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As it happenedended

Liverpool vs Arsenal: Jurgen Klopp's side extend Premier League lead with emphatic victory

Re-live the action from Anfield

Jack Watson
Saturday 29 December 2018 19:17 GMT
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Liverpool v Arsenal Premier League match preview

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.

Three minutes of added time

Henderson goes close with an effort from range. Is there time for a sixth, you feel it would not be unfair.

Jack Watson29 December 2018 19:18

Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal

Jack Watson29 December 2018 19:21

Here's what we learned from that rather one-sided result

Liverpool are now the overwhelming favourites to win the title on another night when Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane proved too hot to handle.

Jack Watson29 December 2018 19:25
Jack Watson29 December 2018 19:26

The report

The hosts duly capitalised on Tottenham Hotspur’s surprise home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers and moved nine points clear at the summit

Jack Watson29 December 2018 19:28

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