Visualized: Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal

Previous Match Infographics: Newcastle (h), Wolves (a), Manchester Utd (h), Napoli (h), Bournemouth (a), Burnley, Everton (h), Paris St-Germain (a), Watford (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Cardiff (h), Red Star Belgrade (h), Huddersfield (a), Manchester City (h), Napoli (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Leicester (a), Brighton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



I remain stupidly impressed by this Liverpool side.

This match featured almost all of the things that Liverpool have done well this season. Almost all.

Goals, lots of them. Shots, not a ton but a bunch of good ones. Limiting the opposition's chances, at least after the 11th minute. A dominant performance at both ends of the pitch, a resounding win over a side that held Liverpool on their own ground less than two months ago.

We got Liverpool at its most potent, both in creating excellent chances and scoring them – which hasn't happened as often as it did last season. At least, not yet.

It's the ninth time since the start of last season that Liverpool had five or more clear-cut chances in a league match, but only the first where Liverpool have scored five clear-cut chances. Mainly thanks to those clear-cut chances, Liverpool's xG per shot was a ridiculously high 0.247. Liverpool put two-thirds of their shots on-target – 10 of 15 – a mark bettered in just one league match this season, the 3-0 win over Watford. Firmino, Salah, and Mané all scored in the same match for only the second time this season – it happened eight times last season – and for the first time in the league.

It was the first time this season that Liverpool have scored five or more goals in a match. They'd done so four times by this point last season.

Granted, Arsenal have the weakest defense in the Top 5, relatively speaking. Their goals conceded total is higher than the other four, even prior to this match. As is their Expected Goals allowed tally, which they're underperforming. Saturday's match was the third time this season they'd conceded at least three in a league match and the seventh time they'd conceded at least two. Arsenal were missing both starting full-backs as well as Holding and Koscielny – the latter at least until halftime, with four Liverpool goals already scored.

It's all a bit unfair on Arsenal – and not for the first time at Anfield. But Liverpool still performed more than impressively in attack, which they've been doing much more consistently over the last month.

And Liverpool were almost as emphatic at the other end of the pitch.

There was the one black mark in Saturday's match, albeit a black mark that didn't last long. Liverpool did all of the above despite Arsenal scoring first and scoring early, off the mark in the 11th minute, the quickest goal that Liverpool have conceded in a league match since Leicester's opener almost exactly a year ago. A match, incidentally, that Liverpool went on to win.

Maitland-Niles' goal was Arsenal's last shot on-target. They went on to take just six shots over the next 80 minutes, despite more than 55% possession. The xG per shot on those six shots was a ridiculously low 0.038, with three off-target, three blocked, and three of the six coming from outside the box. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the Premier League's top scorer going into the match, registered just 13 touches in 71 minutes, with six of the 13 coming from kickoffs.

Liverpool's response to going a goal behind remains the most impressive thing about Saturday's impressive match.

Liverpool have now trailed for all of 75 minutes this campaign. Three minutes against Arsenal, eight minutes at Burnley, and 64 minutes at Chelsea, with Liverpool going on to win twice and draw once.

It's a far cry from how often Liverpool were behind last season, which was reasonably good as it was.



Not only are Liverpool rarely behind in league matches this season, they've also been far better at maintaining a one-goal lead.

I doubt I need remind how often Liverpool lost a lead last season – again, relatively speaking. Liverpool had a lead but went on to draw in seven league matches in 2017-18 – Watford (a), Newcastle (a), Chelsea (h), Everton (h), Arsenal (a), Tottenham (h), and West Brom (a) – and also lost a lead in three Champions League matches.

Liverpool have had a one-goal lead for 561 minutes so far this season – 31.17% of the total league minutes played so far this season. They've conceded just twice with a one-goal lead, the now-regrettable 1-1 draw at Arsenal and the 3-1 win over Manchester United, the latter a fluke goal canceled out by Shaqiri's late heroics.

26% of all the goals that Liverpool conceded in the league last season came with a one-goal Liverpool lead. Which, admittedly, is a similar proportion to this season, but it's a bit different when conceding 38 goals compared to just eight.

And Liverpool did all of the above good, both in Saturday's match and what's come in all of December, during the absolute meat of the season. Beating a top-five rival by four goals during the difficult festive stretch. Coming back from a potentially demoralizing early concession. Creating and scoring excellent chances, multiple times. Preventing Arsenal from having anywhere near a sniff at getting back into the match once Liverpool took a lead.

And now winning the eighth game this month – a new record for most Liverpool wins in a single month. Seven of those came in the Premier League; Liverpool are now just the fifth English side to win seven top-flight matches in a single month, with the last to do so back in 1985-86.

And all of this, all of this good, is why Liverpool still have a seven-point lead at the top of the table heading into 2019. Heading into Thursday's match at second-place Manchester City.

Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal

Goals:
Maitland Niles 11'
Firmino 14' 16' 65' [pen]
Mané 32'
Salah 45+2' [pen]

We've lived through three full days of nothing but title talk. A seven-point gap with supposedly all-conquering Manchester City. A six-point gap with Tottenham, which could be nine because of their loss to Wolves earlier today. We're midway through the season and Liverpool top the league.

That's a lot of pressure for a Liverpool side which has capitulated in similar conditions in previous seasons. And that pressure's massively compounded by Arsenal opening the scoring in the 11th minute. Liverpool are forced into trying to play out from the back, not with heavy Arsenal pressing but with passing lanes very much blocked off. It's not quite lackadaisical but Liverpool certainly aren't at their sharpest. And they're warned a minute earlier when Fabinho's cross field pass is intercepted, with Iwobi's shot saved by Alisson. Less than a minute later, Lovren's skied clearance is picked off, Iwobi to Kolasinac to Iwobi, a low cross behind van Dijk and Robertson to Maitland-Niles at the back post.

It's the earliest goal Liverpool have conceded this season. It's just the third time they've conceded either an opening goal or a first-half goal in the league. It's absolutely a setback.

It ain't a setback for long.

Three minutes, in fact. There's Firmino, following up Salah's run into the box, in place to tap in following two deflections after Salah's tacked by Kolasinac. He played the pass into Salah and kept going, and he emphasized the finish with yet another no-look goal. Then there's Firmino again, slaloming through Arsenal's defense after Mané's pressing led to possession, putting both Mustafi and Sokratis on their butts before beating Leno. Two goals in two minutes from a player who hadn't scored at Anfield since April, scrappy then sublime.

