Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho were among the standout performers as Liverpool thrashed Arsenal 4-0 at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday.
Arsenal came into the game on the back of a ten-game unbeaten run across all competitions, but Liverpool outclassed them from the get-go. While the Gunners did manage to hold off their hosts for most of the first half, the signs of them crumbling had started to appear and eventually, the deadlock was broken in the 39th minute when Sadio Mane diverted Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick into the net.
Liverpool ramped up the pressure on the visitors after the half-time break, and Diogo Jota doubled their lead in the 52nd minute after his teammates had forced Nuno Tavares into a blunder. Mohamed Salah then made it 3-0 with 15 minutes left on the clock, volleying home a pass from Mane before substitute Takumi Minamino scored with his first touch four minutes later to compound Arsenal’s misery.
It was a stunning display from the Reds, who bounced back in style after the defeat to West Ham United. As for Arsenal, the result showed that Mikel Arteta & co. still have a long way to go to catch up to the top sides despite all the recent promise shown. Here is how we rated the performances of both Liverpool and Arsenal stars in what was a largely one-sided affair at Anfield on Saturday evening.
Liverpool Player Ratings
Alisson Becker: 7/10
The Brazilian did not have a lot to do on the evening but was alert when called upon, making a rather straightforward stop in the first period and pulling off two fine saves after the break. He distributed well from the back. Deserved his 50th Premier League clean sheet.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 9/10
Trent Alexander-Arnold for Liverpool vs. Arsenal:
94% pass accuracy
74 touches
10 penalty area entries
9 final third passes completed
8 crosses
4 chances created
3 shots
3 duels won
2 big chances created
2 assistsAnd one hug from his GK. ? pic.twitter.com/15Z9t5l1vx
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 20, 2021
A buccaneering display from the England international, who looked near unstoppable each time he pushed forward to attack on the right. Alexander-Arnold had a shot tipped over and created a chance for Jota early on before setting up Mane for the opening goal with a lovely set-piece delivery. After the break, he continued to torment the Arsenal backline with his attacking intent and vigour, creating several other chances before laying on the assist for the fourth.
In the process, the Liverpool academy graduate registered his 50th and 51st Premier League assists.
Joel Matip: 7/10
Solid and committed throughout, the Liverpool defender was hardly stretched by the Arsenal attackers on the evening. Matip dealt with whatever little that the Gunners threw his way with comfort, used the ball well and wasn’t afraid to step out of the backline regularly.
Virgil van Dijk: 8/10
Much like his defensive partner, Virgil van Dijk also did not give the Arsenal forwards a sniff. Read the game well and was at hand to cut out any threat, with a key tackle on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang early in the second half being a noteworthy moment. He distributed fairly well, even though the Gunners tried to press him up top.
Kostas Tsimikas: 7/10
Coming in for Andrew Robertson, the Greek left-back ensured that the Scotsman’s absence wasn’t felt one bit on the evening. Tsimikas got forward well with energy and intent and hit in some wicked crosses, notably creating a chance for Salah. Did well defensively to ensure Bukayo Saka had a quiet outing.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 8/10
Can't underestimate the importance of regular starts for an explosive player like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Today is the first time in almost two years that he has made a third consecutive start and, so far, he's been brilliant. pic.twitter.com/RqHMtsVvD3
— Jack Lusby (@LusbyJack) November 20, 2021
Starting his third game in a row, Oxlade-Chamberlain was in his elements against his former club. The way that he pressed the opposition relentlessly forced turnovers in dangerous areas and helped create chances for his teammates while he was very much willing to put in the hard yards defensively as well. Drove forward with purpose each time he was on the ball and even came close to scoring early in the second period.
Fabinho: 9/10
Absolutely top-class in the middle of the park from the Brazilian, whose presence allowed the full-backs to romp down the full-backs without worrying about the defensive side of things. Shielded the backline excellently throughout, making key interventions with the utmost regularity – one particular tackle on Aubameyang being a highlight. He acted as a leader on the field, organising things and was positive and purposeful with his distribution.
Thiago Alcantara: 7.5/10
Still not quite at his best, but the ex-Barcelona ace is slowly getting there. Sprayed passes left, right and centre with utmost ease and was unperturbed by Arsenal’s press. Thiago even forced a save from Aaron Ramsdale in the first period with a volleyed effort and helped create numerous openings.
Mohamed Salah: 8.5/10
Mohamed Salah’s game by numbers vs. Arsenal:
52 touches
15 touches in opp. box (most)
10 duels contested
4 shots
2 shots on target
2 chances created
1 goalEventually got the goal he deserved. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/zFyYHTPgIe
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 20, 2021
The Player to Watch in our match preview, Salah terrorised Nuno Tavares on his flank with his movement and running as he constantly got into dangerous spaces but was unable to get any shots away in the first half. He upped the ante after the break as he helped create the second goal before getting his name on the scoresheet to make it 3-0. Salah then played a part in the buildup to the fourth goal as well, helping Liverpool rout Arsenal. Top-notch.
