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Liverpool and Arsenal, two of the grand old clubs of English football, gave the masses another spectacle amongst the many they've provided over the years. This game ranks in its excitement factor with the 3-3 of 15/16, 4-0 of 17/18, and 5-1 of 13/14.
Liverpool was strong favorites going into this game, though Arsenal took the lead through the youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles. He found space at the far post, following from some good work by Aubameyang, Lacazette, and Kolasinac on the left.
However, Arsenal conceded quickly, due to another defensive calamity. Roberto Firmino, the Brazilian international, scored to make it 1-0. He added a second as he ran through the Arsenal defense to score.
A third came soon after this as Salah and Mane combined for the latter to slot in at the far post. Mohammed Salah got a fourth from the penalty spot before half-time.
Firmino converted a penalty to complete his hat-trick and it was a repeat of the 2013/14 scoreline. For Liverpool, this means that the club is in prime position to win their first league title since 1990.
Here are the key talking points.
#1 Liverpool looked primed to win the league
The Reds under Klopp have progressed a lot since he assumed his role in 2015. He has overseen them take up Champions League football, reach the Champions League final, and now be several points on top of the league.
Most have long acknowledged his managerial quality, and he certainly brings energy, passion, and character to the club and league overall.
But this team, holistically, is the best in Liverpool's PL history. And whilst they haven’t won the league in its current incarnation/branding, they have had good sides in the period. This side, however, is very strong in all departments, and they have surpassed Manchester City this season in terms of their league form.
Is this their year? It well could be. They are still unbeaten and the game against Man City is critical. Klopp could be the most hailed Liverpool manager since Benitez, Houllier, and arguably Sir "King" Kenny Dalglish himself.
#2 Liverpool's strike force wins the day
If Liverpool is to win the league, then Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino have to keep firing on all cylinders. They are the best attacking force in the league and possibly in the world right now.
Liverpool's deadly trio got on the scoresheet once again. Firmino's form had been a worry for Klopp as the Brazilian failed to hit the heights of last season. However, he destroyed Arsenal on Saturday with a stunning hat-trick.
Mo Salah is back amongst goal in the recent weeks and Mane is keeping the good form going. Also, Shaqiri is proving to be the signing of the summer. Though he failed to find the back of the net against Arsenal, he has scored some crucial goals for Liverpool this season.
#3 A Gunners' reality check
Unai Emery is feeling the heat
Arsenal currently is in fifth place, behind Chelsea and ahead of Manchester United. Chelsea secured a win over London neighbors Crystal Palace and Manchester United was dominant in their win over Bournemouth. This leaves Arsenal’s top four hopes in a precarious condition.
After the 22-game unbeaten run, Arsenal's form has dipped in recent weeks and the defeat against Liverpool has put a serious dent in their top-four hopes. There were numerous games in the unbeaten run where the Gunners were lucky to not get punished by their lack of defensive awareness. A notable example of this is their 2-0 home win over Everton.
The next few months will define Emery's Arsenal reign and if he fails to make at least a fight for the top-four finish, his Arsenal career could very well be over soon.
#4 Arsenal's persistent defensive lapses
Arsenal has scored a lot of goals this season. But, their goal difference is exceedingly weak, compared to the other top six teams this season.
To be fair to Unai Emery, they are in a defensive crisis because of injuries to key payers, but that cannot be an excuse on the long run. The Gunners have conceded 30 goals in the Premier League so far this season, which is far more than what Wolves, Leicester City, and Crytal Palace have conceded. Only one team in the top 10 (current PL standings) has conceded more goals than Arsenal.
It’s not the end of the world – but in the Arsenal world, it shows how far the club needs to go in order to win their first league since 2004. Emery, as a manager renowned for his meticulousness, needs to devise means to solve it, or the season may end up as uneventful as the last term.