There's Firmino, and there's Liverpool, in the lead against one of the tougher opponents they'll face this campaign – one of three sides to take points off of Liverpool in the first half of the season – less than five minutes after conceding first.

And from there, it's Arsenal against Liverpool at Anfield as usual. A fixture that's finished 4-0 and 3-1 in the previous two seasons, and memorably finished 5-1 in 2013-14.

Mané adds a third in the 32nd minute when Arsenal initially clear a corner but can't handle the second cross in, Robertson perfectly to Salah at the back post, touched directly into Mané's stride. Salah adds a fourth just before halftime, from the penalty spot after being pulled down in a similar manner to that against Newcastle.

From 0-1 to 4-1, against the fourth- or fifth-best side in the league, in less than 35 minutes.

The second half's a formality, as it was in this fixture last season. Arsenal are in damage control mode. Liverpool get a fifth just about midway through, a second penalty in the match and third at Anfield in two games after going more than a year without a single spot kick at home in the league. Firmino takes it this time and Firmino gets his hat-trick. Firmino gets his first Liverpool hat-trick, the fifth player to do so under Klopp. Salah, Firmino, and Mané all score in the same game for the second time this season, the first in the league, after doing it eight times last season. Liverpool give Mané, Wijnaldum, and Robertson a bit of rest, Liverpool don't do anything stupid, and Liverpool take it easy for about half an hour, which is absolutely fine by me, especially considering the next match in five days, and especially after that first half. Especially after going behind in that first half.

Liverpool have played eight games this month. In 28 days. Two a week for four straight weeks. And they've won every damned one of them. Two by a 1-0 margin, one by a 2-0 margin, and five where Liverpool scored at least three and won by at least two. Five clean sheets, two 3-1 wins, and this 5-1 win.

December usually sucks, because fixture congestion almost always sucks. December went a long way in dooming title challenges in both 2008-09 and 2013-14. December has definitely not sucked this season.

Compare that to the month that Liverpool's rivals' have had. Chelsea and Arsenal – the latter prior to today – each lost twice. Tottenham burst into life over the last 10 days, but then completely fell apart in the last third of today's loss. And City have lost three of their last six in all competitions, with three of the last four in the league.

Liverpool are unbeaten. In all of December and through 20 games of the league campaign. And Liverpool will go into 2019 at the top of the league, by at least seven points.

2018 has been very good, which makes it very, very possible that the 2018-19 season will be very, very good. But there's still the small matter of 2019, of the eighteen league matches still to come. The first of which will be against the team most likely in second at the time, who also happen to be the defending league champions.

Visualized: Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal

Previous Match Infographics: Cardiff (h), Red Star Belgrade (h), Huddersfield (a), Manchester City (h), Napoli (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Leicester (a), Brighton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



I don't like spending more time writing about Liverpool's opponent than I do Liverpool. But that's what this match was about. What Arsenal did to Liverpool rather than what Liverpool did to Arsenal. From the opening minute.

Five of Arsenal's eight key passes in the first half came from Liverpool's right flank, including both early clear-cut chances.



Here's how Arsenal came to those two clear-cut chances.



Fourth minute. Arsenal gain possession after a failed Liverpool long clearance. Long cross field to get Liverpool's defense retreating laterally. Two against one down Alexander-Arnold's flank – Kolasinac and Aubameyang. Overlap, through ball, low cross. Alisson saves at the feet of Aubameyang.

15th minute. Arsenal gain possession after a failed Liverpool long clearance. More patient, sustained possession, but also two more long cross field switches of play, again two against one on Liverpool's right – Kolasinac and Aubameyang – cross, Mkhitaryan header wide. Liverpool's defense especially out of shape because Liverpool's fullbacks had switched sides while defending a corner and didn't have time to recover.

And these were just two moments. There were more, called back for offside, final passes off the mark, shots both errant and blocked – four of nine in the first half off-target, three more blocked by Liverpool defenders (two by van Dijk, one by Gomez). And moments welcomingly cleared by Liverpool, with nine first-half clearances in the defensive third from van Dijk and Gomez.

Liverpool necessarily had to change tactics, first evident in Wijnaldum's average position – both deeper and wider to add the defensive help Salah couldn't – then in the halftime formation switch, something of a 4-4-1-1 with Milner on the right. That slowed Arsenal's progress, still dominant in possession but unable to turn it into opportunities, even after Milner opened the scoring just after the hour.

Arsenal's only shot between the 46th and 81st minutes came from Torreira, outside the box and straight down Alisson's throat, from a throw-in after Arsenal launched the ball down the field following the restart after Liverpool's goal.

And then Arsenal made changes of their own, first bringing on Iwobi and Ramsey, hoping to use Ramsey as a late runner into the box from the #10 and Iwobi's speed down Liverpool's right with Aubameyang fading. It helped, at least in increased pressure if not efforts at goal, but the breakthrough didn't come until the final substitution, Welbeck for Kolasinac, and Arsenal matching Liverpool's 4-4-2 formation with Iwobi at left-back. And, naturally, it was Iwobi turned provider. Down Liverpool's right.

It didn't help that Liverpool's two defensive lines had increasingly retreated, reacting to Arsenal's pressure, likely fatigue, and the increasingly little time left on the clock. Probably shouldn't have that much space to thread the pass.




Plus, two strikers up top, both Lacazette and now Welbeck, momentarily unbalanced Liverpool's almost-always impressive center-backs, this sequence Welbeck's first action in the game. Who's going with who? Oops, they're in.



Changes matter, substitutions matter. Especially in matches as tight as this. In matches between surprisingly equal top six rivals, with only Manchester City head, shoulders, knees, and toes above their peers.

So, yes, this match ended up being more about what Arsenal did to Liverpool than vice versa. Which is obviously concerning.

The attack remains unbalanced, with only Salah performing near potential, leading Liverpool in both shots and key passes. Firmino struggled to get involved despite his three shots, with one hitting the post, failing to create a chance, registering his lowest passing total both of the season and as far back as I can remember. Mané tallied just one late blocked shot from distance, although we're all still shouting about the wrongly disallowed goal.

The midfield still underwhelms, especially in possession, with Fabinho often basically terrible on the ball and intermittently decent off it. Wijnaldum's again less influential further forward and Milner remains Milner. God loves a trier and the trying's rewarded in his goal, but he's still a jack of most trades and master of few. Liverpool misses the creativity but more importantly misses the breaking of lines and pressing that both Keïta and Oxlade-Chamberlain add to the unit. Or Lallana if he's anywhere near the Lallana of a year ago. Or potentially Shaqiri, with more familiarity in Liverpool's system.

