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Former Chelsea and Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is dreaming of a return to Anfield.
According to reports in Spain, the 54-year-old is resolved to leave Napoli at the end of the campaign after just two years in Italy.
The Serie A club were keen to tie Benitez to a long-term contract but it is thought the Spaniard was willing only to extend his current deal by one year.
And Spanish sources suggest Benitez’s ultimate wish is to move back to Liverpool, where he was in charge from 2004-10 and won the Champions League in his first season.
Show all 23 1 /23Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings David Ospina - 6/10 He didn’t have a save to make until the 56th minute. A very comfortable game for a goalkeeper who has took permanent charge in the Arsenal goal in recent months.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Hector Bellerin - 8 Made an excellent incisive run before curling a left-footed effort beyond Mignolet. Defensively he was strong and Moreno didn’t enjoy the Spain right-back’s dangerous runs down the right.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Per Mertesacker - 7 Enjoyed his time against Sterling in the first half, especially when Liverpool went direct with the long ball. Positionally, he looked comfortable.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Laurent Koscielny - 6 Replaced by Gabriel Paulista in the second half after suffering a knock. He was overstretching in the first half but was rarely under pressure.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Nacho Monreal - 6 He found himself under threat by Coutinho who never stopped trying to unlock the Arsenal defence. He did handle the danger of Sturridge well in the second half, though.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Francis Coquelin - 7 A very assured performance by the young defensive midfielder. He proved very effective in tidying up just in front of the Arsenal defence. Allen found things touch against him.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Aaron Ramsey - 7 Replaced by Flamini. Assisted Bellerin and Sanchez for their goals. Replicated the excellent form that he showed on international duty for Wales.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Alexis Sanchez - 8 As dangerous as ever. Scored his 20th Arsenal goal of the season with a superb effort from outside the Liverpool area.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Mesut Ozil - 7 Showed skill throughout the match. Scored with a sumptuous free-kick. He was replaced by Welbeck in the second half.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Santi Cazorla - 7 Tricky and effective. So dangerous going forward but did find himself running into trouble a little too often.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Olivier Giroud - 7 Held the ball up well, provided a calmness to Arsenal's attack, and scored his side's fourth goal.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Simon Mignolet - 4 Should have done better for Arsenal’s first two goals. Too easily beaten down to his right.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Emre Can - 4 Picked up a needless booking early in the second half and was sent off with minutes remaining for a second bookable offence when he took down Welbeck.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Kolo Toure - 5 Looked unfit when faced with the speed of Sanchez.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Mamadou Sakho - 5 Clumsy to bring down Ozil before the German stepped up to score Arsenal’s second. Failed to keep the shape of the Liverpool back three.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Lazar Markovic - 5 Dangerous in the first half but was replaced by Sturridge at half-time as Liverpool went for a more attacking front line.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Lucas - 6 Didn’t control the midfield very well but at least he tried to connect the midfield and attack.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Jordan Henderson - 6 Scored the penalty to give Liverpool a chance but he failed to dictate the game probably because he was played as a right wing back - a position that doesn’t suit him.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Joe Allen - 6 A poor game for the Wales midfielder. He had improved recently but his performance here was not great.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Alberto Moreno - 6 His error led to Arsenal’s first goal. Didn’t get close enough to Bellerin.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Coutinho - 7 One of Liverpool’s more influential players. Tricky and skillful - a lot of creativity but no one around him could take advantage.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Raheem Sterling - 6 Won the penalty after a clever run but his impact was little. Too often Mertesacker got above him. A frustrating day to end a rollercoaster week for the 20-year-old.
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Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1 player ratings Daniel Sturridge - 6 Came on at half-time to provide a more clinical edge to Liverpool’s attack. He played ahead of Sterling and Coutinho and was a threat. He still looks a little off the pace, though.
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Although he has failed to mount a serious challenge to Juventus in Serie A, Benitez has led Napoli to the Coppa Italia – the Italian equivalent of the FA Cup – and the Italian Supercup during his tenure.
Napoli will return to the Coppa Italia final if they beat Lazio in their semi-final second leg this week and they face Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals of the Europa League later this month.
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