Rampant Liverpool march on
Roberto Firmino scored with an impudent no-look finish. There were jubilant cries of ‘‘Ole!’’ as Liverpool played possession football near the end, and the final whistle was met with a chant of ‘‘We shall not be moved’’ from The Kop.
Juergen Klopp’s players look unstoppable as they march toward a first English top-flight football title since 1990. And they are having fun at the same time.
In the latest statement victory in their unbeaten start to the English Premier League season, Liverpool overwhelmed Arsenal in a 5-1 win at Anfield yesterday, with Firmino scoring a hat-trick and Mohamed Salah invariably among the goals.
A ninth straight league victory opened a nine-point lead over second-placed Tottenham, who unexpectedly lost 3-1 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Manchester City will climb back to second spot, and within seven points of Liverpool, if they beat Southampton on Monday (NZT). But there is already an ominous feel about the Anfield club’s ruthless performances, and it is now 20 league games undefeated for Klopp’s men.
They received huge help from their rivals, though. Tottenham appeared to run out of energy in the loss to Wolves at Wembley Stadium, with the visitors’ goals coming in the final 18 minutes. Then Arsenal produced a shambolic defensive display that Liverpool’s devastating front three happily capitalised on. Sadio Mane was the other scorer.
Arsenal mistakes preceded at least four of Liverpool’s goals, two of them being penalties after clumsy challenges by Sokratis and Sead Kolasinac. Salah converted the first to make it 4-1 in first-half injury time and gave up spot-kick duties to allow Firmino to complete his hat-trick in the 65th. TOTTENHAM CRUMBLES Having the most punishing schedule over the Christmas period caught up with Tottenham. It was the team’s third game in six days and it showed at Wembley as Wolves dominated the second half and scored through Willy Boly, Raul Jimenez and Helder Costa. Harry Kane, with a long-range effort off his left foot, netted for the third straight game to put Tottenham ahead in the 22nd minute.
‘‘We were wrong in the way we tried to play, too much long ball and our energy dropped in the second half,’’ Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said. ANGRY RANIERI Claudio Ranieri had tough words for Aboubakar Kamara after the Fulham striker’s stubbornness almost cost his side three precious points in its battle against relegation.
After Fulham were awarded a spot kick in the 81st minute against Huddersfield, Kamara argued with Aleksandar Mitrovic – the team’s designated penalty taker – before eventually taking it himself. He failed, with his shot being easily saved by Jonas Lossl.
‘‘I said to Kamara to leave the ball to Mitrovic, he is the man who shoots the penalties,’’ Ranieri said. ‘‘It is unbelievable. He did not respect me, the club, the team and crowd. I spoke with him, it is not right. I wanted to kill him.’’
Mitrovic spared Kamara’s blushes by scoring in stoppage time to secure a 1-0 win.
Cardiff also scored in stoppage time to beat Leicester 1-0. Brighton beat Everton 1-0, and Watford drew 1-1 at home to Newcastle.