months, the terrific trio has promptly clicked into gear and is a raging fire that teams are finding hard to extinguish.

On Saturday evening, the triumvirate of Salah, Mane and Firmino was irresistible at times with the Brazilian taking home the match-ball, courtesy his hat-trick. Salah, too, looked bright and was up to his usual standards as his movement and link-up play caused the Arsenal rear-guard problems. Additionally, he took his tally for the season to 13 goals after he hammered home a penalty.

Mane, meanwhile, was sharp throughout and drove the ball forward with purpose. While it is debatable if he should’ve stayed on the pitch at all after his antics on Lichtsteiner, he certainly let his football do the talking when push came to shove later.

Though the trio has found goal-scoring support from unexpected quarters this term, they still remain Liverpool’s most potent attacking weapons. A combined tally of 28 goals and 11 assists driving the point home.

Fortunately for Liverpool though, their famed front three ended 2018 the way they started it: by scoring goals and wreaking havoc.

#2 Liverpool spotless through December

Liverpool are now 9 points clear at the top

On 29th November, 2018, Liverpool lost 2-1 away to Paris Saint-Germain to put their chances of qualification to the Champions League knock-out stage in jeopardy. However, since then, the Reds haven’t tasted defeat even once.

The month of December knocks the stuffing out of the best of teams yet Liverpool emerged from the rubble with their arms aloft in victory each time. An impressive victory against Napoli was followed by an equally commanding display against Manchester United. Yet, they managed to take it up a notch in their last performance of the year.

The Reds’ high energy choked the Gunners into submission at Anfield which led to the latter making elementary errors. Moreover, they displayed exemplary composure to bury the host of chances that came their way.

Arsenal went ahead on Saturday evening through Maitland-Niles. However, the goal ended up stirring the hornet’s nest rather than putting Liverpool under the cosh.

Klopp’s troops have shown immense determination and grit to grind out victories this term. For a majority of the season, they have looked to be in second gear and yet find themselves 9 points clear at the top.

After all, champions are meant to pick up points when not at their best and completely waltz past opponents when they are. And that is exactly what Liverpool have been doing.

I don’t want to sound too optimistic too early yet a certain four-word (or five) phrase starting with ‘this’ and ending with ‘year’ is ringing louder than it has ever done in the 21st century.

#1 Emery’s honeymoon period is over

Unai Emery arrived in the summer and instantly brought back the feel-good factor at Arsenal. A vibrant figure on the touchline, the fans took the Spaniard to their heart through the passion displayed by the latter.

Emery didn’t endure the best of starts and found himself without a point after his opening couple of fixtures. However, he turned it around in a jiffy and embarked on an astounding 22 game unbeaten run which was brought to a grinding halt at Southampton.

Since the defeat, Arsenal have also been dumped out of the Carabao Cup by their eternal rivals, Tottenham while they followed up a timid performance at the Amex on Boxing Day with an equally toothless performance at Anfield.

At this juncture, the Gunners find themselves a point off Chelsea despite having played a game more. Everyone knew that Arsenal would undergo a transition through 2018-19 but the Gooners are a notoriously impatient bunch and if Emery can’t turn things around, a clamour for his head may not be too far away.

In his previous stints in France and Spain, the Spaniard was afforded the luxury of heading home for Christmas. Yet, in England, he is running the risk of undoing his good work through the festive period.

A period of strife lies ahead for Emery and if things don’t go to plan, he could find himself under the microscope quicker than he can blink. However, Emery has brought in a breath of fresh air and is still the right man to take Arsenal forward. Provided with the adequate support, the Spaniard can indeed write himself into Arsenal folklore.

Yet, the road which seemed all sunshine and rainbows till a month back now has a grey cloud hovering over it.

Edited by Raunak J