Klopp's Reds reignite their Champions League push
Liverpool re-ignited their push for a Champions League spot with a classy 3-1 victory over Arsenal at Anfield.
Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane struck in the first half to put Jurgen Klopp's men in complete control.
Arsenal hit back in the second half with Danny Welbeck reducing the arrears but Liverpool dug deep and wrapped up the points in stoppage time as Gini Wijnaldum fired home emphatically.
Ragnar Klavan's inclusion at the expense of Lucas Leiva was the only change but the Reds were unrecognisable from the dismal defeat to Leicester five days earlier.
The Reds dominated from the start and they led inside nine minutes. Simon Mignolet's punt down field was flicked on by Firmino with Phlippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana combining to pick out Mane on the right.
Firmino had intelligently burst towards the back post and Mane didn't let him down. The sweeping low cross was inviting and Firmino kept his cool to hammer into the roof of the net.
Coutinho saw his fierce left-footer brilliantly tipped over the bar by Petr Cech before Liverpool added a second five minutes before the break.
This time Firmino turned creator, collecting Gini Wijnaldum's pass and picking out the unmarked Mane.
Arsenal were made to pay as Mane took a touch to steady himself and then lashed home his 12 goal of the campaign.
Arsene Wenger took action at the interval. With Alexis Sanchez on for the woeful Francis Coquelin, the second half was a different story as the Gunners rallied.
Mignolet reacted brilliantly to claw Olivier Giroud's header from Nacho Monreal's cross on to the bar.
But the Reds keeper was beaten shortly before the hour mark as Arsenal halved the deficit. Sanchez was the architect with a perfectly weighted pass for Welbeck.
Mignolet raced off his line but Welbeck clipped it past him with Ragnar Klavan unable to keep it out.
Suddenly, the contest was transformed and Liverpool had to dig deep.
The Reds defended bravely and had chances to settle it. Joel Matip somehow failed to nod home Coutinho's inviting free-kick before substitute Divock Origi's header struck the post.
The nerves were eased in stoppage time when the outstanding Lallana released Origi, whose cross was converted by Wijnaldum.
Man of the match: Adam Lallana. Outstanding from start to finish.
Source: Liverpool Echo
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