Liverpool vs Arsenal live: Reds record emphatic 3-1 victory as Gunners suffer yet another decisive setback
Follow the latest from the Premier League clash at Anfield
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool overtook Arsenal to jump into third place in the Premier League table after recording an emphatic 3-1 victory over Arsene Wenger's side, with the biggest talking point being his decision to leave Alexis Sanchez out of the starting line-up only to go 2-0 down before half-time. Re-live the action here.
- Liverpool beat Arsenal 3-1
- Reds take the lead through ninth-minute strike from Roberto Firmino
- Sadio Mane doubles the advantage midway through the first half
- Wenger sent Sanchez on at half-time to try and claw back the match
- Sanchez set-up Danny Welbeck to score shortly after
- Georginio Wijnaldum completes scoring with counter-attack in final minute
- Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Klavan, Matip, Milner, Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Coutinho, Mane, Firmino.
- Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal, Xhaka, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi, Welbeck, Giroud.
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Preview...
Liverpool will hope to bounce back from defeat when they host Arsenal at Anfield on Saturday night.
Jurgen Klopp's side were abysmal in Monday's reverse at struggling Leicester City, but they have only tended to struggle when against Premier League's lesser lights.
The last time Arsenal were in action, Wayne Shaw was still Sutton United's reserve goalkeeper. It's been almost a fortnight without a competitive fixture for Arsène Wenger's men.
What time is kick-off?
The match will kick off at 5.30pm on Saturday 4 March at Anfield.
Where can I watch it?
It will be shown live on BT Sport 1, with coverage starting at 5.00pm.
It’s a big game for…
Jurgen Klopp: The German admitted after Liverpool's defeat by Leicester that matters are “getting more serious now”, arguing that his own future could be on the line should his side’s poor run of form continue. Klopp knows how whimsical football can be and as the Reds continue to dwell outside of the top four, the spotlight has subsequently turned to him.
Still, Liverpool’s form against the league’s top teams bodes well (they’re currently unbeaten against their top-six rivals) and if Klopp’s men can brush aside Arsenal on Saturday, victory will bring some much-needed relief to Anfield following a difficult couple of weeks for the club.
Remember when…
The Gunners were humiliated 5-1 at Anfield in 2014? Goals from Martin Skrtel, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge fired the home side to an impressive victory against a lifeless-looking Arsenal side.
Player to watch…
Philippe Coutinho: The Brazilian was perhaps Liverpool’s only consistent attacking threat in the side’s 3-1 defeat on Monday night. His goal was not enough to provoke a fight back from the visitors but it showcased his ability to create something out of a seemingly lost cause. Should Liverpool find themselves with their backs against the wall on Saturday, Coutinho could be the man who Anfield subsequently turns to.
Past three meetings…
Arsenal 3 Liverpool 4
Premier League, August 2016
Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3
Premier League, January 2016
Arsenal 0 Liverpool 0
Premier League, August 2015
Predicted line-ups…
Liverpool: Mignolet; Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner; Lallana, Can; Wijnaldum, Mane, Firmino, Coutinho.
Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Gibbs; Ramsey, Xhaka; Walcott, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Sanchez.
Form guide…
Liverpool: LWLDLL
Arsenal: WLWLLW
Odds…
Odds provided by 888.com
Liverpool to win: 28/25
Arsenal to win: 13/5
Draw: 49/20
21 MINS
Oxlade-Chamberlain performs a sequence of step-overs and delivers a delicate ball in towards Giroud at the back post. Mignolet charges out of goal and knocks it out for a corner kick.
24 MINS
Firmino bursts through on goal following a clever ball through Mane, but to the relief of the Arsenals fans - the offside flag is raised. That would have been a certain goal.
27 MINS
Sanchez begins to warm up on the sideline after Giroud makes it obvious that he is carrying a knock. It's an encouraging sight for The Gunners fans.
29 MINS
Coutinho goes for goal with a tremendous left-footed strike from the edge of the box, but Cech leaps and parries the shot to safety. Corner kick to the home side.
32 MINS
Mane charges up the field and pulls the ball back to Coutinho inside of the area, but his attempted shot is blocked. Liverpool look lethal on the break.
35 MINS
Firmino feeds Coutinho, who charges forward with the ball and goes to ground after a tackle from Coquelin. The Liverpool man went down way too easily and the referee signals play on.
38 MINS
Liverpool are dominating the midfield battle and that is what's winning them the game at the moment. The Gunners look lost and are failing to supply any kind of service to Giroud.
40 MINS
GOAL
LIVERPOOL 2 - 0 ARSENAL
Mane has doubled Liverpool's tally, with a powerful strike from inside of the area following some tremendous team football. The attack begins down the left and Firmino sends the ball across to Mane, who buries it into the corner of the net with a right-footed thunderbolt.
They deserve their lead right now, with Arsenal looking lacklustre and undetermined.
What can Wenger do now? Game on!