Liverpool boosted their hopes of claiming a top-four finish in this season's Premier League courtesy of a 3-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday night.
Jurgen Klopp's side dominated the contest in North London and scored three times in the second period through Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah to secure all three points.
The victory has moved the reigning champions into fifth position in the table, just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, while Arsenal remain down in ninth position.
Liverpool controlled the opening 45 minutes of football, with Arsenal spending long periods inside their own half; the best chance of the first period fell to James Milner in the 35th minute, but the midfielder fired wide of the post after Trent Alexander-Arnold had found his teammate in a dangerous area.
The home side had just 35% of the ball and managed only one shot in the first period, while they lost Kieran Tierney to injury shortly before the half-time whistle.
There was an improvement from Mikel Arteta's side in the early stages of the second half, but the efforts from Jota and Salah in the space of four minutes took the game away from the hosts, before Jota added his second of the contest in the 82nd minute.
Next up for Liverpool is a trip to Real Madrid for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, while Arsenal will face Slavia Prague in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday.
HIGHLIGHTS
11th min: The first half-chance of the match comes for the visitors as the ball falls for Milner outside the Arsenal box, but the midfielder sweeps his effort wide of Bernd Leno's post.
14th min: Fabinho is next to try his luck for the reigning English champions as he strikes one from distance but again the ball moves wide of Leno's goal.
26th min: Easily the best chance of the match thus far as Milner delivers a cross into Sadio Mane, but the Senegal international heads straight into the arms of the Arsenal goalkeeper.
30th min: Roberto Firmino works his way into a shooting position before striking towards the Arsenal goal, but the Brazilian's effort was always bending wide of the far post.
33rd min: First opportunity of the match for Arsenal as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang picks out the head of Nicolas Pepe at the far post, but the attacker's effort is straight at Alisson Becker.
35th min: Huge chance for Liverpool to make the breakthrough as Alexander-Arnold picks out Milner in a dangerous position, but the midfielder swings his effort just wide of the post.
Big chance but Liverpool fail to hit the target.
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2021
📺 Watch on Sky Sports PL
📱 Follow #ARSLIV here: https://t.co/x0xe8CO5JC
📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/VnhFBqCaXT
52nd min: Half-chance for Liverpool as a low cross from Alexander-Arnold finds Salah in a dangerous area, but the Egypt international's control is disappointing and the danger is cleared.
61st min: Smart save from Alisson as the Liverpool goalkeeper keeps out a long-range strike from Cedric, who had worked some space before unleashing one towards goal.
64th min: Liverpool make the breakthrough in the 64th minute of the contest as a wonderful cross from Alexander-Arnold is headed into the back of the net by substitute Jota.
What a cross from Alexander-Arnold! Liverpool take the lead!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2021
📺 Watch on Sky Sports PL
📱 Follow #ARSLIV here: https://t.co/x0xe8CO5JC
📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/9K6tQRxZ5f
68th min: Liverpool double their advantage at the Emirates Stadium as Salah gets the better of Gabriel before sliding the ball through the legs of Leno in brilliant fashion.
"He made it look so simple, but it wasn't."
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2021
Salah doubles Liverpool's lead.
📺 Watch on Sky Sports PL
📱 Follow #ARSLIV here: https://t.co/x0xe8CO5JC
📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/dMotFgyBI3
73rd min: Super save from Leno to keep out a close-range strike from Salah as Liverpool threaten to make it 3-0 and put the game to bed with little under 20 minutes remaining in London.
82nd min: Liverpool score their third of the evening in the 82nd minute as Jota sneaks in at the far post to fire the ball home after Salah had rolled a dangerous cross into the box.
Jota puts Liverpool 3-0 up!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2021
📺 Watch on Sky Sports PL
📱 Follow #ARSLIV here: https://t.co/x0xe8CO5JC
📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/QYVUthWxm2
92nd min: Big chance for Mane to score a fourth for Liverpool as he meets a cross from Alexander-Arnold, but the attacker's effort is just wide of the post.
92nd min: Another opportunity for Liverpool in the final moments, but Mane sees his close-range effort saved by Leno after smart work from Salah.
MAN OF THE MATCH - FABINHO
© Reuters
Fabinho had an outstanding game for Liverpool in the middle of the park; the Brazilian has played a lot at centre-back this season, but there is no question that he is much better in midfield.
The 27-year-old played a key role in his side's second of the match, while his presence in a defensive area made it incredibly difficult for Arsenal to work space when they managed to break into advanced areas.
STANDOUT MOMENT
© Reuters
Jota's opening goal of the night was just terrific, with the Portugal international managing to beat two tall Arsenal defenders to the ball in the air, and Leno simply could not keep out the effort.
The attacker's introduction in the 61st minute proved to be a key moment for the Reds, with the recent arrival scoring twice in what proved to be an incredibly dominant performance from the reigning champions.
BEST STAT
3 - Liverpool have registered their biggest ever margin of victory in an away top-flight match against Arsenal. Cruise. #ARSLIV pic.twitter.com/YVzba6JR5f
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 3, 2021
MATCH STATS
Possession: Arsenal 36%-64% Liverpool
Shots: Arsenal 3-16 Liverpool
Shots on target: Arsenal 2-7 Liverpool
Corners: Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool
Fouls: Arsenal 10-10 Liverpool
LINEUPS
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Leno; Chambers, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney (Cedric 46'); Thomas, Ceballos (Elneny 58'); Pepe, Odegaard, Aubameyang (Martinelli 77'); Lacazette
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Kabak (Williams 84'), Robertson (Jota 61'); Thiago, Fabinho, Milner; Salah, Firmino (Wijnaldum 78'), Mane
Matt Law