Both facets are concerning. It ain't the first time we've talked about either this season. I'm not especially hopeful that this'll be the last time. This match demonstrated that there are ways to be stifle and exploit Liverpool, and other sides with have taken notice, just as Arsenal had, with the desire to challenge Liverpool's right flank evident from the off. Liverpool coped, for the for most part, Liverpool reacted, and it's not hard to see Liverpool coming away with all three points if not with just one or two moments turning out differently.

But it's also demonstrated that Arsenal are a damned decent team with a clever manager of their own.

Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal

Goals:
Milner 61'
Lacazette 82'

Two ways to look at this one.

A fair result between evenly matched teams, second place at fourth place. Both with clear-cut chances and spells of dominance. Arsenal were on top early and late in the first half, early and late in the second half, Liverpool had counter-punching spells between. Both sides scored well-taken goals that also were aided by how the keeper dealt with the ball into the box. Liverpool remain unbeaten in the league, Arsenal remain unbeaten in the league since the first two matches. It's the same result, if not the same score line or same type of match, as in this fixture last season. If anything, Arsenal were the "better" side for longer in the match, for what little that's too often worth. Arsenal dominated possession, Arsenal – even with that defense – kept Salah, Firmino, Mané surprisingly quiet.

On the other hand, Liverpool had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside in the 18th minute, long before either side actually scored, right as Liverpool started their first-half spell of control. Alexander-Arnold chips into the box, Mané's offside but doesn't go for the ball, Firmino's onside and chips it over the keeper. The flag stays down, the shot hits the woodwork. Mané's now onside, behind the ball as Firmino shoots, but the flag goes up as soon as he taps into the empty net. Only the lord and linesman know why. It's probably a different match had that counted, with Arsenal necessarily pushing harder and harder earlier on and Liverpool reasonably positioned to counter and add more.

And Liverpool twice hit the post, first by Firmino, then van Dijk from Milner's deep free kick, with Leno also bushwhacking the defender after the ball was gone, an almost certain penalty if it'd been done by an outfield player but somehow forgivable when it's the goalkeeper.

And Liverpool had adjusted to and coped with Arsenal after the home side's more-than-decent first half. Arsenal ran Alexander-Arnold ragged for long stretches in the opening 45 minutes, and were starting to carve Liverpool open through the middle as Wijnaldum pushed wider and wider to compensate that flank. Liverpool were back in the 4-3-3 and it was not working, with Fabinho unsure where to go or where to pass out, with Liverpool's right shredded time and time again. The second half started with Liverpool back in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Fabinho and Wijnaldum as a double pivot, Milner wide right, Firmino as the #10, Salah up top. Arsenal had nine shots in the first half. They had one between the 46th and 81st minutes.

And Liverpool took the lead just after the hour mark, with Milner on hand to mop up after Robertson found Mané careening down the left, Leno punching Mané's byline cross off his own defender, falling perfectly for the captain to charge on to and arrow into the half-guarded net.

It had been 14 matches since Liverpool last dropped points after taking a lead in the Premier League, 2-0 at West Brom turning into 2-2 in the final 11 minutes. They'd held on in tight matches against Palace, Brighton, Leicester, Tottenham, and Huddersfield, even if those sides aren't Arsenal or – in the case of Tottenham – weren't playing anywhere near as well as Arsenal played today.

But then Arsenal scored in the 82nd minute. Iwobi, on as a substitute 15 minutes earlier, is now at left-back as Emery throws caution to the wind, is in space midway through Liverpool's half as Liverpool's defensive line retreats deeper and deeper. Milner and Wijnaldum can't get out to close down in time, and he threads a through ball between two Liverpool lines for Lacazette's perfectly timed run. Alisson charges out – maybe rightly, maybe wrongly. He cuts off Lacazette's sight of goal, he doesn't bring the player down. But Lacazette retains possession, turns, and somehow finds the postage stamp window between Alisson's left hand and van Dijk's clearing header.

Maybe the keeper could've done more. Maybe Liverpool's line should've been higher, should have been more resilient. But we've also got to give credit to both the build-up and finish.

We've also got to give credit to the opposition. It ain't always Liverpool's fault when Liverpool drop points. Liverpool at least kept Arsenal out in the first half, with the attack only firing intermittently. Liverpool coped, adjusted, regrouped, and took the lead. Liverpool did good things against a side that's been hard to do good things against so far this season, at least after their first two matches.

Which is why, as hard as it is in the moment, I'm trying to focus more on the supposedly fair result than what could and maybe should have been.

Liverpool at Arsenal 11.03.18

1:30pm ET, live in the US on NBC

Last four head-to-head:
3-3 (a) 12.22.17
4-0 Liverpool (h) 08.27.17
3-1 Liverpool (h) 03.04.17
4-3 Liverpool (a) 08.14.16

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 4-1 Cardiff (h); 4-0 Red Star (h); 1-0 Huddersfield (a)
Arsenal: 2-1 Blackpool (h); 2-2 Palace (a); 1-0 Sporting Lisbon (a)

Goal scorers (league):
Liverpool: Mané 6; Salah 5; Firmino, Sturridge 2; Matip, Milner, Shaqiri, Wijnaldum 1
Arsenal: Aubameyang 7; Lacazette 4; Özil 3; Xhaka 2; Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Monreal, Mustafi, Ramsey, Welbeck 1

Referee: Andre Marriner (LFC History) (WhoScored)

Guess at a line-up:
Alisson
Trent A-A Gomez van Dijk Robertson
Wijnaldum Fabinho
Shaqiri Firmino Mané
Salah

If it ain't broke.

Two games in a row with 4-2-3-1, with Fabinho and Wijnaldum holding, with a line of Firmino, Mane, and Shaqiri behind Salah.

Two wins while scoring four goals in each, conceding just one unnecessary goal late against Cardiff.

True, Arsenal are not Red Star or Cardiff. I would not be surprised to see Henderson or Milner come in for Shaqiri, to see Liverpool's more familiar formation. I wouldn't be surprised to see both Henderson and Milner if Liverpool return 4-3-3, with Fabinho also making way. I hope to see Gomez come back in for Lovren, with Alexander-Arnold on the right.

But if it ain't broke.

If there weren't three unbeaten teams in the league, Arsenal would be getting even more publicity and praise. They started the season with two losses, their first without Arsene Wenger as manager since 1996. Two understandable losses – against Manchester City and at Chelsea. And then they went on an 11-match winning streak before a draw at Palace last weekend, then winning with the B-team in the League Cup against Blackpool on Wednesday.

