Liverpool thrashed Arsenal at Anfield on Saturday, as Roberto Firmino scored his first Premier League hat-trick.
2018/2019 Premier League
5-1
Match Report
Roberto Firmino was at his ruthless best as he scored his first Premier League hat-trick to inspire a 5-1 demolition of Arsenal at Anfield and put Liverpool nine points clear at the summit after Tottenham's defeat to Wolves.
The visit of Unai Emery's men was seen as a potentially troublesome fixture, but the Reds made light work of them, with all of their revered front three finding the net in a devastating performance.
A chaotic five-minute spell in the first half saw Ainsley Maitland-Niles put Arsenal ahead, before a quickfire Firmino brace turned the score around. Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah ensured a rampant Liverpool went into the break 4-1 up.
Liverpool's pressure did not subside after half-time and Firmino completed his treble from the spot 25 minutes from time, rounding off a miserable day for the Gunners and increasing the heat on Manchester City ahead of their meeting with Southampton on Sunday.
Match Events
11'GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal (Maitland-Niles)
GOALLLLLLLLLL!!!! MAITLAND-NILES PUTS ARSENAL AHEAD!!! 1-0!!! The Gunners take the lead, capitalising on a shaky period of play from the home side. Van Dijk hits an aimless long ball forward and the Reds are caught short by the pace of the visitors' counter. Iwobi and Ramsey combine before the Nigerian raids into the left inside channel and puts a cross to the back post. Maitland-Niles comes in unmarked and slots the ball home.
14'GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal (Firmino)
GOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! FIRMINO EQUALISES!! 1-1!! Liverpool are back in the game almost immediately through a huge slice of luck. Salah makes a probing run into the final third, but gets stopped in his tracks by a fine challenge from Xhaka. The ball deflects into the area where Lichtsteiner tries to clear his lines. He smashes his clearance off Mustafi and it falls perfectly for the Brazilian to slot into an empty net from close range.
16'GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal (Firmino)
WHAT A GOAL!!!!!! FIRMINO AT THE DOUBLE!!! 2-1 LIVERPOOL!! The Reds turn the game on its head in the space of two minutes. Firmino scores a special goal to put his team in front at Anfield. He collects the ball 30 yards out and proceeds to weave his way through the Arsenal defence, beating three challenges. There's still work to do to find the net, but he holds his composure and buries his strike into the bottom corner. A special effort from Liverpool's number nine.
32'GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal (Mane)
MANE TAPS HOME!! LIVERPOOL 3-1!!! Liverpool notch their third goal of the evening as Mane converts at the back post. Arsenal cleared the first ball from the corner, but the second ball back in from Robertson found Salah unmarked. The forward knocked an offload across the face of goal for his team-mate, who had the simple task of guiding the ball into an empty net.
47' Penalty Goal! Liverpool 4-1 Arsenal (Salah)
SALAH CONVERTS! 4-1!! Liverpool have a fourth goal as Salah scores from 12 yards. It is not the best penalty from the Egyptian as he strikes the ball with power. However, Leno cannot make the stop as the ball deflects off his body and flies into the net.
65'Penalty Goal! Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal (Firmino)
FIRMINO HAS A HAT-TRICK!! The Brazilian notches his third of the game, dispatching his effort beyond Leno. He puts a stutter-step in his run-up and then waits till Leno commits before placing his strike high into the net.
Match Ratings
Line-ups
Liverpool XI: Wijnaldum, D. Lovren, X. Shaqiri, Alisson, Roberto Firmino, Salah, Van Dijk, S. Mané, Fabinho, A.Robertson, T. Alexander-Arnold
Subs: Sturridge, S. Mignolet, Lallana, J. Henderson, Clyne, Origi, N.Keita
Arsenal XI: S. Lichtsteiner, Sokratis, Aubameyang, Ramsey, Mustafi, B. Leno, G. Xhaka, Kolasinac, A. Iwobi, A.M Niles, L. Torreira
Subs: P. Čech, Koscielny, Lacazette, M.Elneny, M. Guendouzi, Willock, B. Saka