Rampant Reds annihilate Arsenal

Arsenal got a taste of their own medicine at Anfield yesterday, as Liverpool inflicted ‘death by football’ on their overwhelmed visitors.

In a 20-minute spell of total football that almost certainly will not be bettered this season, Liverpool swiftly put the Gunners to the sword, with two goals from Skrtel added to by Sterling and Sturridge to send a disbelieving home crowd delirious with delight.

The rest of the match was little more than a training exercise for the Reds. They’d got the job done, and could now relax and enjoy the rest of an unforgettable afternoon, in which the Merseysiders made themselves firm favourites for fourth spot, at least temporarily creating a five point gap between them and fifth-placed neighbours Everton, who travel to White Hart Lane this afternoon.

The reverse fixture at the Emirates in November, which the Reds lost 2-0, was the last time Liverpool failed to score in a game, as Brendan Rodgers adopted uncharacteristically cautious tactics, including selecting three centre backs. There was no chance of that happening at Anfield, though, as Liverpool went out for the kill from the first to the final whistle.

Pressing with an urgent intensity that demonstrated their greater desire to get the three points, Liverpool didn’t allow Arsenal’s creative players a second to think. Winning the ball high up the pitch, the Reds relentlessly attacked the Gunners’ defence and reaped considerable rewards as a result.

After only 53 seconds, Liverpool were ahead. Martin Skrtel nudged home Gerrard’s left wing free kick from close range to give the hosts the perfect beginning to the match. The pair combined to find the net for a second time on ten minutes, as the unmarked Skrtel reached Gerrard’s corner and looped it into the top corner with his head to double not only Liverpool’s lead, but also his personal goalscoring tally for the campaign.

The home side had several opportunities to further their lead before they eventually added two more within the opening 20 minutes.

Sturridge dinked the ball just wide when put through on goal by Suarez, then the Uruguayan fired a simply stupendous strike goalwards from 25 yards but saw his effort cannon back off the woodwork.

Frustratingly, former Gunner Kolo Toure couldn’t capitalise on the rebound, which presented him with a gilt-edged goalscoring opportunity in front of an unguarded goal from six yards out. The ball bounced off the Ivorian and rolled agonisingly wide of goal.

Fortunately, Sterling and Sturridge were far more clinical in front of goal, and delivered the fatal blows minutes later. First, Henderson won the ball back superbly from Ozil in the middle of the park and then set Suarez free down the right wing. The number seven centred perfectly for Sterling, who had the simple task of converting from yards out.

Then, Coutinho sliced open Arsenal’s defence with a pass that was just out of this world. Sturridge still had a lot to do, but he finished with aplomb to become only the second Liverpool player to score in six straight Premier League matches, just behind Michael Owen, who achieved the feat in 2003.

Skrtel celebrated scoring the opener...

...and then added a second

Sterling had a simple tap in...

...before Sturridge danced for joy 

Following that exhilarating start to the game, there was a lull in the action for the rest of the first period, as Liverpool understandably couldn’t sustain their ridiculously high tempo for the full 45 minutes and Arsenal were desolately demoralised. There were few incidents of note to report, as the imperious Reds simply kept possession and maintained their dominance over the encounter.

At the interval, Arsene Wenger must have told his troops to start the second half as if the score was still 0-0. Unfortunately for the Londoners, they didn’t count on Liverpool doing likewise.

Only seven minutes after the restart, Liverpool bagged a fifth, increasing their visitors’ humiliation yet further. Toure’s pass over the top put Sterling in and, although Szczesny blocked his first effort, the rebound fell straight at the teenager’s feet and he made no mistake at the second time of asking.

The former QPR player almost completed his hat-trick moments later, but he couldn’t quite convert Gerrard’s free kick at the far post, and may well have been offside anyway.

Resigned to defeat, Wenger made three changes on the hour mark to rest his big guns ahead of the visit of Manchester United to the Emirates in midweek. As if starting a season-defining run of fixtures with a heavy away defeat wasn’t bad enough for Wenger, he was pictured slipping over at Lime Street Station as he rushed to catch the train back to London after the match.

Wenger took a tumble at Lime Street Station

It was one of those days for the 64-year old Frenchman.

In contrast, it was a dream day for Rodgers’ Reds, who set about adding to their lead for the rest of the second half. Suarez surprised everyone by going for goal from a long-range free kick, but Szczesny reacted quickly enough to make a decent save.

Inspirational playmaker Coutinho then weaved his way through several Arsenal players before releasing Henderson with a wonderful 45-yard pass. Unfortunately, Henderson’s chipped effort wasn't as good as Coutinho's build-up play and missed the target.

With minutes remaining Sterling had an excellent chance to grab the hat-trick his man-of-the-match display deserved, but Szczesny denied him what would have been the cherry on top of the cake that was his magnificent performance.

Before that point, Arteta had pulled one back for Arsenal from the penalty spot after Gerrard brought down Oxlade-Chamberlain in the box. The former Toffee also tested Mignolet with a low free kick, but it proved scant consolation for the visitors, whose seven-year unbeaten streak at Anfield came to an end in a humiliating fashion.

As bad as Arsenal were, the day was all about Liverpool. Match of the Day commentator Guy Mowbray summed it up well when he said, “This is like the Liverpool of old.” Anfield is once again becoming a stadium where visiting teams dread coming because they know the hosts are capable of causing them significant embarrassment.

If the Reds can replicate their home form on the road, Rodgers will have them on the way back to the glory days of old.

YNWA