Seven wins, one draw, and two losses. 22 points, just two behind Chelsea and four behind Liverpool and City.

They're quite good in attack. Arsenal have scored four more goals than Liverpool so far this campaign. They put three past West Ham, Cardiff, and Leicester, and five past Fulham. They've scored at least twice in every league match except the opening day fixture at Manchester City.

Granted, they're seemingly over-performing – an Expected Goals total just over 14, but with 24 goals actually scored – but that's not entirely a bad thing. Liverpool over-performed by a similar margin last season and it was a lot of fun to watch unless you were playing Liverpool.

They're not quite as good defensively, having conceded nine more goals than Liverpool. They've kept just two clean sheets in the league, at home against Everton and Watford more than a month ago. Their 13 goals conceded, in contrast to the attack, is almost exactly in line with xG totals.

It's slightly understandable, both given Unai Emery's style – playing out from the back, reasonably heavy pressing, an emphasis on attacking patterns – and Arsenal's defensive injuries and the actual defenders involved. But it still ain't great. It's definitely something Liverpool can take advantage of.

And Arsenal might be without both starting fullbacks tomorrow; Bellerin went off with an injury at halftime at Palace while Monreal has missed the last four matches. Both could be in contention, but will be assessed tomorrow, as will Sokratis and Kolasinac. Elneny, Koscielny, and Mavropanos are injured and Guendouzi is suspended.

Arsenal do have options, and have had to use them over the last month. If only Bellerin's fit, Kolasinac or Lichtsteiner will play at left-back. They'd have played there more if not for Bellerin's and Kolasinac's respective injuries, meaning that Xhaka has been the stand-in left-back for the last few matches. If Bellerin's unable to feature, Lichtsteiner will stay at right-back with either Kolasinac or Xhaka on the other flank.

Otherwise, the Arsenal XI has been fairly consistent during their unbeaten stretch. Cech; Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Holding, Xhaka; Torreira, Ramsey; Iwobi, Özil, Aubameyang; Lacazette.

Emery may be slightly more cautious than the recent attacking formations used, dropping one of Lacazatte or Aubameyang to the bench for Welbeck or Mkhitaryan. Cech's fit again – with Leno having started the previous three league matches – but Cech also pulled a Cech in the League Cup a few days ago, allowing Blackpool back in the game so *shrugs*.

These matches have been fairly bananas since Klopp took over. 3-3 at Arsenal in January 2016. 4-3 at Arsenal on Opening Day in 2016-17. Romps at Anfield in both 2016-17 and 2017-18, 3-1 and 4-0 respectively. And another 3-3 at Arsenal last December, Liverpool up 2-0 before conceding three in five minutes, then at least clawing a point back. Three goals scored by at least one side in all five fixtures, and by both sides in three of them.

Both sides have the potential to do so tomorrow. There are goals in those XIs, as we've seen from Arsenal over the last couple of months, as we've seen from Liverpool only sporadically this season, albeit more in the last two matches.

Liverpool, however, looks the more likely to keep the opposition from doing so.

Visualized: Liverpool 3-3 Arsenal

Previous Match Infographics: Bournemouth (a), West Brom (h), Everton (h), Spartak Moscow (h), Brighton (a), Stoke (a), Chelsea (h), Sevilla (a), Southampton (h), West Ham (a), Maribor (h), Huddersfield (h), Tottenham (a), Maribor (a), United (h), Newcastle (a), Spartak Moscow (a), Leicester (a), Burnley (h), Sevilla (h), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Hoffenheim (h), Crystal Palace (h), Hoffenheim (a), Watford (a)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



(Here's the formation diagram usually included in match reviews.)

Shot map? Good. 10 of 13 shots in the Danger Zone, just three from outside the box.

Chance creation? Good. Liverpool had four big chances. 2.2 Expected Goals to Arsenal's 1.5, on Arsenal's ground.

Chance conversion? I mean, Liverpool scored three goals. Liverpool over-performed xG. They failed to convert three of four clear-cut chances – the third time they've failed to convert three big chances in the last four games – but they also put nine of 14 shots on-target. I mean, three goals should be enough to win a match.

Arsenal had allowed just one goal in their last five games – albeit against BATE Borisov, Southampton, West Ham, Newcastle, and West Ham – with clean sheets in their last three, after all.

Liverpool remain excitingly, impressively good at the attacking.

But then, those five minutes of defending. Bad. So, so, so bad.

Just five minutes. But that's all Liverpool needed. That's all Arsenal needed.

Less than a minute after Liverpool finally took a two-goal lead, there's Gomez losing Alexis at the back post. It happens. He's 20. It's regrettable, especially since Liverpool had just scored, hadn't allowed Arsenal a shot on-target in 142 minutes this season at that point, and hadn't conceded from open play since Chelsea's equalizer seven games before this one.

But Liverpool are still 2-1 up. Liverpool should still be able to see this out. Well, most teams should be able to. Maybe not Liverpool.

Because then, less than three minutes later, there's Mignolet failing to save a shot that's saved 199 times out of 200. I don't care that it swerves. It's straight down his neck and he throws it up, and it's not for the first time.

Because then, two minutes after that, a giveaway after Liverpool have a free kick in their own half, Klavan and Robertson playing into pressure. In their own half, after supposedly relieving the pressure! There's Emre Can stopping at the top of the box, failing to stay with Özil. And there's Mignolet again, diving before Özil's even decided where to shoot, making it far too easy to convert.

And we've gone from 2-0 to 2-3 in less than five minutes. At least Liverpool got back to 3-3, thanks to Salah and Can and Firmino, and Arsenal's again vacant central midfield, and Cech trying to out-do Mignolet.

It's almost, but thankfully not quite, Tottenham away all over again. Individual errors, in quick succession. Far too often, when Liverpool concede once, they concede multiples: Watford, City, Sevilla, Leicester, Tottenham, Sevilla, and now Arsenal. They often don't seem like systematic errors, but when individual errors keep happening again and again and again when do we blame the system as much as the individuals?

This is the third time this season that Liverpool have scored three goals but failed to win.

3-3 at Watford on opening day, evidently setting the tone for the season, a match drawn because of an (offside) injury-time equalizer after Liverpool had come back from a deficit.

3-3 at Sevilla, a three-goal lead thrown away because of individual errors and goals conceded in quick succession, then an injury-time equalizer.

And now, 3-3 Arsenal, a two-goal lead thrown away because of individual errors and goals conceded in quick succession, but at least with Liverpool getting one back.

