Seven-star Liverpool run riot as Arsenal defeated at Everton
LIVERPOOL sent a chilling warning to the rest of the Premier League on December 19, smashing seven goals past Crystal Palace as Arsenal’s crisis deepened with defeat at Everton.
Jurgen Klopp’s champions – despite being dogged by injuries this season – are five points clear of neighbours Everton after humiliating Palace 7-0 at Selhurst Park.
It is the first time the Reds have won an away match in the English top flight by a margin of seven goals in their illustrious history.
Arsenal, by contrast, are in deep trouble after Carlo Ancelotti’s early-season pacesetters beat them 2-1 at Goodison Park to climb to second in the table, while Manchester City edged past Southampton 1-0.
Klopp’s men built on the momentum gained from their last-gasp win in the top-of-the-table clash with Tottenham in midweek.
Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah scored twice while Takumi Minamino, Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson also found the net.
Klopp has repeatedly bemoaned the fixture scheduling that requires teams to play at Saturday lunchtime after Wednesday evening games, but his side suffered no hangover from their exertions against Spurs.
“The boys are capable of that. It will not happen every week but it can happen,” said the German.
“It just clicked today. After a really intense period for the boys they should be really proud of how they came through that, results-wise.”
Victory ensured Klopp’s side will be top of the league at Christmas for a third successive season and it is difficult to see how they are going to be stopped from winning a record-equalling 20th league title.
Salah had been given a rare rest from the start, but his Japanese replacement Minamino opened the scoring in the third minute when he was teed up by Mane for his first Premier League goal.
Mane ended his longest goal drought as a Liverpool player – nine games – with an excellent turn and low finish from Firmino’s pass.
Firmino scored twice, either side of a goal from captain Jordan Henderson.
Substitute Salah moved to the top of the Premier League goalscoring charts with 13 goals in as many games with a late double, including a spectacular second.
Arsenal, without injured forward PierreEmerick Aubameyang, show no sign of turning the corner after another painful defeat – their eighth of a wretched season.
Mikel Arteta’s team are in 15th place in the Premier League, already 17 points
behind Liverpool, but just four points clear of the relegation zone.
Everton took the lead in the 22nd minute via a Rob Holding own goal before Nicolas Pepe sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way from the penalty spot for a 35th-minute equaliser.
But the home side were back in front on the stroke of half-time when Yerry Mina headed home a Gylfi Sigurdsson corner.
Arsenal, who won the FA Cup in August, have made their worst start to a top-flight season since 1974-1975 and face a bleak New Year unless they can find a spark of inspiration from somewhere.
“We reacted really well,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “We dominated the game. We created enough chances at least to not lose. We hit the bar. We don’t have the luck.”
“The boys are absolutely still fighting,” he added. “They’re hurt right now.”