Liverpool v Arsenal: Premier League Match Review

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It was a tale of big game specialists versus big game bottlers as Liverpool eased past Arsenal to register a comfortable 3-1 win that adds serious pressure to the Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger.



Both sides went in to the game knowing that a win would be vital to their chances of qualifying for the Champions league but they both also started the game with key men missing from their respective starting lineups. Liverpool’s captain Jordan Henderson was again missing through injury, it was the ninth time he had missed a game for his side and going in to this encounter Liverpool fans would have been concerned, they had only managed to win three of the previous eight games that he had missed. Arsenal fans had their own worries with Ozil missing due to flu and Sanchez dropped to the bench.

The game began with both sides exchanging corners in the opening few minutes as they tried to feel their ways in to the game but on eight minutes Liverpool took the lead. A long ball from Mignole was knocked down by Coutinho, into the path of Lallana who found Mané wide on the left. The Senegalese attacker lashed the ball across the box where it eventually found it’s way to Fermino who cut back inside and smashed his finish into the roof of the net from the edge of the six yard box to notch his 10th goal of the season.



The goal gave Liverpool the confidence to start knocking the ball around and Arsenal, missing the work rate and running of Sanchez and the guile of Ozil couldn’t get a foothold in the game, they couldn’t cope with the pressure that Klopp’s side were putting them under whenever they managed to regain possession, they started to push the ball wide, hoping to swing the ball in and make use of their target man but they failed to create and chances of note.

Liverpool meanwhile were taking control, the home side were devastating in the transition and were cutting through Arsenal at will and doubled their lead in the 39th minute. The goal game from the left this time, Milner did well down his wing before knocking the ball inside to Wijnaldum, he in turn found Firmino inside the box who turned and saw Mané marching in to the area, unmarked and in acres of space. He had time to take a touch and steady himself before slamming the ball home.

Arsenal rallied in the second half as Sanchez was introduced at the break and equalised in the 57th minute through Danny Welbeck. The former Manchester United man did well to squeeze a tight finish past Mignolet but it was too little too late.

Liverpool continued to harry and harass the Gunners and the away side couldn’t live with their energetic style of play. Once again it was the speed in the transition that did for Arsenal and sealed the game for Liverpool, Sanchez had a decent shot blocked by Matip and they were away. Lallana, fed Origi whose inch perfect cross found Wijnaldum in the box who just had to side foot past Cech.

Liverpool continue their impressive run against the top six while once again Arsenal were found wanting against serious opposition and questions will be asked about Wenger’s decision making and team selection, though worryingly for the Arsenal faithful, the Frenchman didn’t seem to think he had gotten it wrong, “I have no regrets, I stand by my decision,” Wenger said. “Collectively we were good in the second half, just as collectively we were not good enough in the first.”





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