Liverpool scored three but failed to win twice in Klopp's first season and a half. 3-3 v Arsenal in 2015-16 – a match not entirely dissimilar to Friday's – and 3-4 at Bournemouth last season.

Two in 99 games versus three in 28. It makes it hard to argue that it's not systematic.

But then you remember the individuals. Specifically one from Friday's match.





Sigh.

Those are a lot of high-value chances, especially in proportion to the amount of total shots allowed. Which we know is a problem (although it's been a little better this season), and almost certainly a systematic problem. But then, individuals. But, good lord, that Danger Zone save percentage.

Mignolet's even getting worse relative to previous seasons. His PL save percentage last season was 63.9% – still below league average but better than so far this season. He saved 56% of the Danger Zone shots that Liverpool allowed in 2016-17, compared to 36.7% so far this season. He saved 35.5% of the on-target clear-cut chances faced last season (11 of 31) compared to just 26.1% so far this season (6 of 23).

And it's even worse when you see what goalkeepers are doing against Liverpool. Opposition keepers have saved 51.5% of Liverpool's Danger Zone shots in the league this season. Opposition keepers have saved 33.3% of Liverpool's on-target clear-cut chances. Opposition keepers have saved 67.7% of Liverpool's total shots on-target in the league this season – almost exactly league average.

Mignolet has been worse than league average, for the majority of his time here. This season has been the low point so far. There are excuses – high-value chances allowed, an accident-prone defense, and some decent runs of form during his tenure, especially at the end of last season – but not enough.

Play Karius, play Ward when he's healthy again. After all this time, we know what we have with Simon Mignolet. And it's not enough.

So, once again, despite the annoyance and disappointment, we didn't really learn a lot. We know where we stand. Liverpool remain fourth at the midway mark, by the skin of Firmino's pearly white teeth, one point ahead of Tottenham and Arsenal but four points behind Chelsea.

Liverpool remain incredibly good going forward. Coutinho, Firmino, and Salah all scored in a match for the fourth time in the last two months. Salah's already got 21 goals this season, with 15 in 19 league appearances. Liverpool scored three or more for the tenth time in the last 13 matches, Liverpool scored three or more away from home for the sixth consecutive away match.

And Liverpool defended reasonably well for – as Klopp said – 89 of 94 minutes. As they had in their previous four matches. But we get spells. We get calamities, we get disasters, we get multiple goals conceded in a matter of minutes despite not looking like conceding for the 52 minutes before that.

And it's infuriating. For as well as Liverpool had played for 52 minutes, as well as Liverpool defended for their last few matches, they remain as capable of this as they are capable of absolutely blasting some poor opponent. As they did five days earlier.

For better or for worse, for better and for worse, this is what Liverpool are. Wild up front, and wild at the back. And all we can do for now is hang on for the ride.

And also drop Mignolet.

Liverpool at Arsenal 12.22.17

2:45pm ET, live in the US on NBC Sports

Last four head-to-head:
4-0 Liverpool (h) 08.27.17
3-1 Liverpool (h) 03.04.17
4-3 Liverpool (a) 08.14.16
3-3 (h) 01.13.16

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 4-0 Bournemouth (a); 0-0 West Brom (h); 1-1 Everton (h)
Arsenal: 1-0 West Ham (h); 1-0 Newcastle (h); 0-0 West Ham (a)

Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Salah 14; Firmino 6; Coutinho 5; Mané 4; Sturridge 2; Alex O-C, Can, Henderson, Lovren, Matip, Wijnaldum 1
Arsenal: Lacazette 8; Alexis, Giroud 4; Özil, Ramsey, Welbeck 3; Monreal 2; Iwobi, Kolasinac, Mertesacker, Mustafi 1

Referee: Martin Atkinson (LFC History) (WhoScored)

Guess at a line-up:
Mignolet
Gomez Lovren Klavan Milner
Can Henderson Coutinho
Salah Firmino Mané

There will have been five days since Liverpool's last match when this kicks off. It's the longest spell between matches since an international break a little more than a month ago. Does this mean we're still getting fairly substantial rotation?

Considering that, starting with this, Liverpool will have four games in ten days, yes, yes we probably are.

But Liverpool have options. Good options.

I think the above is the most likely formation. Maybe Oxlade-Chamberlain for Can, given form and Can not signing a new contract and Oxlade-Chamberlain desperate to play against his old side. It seems a toss-up between Robertson and Milner; the former is an actual left-back who's looked increasingly good in successive starts, but there's also the experienced 'devil you know, safe pair of hands' in Milner.

But I'm also very tempted to guess the increasingly-seen-away-from-home 4-4-2. That back four, but a front six of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Henderson, Can, Coutinho; Firmino, Salah. It's been fun, it gets Liverpool's best players on form all into the attack, and it can absolutely maul sides on the counter-attack.

However, I find it hard to believe that Sadio Mané will be left out of successive matches when available, although he is an option in place of Oxlade-Chamberlain in this formation. I'm not sure that Liverpool will want to play 4-4-2 against Arsenal's likely 4-2-3-1, against a side that doesn't need to be drawn out for Liverpool to have space. Liverpool's 4-3-3 pressing formation – which we saw in full effect at Bournemouth – has done well against Arsenal every time they've met since Klopp became manager.

So we're guess the above. Not that I've had much luck guessing XIs or formations lately.

Meanwhile, Arsenal. One point behind Liverpool in fifth. They've failed to score more than once in their last four games, but are unbeaten in those four with three clean sheets. Arsenal have an outstanding home record, with eight wins and one loss in the league, that wacky how-did-we-end-up-with-this-scoreline 1-3 defeat to United at the beginning of the month the only dropped points.

With a handful of injuries piling up, Wenger has reverted to a 4-2-3-1 in recent matches. Ramsey and Giroud are out injured, while Mustafi and Coquelin are doubtful. If Mustafi's not fit, it'll probably be Monreal at center-back with Kolasinac or Maitland-Niles at left-back.

It seems unlikely that anyone who started the 1-0 Legaue Cup win against West Ham will start tomorrow. So let's guess Cech; Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal; Wilshere, Xhaka; Iwobi, Özil, Alexis; Lacazette. And we'll probably be closer in that guess than we are with Liverpool's XI.

