Liverpool vs Arsenal: Jurgen Klopp's side extend Premier League lead with emphatic victory
Re-live the action from Anfield
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A devastating four-goal, 30-minute spell tore Arsenal to shreds as Premier League leaders Liverpool won 5-1 to extend their lead to nine points and heap more even pressure on Manchester City.
Second-placed Tottenham had already blinked first before this match kicked off, losing 3-1 at home to Wolves, and City, now 10 points adrift, cannot afford to do the same at Southampton on Sunday with Jurgen Klopp's side arriving on Thursday.
Roberto Firmino took his tally to eight goals in as many games against the Gunners with a hat-trick, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane also scoring after the visitors had taken the lead through Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
A ninth successive Reds victory made it 31 league matches without defeat at Anfield, their joint-third longest run, and extended their unbeaten start to 20 matches.
Fifth-placed Arsenal are 16 points off the pace but the gulf here was even wider as they collapsed under the first sign of pressure despite having taken an 11th-minute lead.
All the team news and build-up from Anfield coming right up. In the meantime, here's the latest ahead of the match:
Liverpool's chief defender has his say on the season
Virgil van Dijk reveals what has been behind Liverpool’s rise to the top of the Premier League table
Klopp: Premier League lead ‘means nothing’
“That [lead] means nothing. We play Arsenal and City. I had no idea how any other teams were playing, I didn’t even know where they were playing."
Remembrance
The players will be wearing armbands for today's match in respect following the passing of Arsenal's former chairman, Peter Hill-Wood.
Last time
These sides have a tenancy to produce some classic matches when they met, and there was no break in this trend in September.
While the 1-1 draw at the Emirates, goals from James Milner and Alexandre Lacazette, was not the usual high-scoring festival we are used to, there was plenty to be excited by.
The bold attacking play produced one of the best games this season.
Will there be any other trophies on show at Anfield this season...?
The players are out
Virgil van Dijk and Aaron Ramsey lead the sides out at Anfield. Any else enjoying Arsenal's policy of giving the armband to players that are leaving the club?
Anyway, 'You'll Never Walk Alone' is over and done with...kick-off just minutes away.
2 mins
Robertson produces a stunning cross from the left that bounces just in front on Leno. Mane is unmarked in the middle and failed to gamble as the ball trickled away.
Arsenal certainly have not settled given Leno boots the ball off for a Liverpool throw in an attacking area.
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