Diogo Jota: 8.5/10
Starting in place of the injured Roberto Firmino, Jota was a livewire on the pitch as he constantly probed the Arsenal defence with his sharp movement. Did very well to score the second goal after the half-time break and then played a part in the third with a key flicked header. He linked up well with those around him, helping create a galore of chances.
Sadio Mane: 8.5/10
There were occasions when Arsenal tried to get under his skin in the opening period but held his composure, even though there were one or two reckless challenges. As usual, he posed a threat going forward and forced Ramsdale into a stop in the first period before eventually scoring the opener with a fine header. Mane then set Salah up for the third goal, helping put the game to bed. Booked.
SUBSTITUTES
Takumi Minamino: 7/10
The Japanese forward came on for Jota with fifteen minutes on the clock. Scored almost immediately after taking the pitch, tapping in from close range after a fine run.
Jordan Henderson: 7/10
The Liverpool skipper replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 75th minute to make his 500th career appearance and played a key part in the fourth goal.
Tyler Morton: N/A
The youngster made his Premier League debut, replacing Thiago for the final five minutes or so.
Arsenal Player Ratings
Aaron Ramsdale: 7/10
Aaron Ramsdale conceded as many goals against Liverpool as he did in his first nine games for Arsenal combined (4).
And he made five saves this evening. ? pic.twitter.com/360Q8U1K2S
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 20, 2021
The scoreline would have read much worse for Arsenal if not for the presence of Ramsdale between the sticks. The summer signing was easily the Gunners’ best player on the evening even though he conceded four goals, as he made several key stops on either side of half-time to spare his team from further humiliation at the hands of Liverpool.
Takehiro Tomiyasu: 5/10
The Japanese right-back had the first taste of defeat since joining Arsenal on Saturday evening. Tomiyasu went toe-to-toe with Mane on his side but came second-best more often than not, especially in the second period. He was also partly culpable for the Reds’ first goal, as he was beaten in the air.
Ben White: 5/10
The England international displayed some positive moments in the first half both on and off the ball but fell apart like the rest of the team after the half-time break. White was guilty of letting Mane run in behind him in the lead-up to the third goal.
Gabriel Magalhaes: 5/10
The Arsenal defender was partly to blame for the opening goal as he got caught out by Alexander-Arnold’s stunning delivery. Had his hands full on the evening with Nuno Tavares struggling beside him, which put more pressure on the Brazilian.
Nuno Tavares: 4/10
Nuno Tavares cuts a forlorn figure at full time as Arsenal lose 4-0 away to Liverpool. pic.twitter.com/0ReruxHv2F
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) November 20, 2021
It was a game to forget for the young Portuguese as he was put under intense pressure from the off by the Liverpool players. He committed a huge blunder leading to the Reds’ second goal as he passed the ball straight to Jota, who made the most of the gift. He was caught in possession more than once in both halves, while his confidence took a major hit after the mistake for the second goal, post which he never recovered.
Thomas Partey: 5/10
He looked off pace and not fully fit as the Liverpool midfield outclassed him with ease. The Ghanaian did not offer much in the way of protection to the backline and failed to provide any sense of composure and control in midfield. Poor.
Albert Sambi Lokonga: 4/10
The Belgian midfielder fared decently in the first period while not always looking comfortable but imploded after the half-time break. Lokonga gave away possession cheaply in dangerous areas time and again, forcing Arteta to hook him off.
Bukayo Saka: 5/10
There were one or two moments of promise from the England international, but Saka, in general, was ineffective on the evening. Saw a fair bit of the ball but did not make the best use of it, hardly offering any incision and cutting edge going forward.
Alexandre Lacazette: 5/10
The Frenchman started with intent as he tried to pressure the Liverpool players while executing some neat link-up play with his teammates. However, he faded with time and became a peripheral figure being taken off in the second half.
Emile Smith Rowe: 5/10
The Arsenal academy ace was not involved a great deal on his side, with moves largely flowing from the right through Saka. When he did get on the ball on rare occasions, Smith Rowe failed to provide any threat while he was also guilty of not helping Tavares out defensively, leaving the left-back exposed against Salah and Alexander-Arnold.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 5/10
?? ?? @premierleague clean sheets for @Alissonbecker ?
What. A. Goalkeeper ? pic.twitter.com/MYy2vk9P87
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 20, 2021
Worked hard at the top and tried to press the Liverpool defenders with vigour but failed to make any meaningful contributions on the evening. The Arsenal skipper was largely feeding off scraps and wasted his one good chance of the game.
SUBSTITUTES
Ainsley Maitland-Niles: 5/10
Brought on for Lokonga early in the second period, the Englishman failed to improve things in the middle of the park as Liverpool bossed the region.
Martin Odegaard: 5/10
Sent on in place of Lacazette for the final 25 minutes or so, the former Real Madrid man spent most of his time on the pitch helping the team out defensively.
Mohamed Elneny: N/A
Late substitute for Partey.
