Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool continued their spectacular title challenge tonight with a stunning five-star show at home to Arsenal.
After the Gunners had taken an early lead, the Reds roared back, hitting four before the break as Roberto Firmino scored a hat-trick. No team has ever led the Premier League by six points at the half-way stage without lifting the trophy in May. Certainly the end-of-year Premier League 2018 betting offers backed that up by installing Jurgen Klopp’s Reds as clear favourites.
And the pick of Saturday’s Premier League 2018 results, a shock 1-3 home defeat for Spurs, at the hands of Wolves meant Liverpool could stretch their lead to nine points with a win. Which they did…and how!
SBOBET football fans know a good side when they see one, and this Liverpool are some team!
Highlights of the game
It wasn’t really in the script of the game for Liverpool to go behind, but they did as early as the 11th minute. After starting the match brightly, the Reds were given a warning on ten minutes when Fabinho lost possession in midfield and Alisson had to save at his near post after a determined run from Alex Iwobi. But they didn’t learn, and in nipped Iwobi again when Dejan Lovren’s pass fell short. This time, he put in a killer cross for Ainsley Maitland-Niles who slammed the ball home.
But what a response from the league leaders who were, remarkably, ahead within five minutes with a rapid-fire brace from Firmino. There was a huge slice of luck in the equaliser as Granit Xhaka tackled Mo Salah. And when the loose ball bounced to Stephan Lichsteiner, his clearance hit Sokratis and fell for Firmino to score with the goal gaping. There was no luck in the Brazilian’s second, though, as he evaded two defenders before firing low into the bottom corner. The score was 2-1 after 16 minutes!
The Gunners settled well after this double shock and tried to play their way back into the game, but Sadio Mane made their task doubly difficult just after the half-hour. After Arsenal had cleared from a corner, Andy Robertson launched the ball back into the box where an unmarked Mo Salah squared for Mane to fire home.
It wasn’t the best defending, but the home fans couldn’t care less as they raised the roof.
Before the game, Unai Emery said Liverpool could become the next Invincibles and go unbeaten through a whole season, and the hosts were playing like they fully agreed with him. The Reds hit Newcastle for four on Boxing Day, but it only took them half a game to match that feat against Arsenal. Salah was too quick for Sokratis, and the big defender tripped him to give the referee an easy decision and point to the spot.
Salah smashed the spot-kick right down the middle of the goal, and Arsenal were blown away by the break.
Emery surely sent his team out for the second half with a message to limit the damage, and Bernd Leno was alert to an early danger when Salah was clean through, diving at his feet to smother the attempt. Fabinho tested the Arsenal keeper at his near post, but the Anfield faithful didn’t have to wait long for goal number five and Firmino’s hat-trick. Lovren collapsed under pressure from Sead Kolasinac and the ref gave his second penalty which was gleefully accepted by Firmino as he slid the ball home.
And that was that.
So Liverpool are, for now, nine points clear at the top, and crucially ten ahead of Manchester City.
Key Statistics
The Gunners’ surprise opener was the first time since December 2017 that Liverpool had gone behind in the Premier League at Anfield.
But the lead lasted just three minutes before Roberto Firmino slotted home his first league goal at Anfield this season, quickly followed by a second and third.
While Liverpool remain unbeaten, Arsenal can console themselves with the thought they are one of only three teams to take a point off the Reds this season.
What’s next?
2018 could hardly have gone any better for Liverpool, but they have a massive week ahead as Jurgen Klopp’s runaway leaders enter 2019. On 3rd January, they visit the Etihad where Manchester City will give them the sternest test of the season; that could reduce their lead to as little as four points. Then things would look different.
The Gunners have a great chance to bounce back on New Year’s Day when relegation-threatened Fulham visit the Emirates; that’s if they have recovered, of course!
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