This fixture has had goals since Klopp took over. 3-3, 4-3, 3-1, 4-0. Liverpool have had goals lately, scoring at least three goals in nine of the last 12 matches unbeaten, including four, three, three, five, and four in the away matches during that stretch. Arsenal have not allowed goals lately, with the three conceded against United the only time they've conceded more than once in a match since a 1-3 loss at City nearly two months ago. And while they've been low-scoring lately, we've still seen 5-0 v Huddersfield and 6-0 v BATE Borisov in the last month.

With Liverpool's recent results over Arsenal, coupled with a narrow lead in the table, it's all Liverpool's to lose. A win's not expected, but it's kind of expected. A loss would be a big setback, especially given how well Liverpool played on Sunday, and with games to come annoyingly fast and thick over the next two weeks.

This fixture's been wild recently. Liverpool, for better and worse, have been wild recently. Arsenal, even with their good record, have not been all that wild, but hey, they're still Arsenal.

So expect wild. Expect heart palpitations. And hope for the best.

Visualized: Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal

Previous Match Infographics: Hoffenheim (h), Crystal Palace (h), Hoffenheim (a), Watford (a)

Match data from WhoScored and Liverpool FC



As said yesterday, this played out an awful lot like Liverpool's Champions League qualifier. The same set-up from both sides. The opposition blown away from the start. Four Liverpool goals. Almost exact passing totals from the two sides.

Arsenal's opposition scouting has a lot to answer for here.

This is the also second game in a row where Liverpool had six Opta-defined clear-cut chances. Liverpool didn't have six in a match at all last season. And, like Hoffenheim, Arsenal had none.

I still maintain that I'd blame Arsene Wenger for this defeat far more than I would the Arsenal players, but I will also readily admit that individuals did not help their cause. Most of the criticism has fallen on Arsenal's first half midfield, especially Ramsey, or Bellerin's error for Liverpool's third. I'd like to highlight Arsenal's supposed defensive stalwart, the rock between a youngster and a left-back.

Just before the first goal. Koscielny clearly has Firmino.



Koscielny does not have Firmino.



Then, the fourth goal. Koscielny clearly has Sturridge; he's even looking right at him!



Koscielny does not have Sturridge.



If this were from Dejan Lovren, we'd be howling for weeks.

Conversely, while there are a ton of very good things to pick out from individual Liverpool players – the potency of that front three, Wijnaldum completing eight successful take-ons, Emre Can's role in transitions – I'd like to point out one that I've seen go unmentioned so far. Liverpool's first two goals came from Joe Gomez interceptions: one in the final third, one in Liverpool's penalty box. Guile and ability from a 20-year-old who's hardly featured over the last two seasons, at both ends of the pitch, including a weaker-footed assist perfectly weighted to open the scoring. From the third-choice right-back, who's also fourth-choice center-back.

Liverpool have now kept seven clean sheets in their last nine PL games, going back to mid-April last season. Matip-Lovren started all but Liverpool's 1-0 win over Palace last week. There have been ground-out wins: 1-0 West Brom, Watford, and Palace. There have been massacres: 4-0 West Ham, 3-0 Boro, and 4-0 Arsenal. There have been frustrations: 0-0 Southampton. And there have been mistakes: 1-2 Palace, 3-3 Watford. Three of the five goals conceded – one against Palace and two against Watford – came from corners.

There are still mistakes in that unit. It's still too shallow for my liking, with another center-back seemingly necessary. But, because of those notable errors, because of the set play failings, we're sometimes blinded to the fact that it's actually better than we admit.

It's been two years since any side kept a clean sheet in this fixture – since 0-0 at Arsenal under Rodgers in August 2015. It's been more than 11 years since Liverpool kept a clean sheet in this fixture at Anfield, since a 1-0 win in February 2006. This was the first time Arsenal's been held without a shot on-target since October 2014. It's only the fifth time that Liverpool have held a league opponent without a shot on-target under Jürgen Klopp.

It was as thorough a beating as possible. And we're all aware of how good it was in attack. How good Firmino, Mané, and Salah already are, and can continue to be, especially when they're allowed this much space and that many chances to counter. But we also need recognize how good Liverpool were, and can be, in both midfield and defense as well, in contrast to what we feared after the first two games of the season.

Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal

Goals:
Firmino 17'
Mané 40'
Salah 57'
Sturridge 77'

We make this joke a lot, usually in matches against other top-six sides. But I truly do wish Liverpool could play Arsenal every week.

Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool have now played Arsenal four times. They've scored at least three goals in all four of those matches. This, however, was the first time that Liverpool also kept a clean sheet. Because Arsenal failed to put a single shot on-target. It's the first time that Liverpool kept a clean sheet against Arsenal at Anfield since February 2006. Yes. More than 11 years ago.

It comes down to two factors. How good Liverpool can be in attack, and the choices that Arsenal – read: Arsene Wenger – made to take on the hosts.

That Arsenal attempted to play the same system and style that Hoffenheim tried at Anfield was a bad idea. Liverpool's midfield again looked a real midfield, out-numbering and over-powering Ramsey and Xhaka in the middle. And then Firmino, Mané, and Salah wreaked utter destruction, because that's what that front three does.

Liverpool should have opened the scoring at the exact same moment as against Hoffenheim as well. A tenth-minute clear-cut chance created by Can and Firmino, taken by Salah, but saved by Cech. At least we wouldn't have to wait much longer. Gomez stealing the ball in Arsenal's half, interplay between him, Salah, and Can, Gomez's cross to an unmarked Firmino run into the box, easily headed past Cech.

One goal from pressing, nearly another two minutes later – Henderson robbing possession, to Firmino, back to Henderson, missed wide from a narrow angle – then three from counter-attacking.

Do not let Liverpool score early, and then do not give Liverpool space.

Do. Not. Give. Liverpool. Space.

I mean, I really want you to. But you probably shouldn't.

It's the 40th minute. Liverpool have had chances to extend their lead but haven't yet, something which always makes as nervous. And Arsenal are in Liverpool's box. But a Gomez interception to Wijnaldum to Can to Firmino to Mané, now one-on-one with poor Rob Holding in Arsenal's box. A cut onto his right, even though every human in the world knows he's cutting onto his right, and a curler past Cech. 16 seconds from start to finish.

2-0 at halftime absolutely did not flatter the home side.

Hoffenheim at least changed to a 4-2-3-1 in the 24th minute to stem Liverpool's tide. It took Arsenal until halftime. And they were better for about ten minutes after the restart, but without reward, any really semblance of reward. Too little, too late. And then Liverpool took over again. Salah, again denied from a close-range clear-cut chance on the counter. Then Salah, finally, with the ball in the back of the net: an Arsenal corner, but Salah robbing Bellerin after the cross is cleared, then sprinting two-thirds the pitch to slot past Cech, seven seconds from start to finish.

