Arsenal blown away by 5 star Reds

Liverpool stunned Premier League leaders Arsenal with four goals in the opening 20 minutes on the way to a resounding 5-1 victory in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at Anfield.

Martin Skrtel and Raheem Sterling scored twice each, and Daniel Sturridge added the teams fourth who moved within five points of Arsenal with the victory.

Mikel Arteta scored Arsenal’s lone goal, a penalty, in the second half after Steven Gerrard brought down Oxlade-Chamberlain in the box.

Skrtel got the ball rolling after just FIFTY seconds

Referee Michael Oliver awarded a free kick after Per Mertesacker fouled Luis Suarez. Gerrard whipped in a wonderful ball from the left and Martin Skrtel stuck his knee out and the ball went past Wojiech Szczesny at the far post from about four yards out.

Skrtel header doubled Liverpool’s advantage

Another set piece goal this time from Gerrard’s corner – the ball was whipped across the penalty area. Skrtel got his head to it and his looping header went in the top left-hand corner. The first time in his footballing career has Martin scored two goals (in the right end in a game).

I have to mention Luis Suarez’s chance in the 13^th minute that should have put the Reds three up we had another corner and Steven Gerrard picked out Luis Suarez several yards outside the box. He teed up the ball with his instep and then absolutely walloped it on the volley from distance, rattling the upright. The ball rebounded off the woodwork with venom. That could have been goal of the season for the sheer brilliance and skill of our number 7. #unbelievabletekkers. From the rebound Kolo Toure stuck his foot out to poke it goalwards. It rolled diagonally across the face of goal and about a foot wide of the right post.

Counter attack at its very best

The third goal was an absolute joy to watch. Liverpool carved Arsenal open through the middle with a lightning fast counter-attack after Jordan Henderson had won the ball from Mesut Ozil deep in Liverpool territory. The ball was played wide to Suarez, who was on the overlap out on the right flank. He threaded a wonderful cross between two defenders to Raheem Sterling at the far post, who fired home. If Arsenal were not shell-shocked already being 3 nil down they most certainly were just moments later.

Look where Sterling is (bottom of the picture) when we win the ball for the third goal. What a sprint that was.

Daniel Sturridge just cannot stop scoring

Philippe Coutinho played an exquisite pass – Daniel Sturridge galloped in behind a static Arsenal defence (I really don’t know what Laurent Koscielny was doing) and expertly rolled the ball past Szczesny. Cue amazing scenes at Anfield!

Sterling at the double

A long ball from Toure Sterling spun his marker and galloped into space behind Per Mertesacker and latched on to the ball. Szczesny sprinted off his line and blocked Sterling’s initial shot, but the ball rebounded to the winger who tried his luck again and Raheem was able to slot home at the second attempt.

Final thoughts – Stats and Trivia

I have never witnessed in all the years in going to watch the reds home, away and in Europe a more polished and mind blowing 20 minutes of football than I did on Saturday. It was scintillating to watch and Arsenal just could not deal with the sheer power and pace of the team especially our front 4 – Sturridge, Suarez, Sterling and Coutinho.

The team had 22 shots at goal, 12 of which were on target.

Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez were typically irrepressible going forward. Between them, the pair registered nine shots on goal.

At the back, Jon Flanagan turned in another one of those gritty, no-nonsense displays, winning all five of his attempted tackles

Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure were equally solid, making 21 clearances between them.

But look at the statistics for the midfield three of Jordan Henderson, Steven Gerrard and Philippe Coutinho for a clear indication of where this game was won and lost.

Combined, the trio fired in 10 crosses, produced 12 shot assists for teammates, made 12 successful tackles and, between them, took 192 touches of the ball.

Arsenal on the other hand were nonexistent they didn’t have a single shot until 17 minutes after the score went to 4-0!

Martin Skrtel’s second goal today was Liverpool’s 800th at home in the Premier League.

Liverpool have scored 63 goals after 25 league games this season – more than any other season at this stage in their top-flight history.

Saturday’s win was LFC’s second biggest scoring win against a top of the table team ever. Biggest was 7-4 v Man Utd in 1908.

Dan   Kennett (@DanKennett)

Suarez   & Sturridge 38 league goals this season: Man United 39, Everton 37, Spurs   31 #sas #lfc

Sturridge has become only the 2nd Liverpool player to score in 6 straight PL matches, just behind Michael Owen (who did it in 2003). Sturridge has now scored for 7 appearances in a row, and 11 of the last 13.

Daniel Sturridge now has 29 goals and 6 assists in 36 apps for Liverpool.

Liverpool has now won 11 of their first 13 home games of a league season for the first time since 1987-88.

Liverpool has scored 90 goals in their last 38 league games, their joint most since start of 2004/05. Any goal against Fulham sets a new record.

It is vital that Brendan instils in to his squad that they have to go to Craven Cottage on Wednesday night and get all three points otherwise all the hard work that team put in to the Arsenal game will be for nothing. We do not want another West Brom performance. Like I said in last week’s article the team really needs to find a way to deliver that knockout blow away from home.

Hopefully we will be able to continue the rich vein of form we are in against Rene Meulensteen’s Fulham on Wednesday evening.

Follow me on Twitter @MRSSG