Liverpool moved to within one point of Premier League leaders Manchester City as they emerged impressive winners after a tough examination at Arsenal.
The Gunners, well in the fight to finish in the top four, pushed Liverpool hard until Jurgen Klopp’s quadruple-chasing side ruthlessly took control after the break.
Liverpool keeper Alisson saved crucially from Martin Odegaard after Thiago’s misplaced backpass before Diogo Jota put Liverpool ahead, beating Aaron Ramsdale at his near post in the 54th minute.
Jota and Luis Diaz were immediately replaced by Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, the latter doubling Liverpool’s advantage just after the hour mark with a perfect flick from Andrew Robertson’s cross.
Liverpool have now reeled off nine Premier League wins in succession while Arsenal remain in fourth, a point ahead of Manchester United but with two games in hand.
Liverpool move through the gears
Once Jota made the breakthrough for the visitors there was no way back for the Gunners, but before then the Reds were indebted to Alisson’s significant contribution when he made that block from Odegaard.
To that point Arsenal were in confident mood, playing fearlessly, but they were again undone by Jota – the scourge of Mikel Arteta’s team in the Carabao Cup semi-final in January – although the Portuguese was helped by Ramsdale’s weak effort to save his near-post shot.
Klopp’s Midas touch worked again when he removed Jota and substitute Firmino showed his silky touch to slide a near-post flick past Ramsdale.
Arsenal were deflated and Liverpool moved even closer to Manchester City, who were held to a draw here in the capital by Crystal Palace on Monday.
The advantage still lies with Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions – but the margin is slender and this was another potentially difficult hurdle overcome by Liverpool.
Arsenal fall short again
Arsenal’s players were applauded off by the home fans at the final whistle in recognition of their efforts, especially the outstanding Gabriel Martinelli, who gave Trent Alexander-Arnold a torrid time.
And they remain in prime position to achieve their remaining goal this season, a place in the top four, but they are still finding it tough to overcome the sides they will eventually want to rival.
Liverpool have now completed the league double over Arsenal, as have Manchester City, while they have also lost at home to Chelsea and away to Manchester United.
The Gunners were in contention for a long time, led by the verve of Martinelli, but ultimately it was Liverpool who had the cutting edge and greater quality.
There is no doubt Arteta’s Arsenal are on an upward curve and this was a far more convincing performance than that League Cup loss, but they still have a long road to travel before the old glories can be contemplated once more.
‘We lost the game in the boxes’
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to BBC MOTD: “From box to box, we did everything that we’d planned. What happened in the boxes was a different story, that’s where we lost the game.
“I think the whole team played fantastically well. I don’t think the result reflects the performance, but in the box they had the decisive moments. They put the ball in the net twice.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to BBC MOTD: “Coming here and winning against Arsenal is already special, but winning the game like it was – more special. We started really well then it became an open game. We wanted to improve in the second half.
“I’m very excited about the team and the situation we are in but that does not change everything. We just need to keep going. We really want to enjoy the situation we are in by winning football matches.”
Player of the match
RobertsonAndrew Robertson
Arsenal
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Squad number35Player nameGabriel MartinelliAverage rating
6.44
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Squad number3Player nameTierneyAverage rating
6.04
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Squad number5Player nameParteyAverage rating
5.55
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Squad number8Player nameØdegaardAverage rating
5.54
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Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating
5.49
-
Squad number4Player nameWhiteAverage rating
5.43
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Squad number9Player nameLacazetteAverage rating
5.36
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Squad number6Player nameGabriel MagalhãesAverage rating
5.28
-
Squad number32Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating
5.25
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Squad number17Player nameCédric SoaresAverage rating
5.17
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Squad number34Player nameXhakaAverage rating
5.17
-
Squad number10Player nameSmith RoweAverage rating
4.87
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Squad number19Player namePépéAverage rating
4.50
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Squad number30Player nameNketiahAverage rating
4.27
Liverpool
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Squad number26Player nameRobertsonAverage rating
7.79
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Squad number9Player nameRoberto FirminoAverage rating
7.73
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Squad number1Player nameAlissonAverage rating
7.45
-
Squad number4Player namevan DijkAverage rating
7.40
-
Squad number32Player nameMatipAverage rating
7.34
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Squad number11Player nameMohamed SalahAverage rating
7.33
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Squad number20Player nameDiogo JotaAverage rating
7.31
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Squad number3Player nameFabinhoAverage rating
7.21
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Squad number6Player nameThiago AlcántaraAverage rating
7.08
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Squad number66Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating
7.07
-
Squad number23Player nameDíazAverage rating
7.06
-
Squad number14Player nameHendersonAverage rating
7.05
-
Squad number10Player nameManéAverage rating
7.02
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Squad number17Player nameJonesAverage rating
6.98
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 32Ramsdale
- 17Cédric Soares
- 4White
- 6Gabriel
- 3Tierney
- 5Partey
- 34Xhaka
- 7SakaSubstituted forPépéat 74′minutes
- 8ØdegaardSubstituted forSmith Roweat 67′minutes
- 35Martinelli
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forNketiahat 80′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Leno
- 10Smith Rowe
- 16Holding
- 19Pépé
- 20Tavares
- 23Sambi Lokonga
- 25Elneny
- 30Nketiah
- 69Swanson
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 32Matip
- 4van Dijk
- 26Robertson
- 14Henderson
- 3Fabinho
- 6Thiago AlcántaraSubstituted forJonesat 90′minutes
- 10Mané
- 20JotaSubstituted forFirminoat 56′minutesBooked at 63mins
- 23DíazSubstituted forSalahat 56′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Konaté
- 8Keïta
- 9Firmino
- 11Salah
- 12Gomez
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 17Jones
- 18Minamino
- 62Kelleher
- Referee:
- Andre Marriner
- Attendance:
- 59,968
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Arsenal 0, Liverpool 2.
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Second Half ends, Arsenal 0, Liverpool 2.
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Substitution, Liverpool. Curtis Jones replaces Thiago.
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Sadio Mané (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Benjamin White (Arsenal).
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Attempt missed. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Granit Xhaka.
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Foul by Sadio Mané (Liverpool).
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Cédric Soares (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, Arsenal. Eddie Nketiah replaces Alexandre Lacazette.
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Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Thiago.
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Offside, Arsenal. Kieran Tierney tries a through ball, but Gabriel Martinelli is caught offside.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Gabriel Martinelli.
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Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).
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Offside, Arsenal. Cédric Soares tries a through ball, but Nicolas Pépé is caught offside.
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Substitution, Arsenal. Nicolas Pépé replaces Bukayo Saka.
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Hand ball by Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
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Foul by Fabinho (Liverpool).
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Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Roberto Firmino (Liverpool).
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