57 minutes into the match, and all three of Liverpool's front three have scored. Just as happened at Watford on opening day, almost to the exact second.

From there, Arsenal truly beaten. From there, Liverpool buoyant, passing with purpose, denying chances, in control and always looking for that counter.

A chance to make subs, to rest players after the exertions since the start of the season. And the first substitute gets Liverpool's fourth. Arsenal's cross easily dealt with, Gomez to Firmino, who unbelievably turns away from and between two defenders and finds Can, to Salah, a couldn't-be-better-aimed cross from the left to a couldn't-be-more-open Sturridge at the back post. 15 seconds from start to finish. Sturridge's first goal at Anfield – in front of the Kop – since December.

There's not much else to be said about Liverpool's attack. They are good. Really good. Good in games where there's a lack of space, as at Watford, and really, really good in games like this. There's Sturridge, Solanke, and Origi off the bench, there's Coutinho and Lallana to return from injury. They're all gonna score a lot of goals, and even more goals when Salah starts consistently converting great chances.

It's been five games now. Mané, Firmino, and Salah have all scored three goals. Firmino's got three assists, Mané two, and Salah one. Through five games, Liverpool have had 18 clear-cut chances, an average of 3.5 per game, and Salah, Firmino, and Mané have been on the end of 14 of those. Liverpool averaged 1.9 in the league last season.

But again, I'm almost as impressed with the midfield, if only because we expect this from the attack. Getting this sort of play from Henderson, Wijnaldum, and Can wasn't anywhere near as expected, especially after the first two fixtures. We got the passing, covering, and pressing – especially pressing – from Henderson that we saw on Wednesday. Wijnaldum on the ball was something to behold, surging runs forward, breaking Arsenal ankles on three separate occasions, exactly what he's needed to do. And Emre Can was undeniable, adding passes like those to free Firmino and Salah on the break for Liverpool's second and fourth, and the interplay and low cross for that early Salah chance to his already beast-mode physicality.

And we'll give the defense its due as well. The full-backs were excellent, in both attack – Joe Gomez assist! – and defense. Lovren and Matip did as needed, which is all I'll ever ask. Karius frightened on three separate occasions and that's not great, but whatever, he got through it. But mostly, it was a team effort, with everyone quick to get back and cover, and Arsenal attackers smothered by numbers rather than individual dual wins.

A lot of focus will be what Arsenal did. What Arsenal's players did. Underperformers. Don't respect the shirt. Not passionate enough. Alexis wants out, Özil again goes missing. Sure, a lot of talent didn't do what was needed today. Zero shots on-target is pretty bad, even if none were especially good chances thanks to what Liverpool did. Midfielders, wing-backs, and attackers could and should have been quicker to close down Liverpool in the middle of the pitch, but most the worst examples of it came after Liverpool were already two up. Yes, Ramsey and Oxlade-Chamberlain switched off on Liverpool's first, and Bellerin screwed up on Liverpool's third.

I'm still far more inclined to blame the manager, who picked a side that played directly to Liverpool's strengths. Who started a 21-year-old center-back with 10 Premier League appearances against Sadio Mané, a left-back at center-back opposite Salah, a right wing-back at left-wing back, and a central midfielder at right-wing back. Who left Mustafi, Kolasinac, and Lacazette on the bench. Who played Aaron Ramsey in a two-man midfield against Liverpool's three.

And I'm far more inclined to credit Liverpool's players, in all three areas of the pitch.

Liverpool v Arsenal 08.27.17

11am ET, live in the US on NBC Sports

Last four head-to-head:
3-1 Liverpool (h) 03.04.17
4-3 Liverpool (a) 08.14.16
3-3 (h) 01.13.16
0-0 (a) 08.24.15

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 4-2 Hoffenheim (h); 1-0 Palace (h); 2-1 Hoffenheim (a)
Arsenal: 0-1 Stoke (a); 4-3 Leicester (h); 1-1 Chelsea aet [4-1 pens] (n)

Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Mané 2; Firmino, Salah 1
Arsenal: Giroud, Lacazette, Ramsey, Welbeck 1

Referee: Martin Atkinson (LFC History) (WhoScored)

Guess at a line-up:
Mignolet
Trent A-A Matip Lovren Moreno
Can Henderson Wijnaldum
Salah Firmino Mané

As before Hoffenheim, as against Palace, the starting XI calculus is totally dependent upon players' fitness and potential need for rotation.

Five outfield players have started all four matches – in an 11-day span – so far: Firmino, Mané, Henderson, Wijnaldum, and Matip. This would make five matches in 15 days. The other five outfield players in the above guess at an XI have started three of the four.

That's a lot of match time for it yet to be September. That always makes me nervous.

Both Alexander-Arnold and Emre Can had minor problems against Hoffenheim, but both should be available here.

There seems a small chance we get an XI closer to that against Palace: Sturridge in place of Mané or Salah; Milner for Wijnaldum or Can; Robertson for Moreno. That left-back spot remains the most contentious, with Moreno playing better than expected but Robertson also starring against Palace last week.

That we're coming up on an international break after this match also matters. Screw it. Play whomever you want. Let the countries deal with the fallout. What could possibly go wrong, etc etc etc.

It makes a certain amount of sense to play the same XI as against Hoffenheim. Like Hoffenheim, Arsenal will play 3-4-2-1. Like Hoffenheim, Arsenal will play a high line with wing-backs getting forward. Arsenal will leave space for Mané and Salah, Liverpool will get chances. And Arsenal will as well.

Like that Hoffenheim match, this fixture has seen a lot of goals every time these sides have met since Klopp became Liverpool manager. Liverpool have scored at least three in all three meetings. Arsenal have scored three in two of them.

Arsenal are vastly more dangerous up front than Hoffenheim are.

Alexis Sanchez is back following an abdominal injury, Koscielny's back after suspension. Neither have played yet this season, so maybe it's a reach to throw both in right away, but this is Alexis and Koscielny we're talking about. Both make Arsenal better, usually much better.

Cech; Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Bellerin, Xhaka, Elneny, Kolasinac; Sanchez, Özil; Lacazette. Maybe Oxlade-Chamberlain keeps his place at wing-back or moves into midfield, but that seems less likely given all the talk about rejecting a new contract and possible transfer. Ramsey's another option in midfield. Welbeck, Walcott, and Iwobi are options in attack; Giroud will almost certainly be limited to a role off the bench – which he's thrived in.

This may be the type of game where Liverpool have been at their best over the last couple of seasons, but, as always, past is not necessarily precedent. This can be a different, better Arsenal – even if they're allowing loads of shots so far this season, even if they're coming off a loss to Stoke. A different type of striker in attack, a different style of defense than Liverpool have faced when facing them. It can also be a better Liverpool, at least in attack, but attack has rarely been a problem for Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool.

All signs point to a wacky, wild 3-2, 4-3, 5-2 match. And if any other teams were involved, that'd means we're in for a dire 0-0 or 1-0. But that's not how these teams roll.

Let's hope Liverpool are on the right end of the insanity.

Visualized: Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal

Previous Match Infographics: Leicester (a), Tottenham (h), Hull (a), Chelsea (h), Swansea (h), Manchester United (a), Sunderland (a), Manchester City (a), Stoke (h), Everton (a), Middlesbrough (a), West Ham (h), Bournemouth (a), Sunderland (h), Southampton (a), Watford (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Brom (h), United (h), Swansea (a), Hull (h), Chelsea (a), Leicester (h), Tottenham (a), Burnley (a), Arsenal (a)


All match data from Stats Zone and Who Scored.



It is incredibly simplistic, but football is a game about space. Controlling space, utilizing space. Especially Liverpool's game.

No opponent bar Tottenham had given Liverpool any space in attack in 2017. And there's a very good reason for it. When you give Liverpool space, Liverpool can punish you. Liverpool are far more likely to punish you. And when you don't, Liverpool often suffer.

See: Liverpool's first two goals on Saturday.

In theory, Arsenal were set up to stop this. Giroud up front allows for more direct play out of defense, Welbeck and Oxlade-Chamberlain on the flanks are more defensive wingers, and Iwobi was central and basically playing as a third midfielder without the ball.

In practice, it didn't go so well, and it starts with defensive organization and controlling the defensive space.



All Liverpool had to do to get to this position was challenge for Mignolet's goal kick.

There's obviously still a bit to do afterwards, but it's far less likely this results in a goal if Koscielny doesn't charge out to contest the aerial with Firmino. He "wins" but it also skims off his head backwards, leading to a three-on-three, soon to be four-on-three with Firmino on the front foot and Arsenal's midfield plus Koscielny on the back. Coutinho lay-off to Lallana, Lallana wide to Mané, Mané able to center through retreating Arsenal players to Firmino, very much aided by Coutinho's dummy.

Then, 30 minutes later:



Milner gets a bit fortunate on the flank, but Arsenal break down as Iwobi doesn't track Wijnaldum, so Mustafi comes over, leaving Koscielny caught in two minds, whether to mark Firmino (also needed because Xhaka's late in getting back to help) or switch to Lallana, who's currently marked by Monreal. Which leaves Sadio Mané with more space in the penalty box than he even saw against Tottenham.

Liverpool still have to be clever enough, potent enough, and fortunate enough to take advantage, which hasn't always been the case during the winter of our discontent, even when given glimmers of openings. But it still goes back to the fact that Arsenal couldn't, didn't control their defensive space. And Liverpool used it.

Needing just nine minutes to make the breakthrough was also a massive boost.

Liverpool have now won ten and drawn just once in the 11 matches where they've scored before the 20th minute. 5-0 Burton Albion, 4-1 Leicester, 2-1 Chelsea, 5-1 Hull, 2-1 Tottenham (League Cup), 4-2 Crystal Palace, 2-2 West Ham, 1-0 Manchester City, 1-0 Plymouth Argyle, 2-0 Tottenham, and 3-1 Arsenal. In all but City and Plymouth they've gone on to score at least once more.

Granted, that's a small sample size in a low-scoring sport. The team that scores first wins fairly often no matter when it happens. Yes, even Liverpool. And "before the 20th minute" is something of an unfair dividing line, as Liverpool scored in the 20th minute at both Bournemouth and Sunderland, and went on to lose and draw respectively.

But still, an early goal seems to matter so much more to this side, in games against both good and bad opposition. There's Chelsea away and City, Tottenham, and Arsenal at home, but there's also 4-1 Leicester, 5-1 Hull, and 6-1 Watford – teams who've foiled and frustrated Liverpool in the last two months.

And the early goal meant Arsenal needed to open up and Arsenal tried to go back to doing what they do best. And Liverpool are fairly well set up to stop that.



Look at all those ball recoveries in the middle third, led by Milner (4), Clyne (3), Firmino (3), and Lallana (3).

Special mention need go to Adam Lallana, his crucial role in both the press and the finishing. Four of Lallana's five attempted tackles, as well as his lone interception, came in that span between Liverpool's two goals. He played a key part, and the second assist, in both Liverpool's first and third goals.

Few clips of Adam Lallana performance vs Arsenal. His work rate yesterday was simply outstanding... pic.twitter.com/ZBJwa06b7s

— LFCMostar (@LFCMostar) March 5, 2017

Liverpool are incredibly dangerous when given the opportunity to press the opposition in the middle third. Most sides have tried to limit their ability to do so, especially in the last couple of months. Arsenal seemed set up to do so as well, but Liverpool's early goal made that much more a moot point.

With this win, Liverpool are almost certainly finishing first in the Top-6 mini-league. They've taken 19 points from nine games, five wins and four draws, with City away the only top-6 match left. Chelsea (two games left) or City (four games left) would have to run the table to finish on 19 points from these ten matches. At worst, Liverpool will average 1.90 points-per-game from matches against Chelsea, Tottenham, City, Arsenal, and United, and at best, they'll finish with 2.20. Either figure's impressive, especially when considering Liverpool's record against top sides under the previous manager.

The thing is, no matter how fun it is to beat your peers, it's often less important than you'd think. In the last ten seasons, only three winners of the top-six mini-league won the actual league: Manchester City in 2011-12 and Manchester United in 2006-07 and 2010-11.

You have to beat the dross to win the league. That's why Liverpool, still unbeaten against England's best sides with only one game left against them, are only clinging onto fourth.

Burnley on Sunday.

Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal

Goals:
Firmino 9'
Mané 40'
Welbeck 57'
Wijnaldum 90+1'

Liverpool's ability to perform in these matches, and complete inability to do so in the others, remains astonishing and borders on comical.

Playing Tottenham or Arsenal? All right, three points in the bag, everyone's great, everything's great. Leicester or Hull? Practice your noose knots.

Liverpool are really good at playing their way. When allowed to play their way. And they're rarely allowed to do so outside of these big six matches.

Arsenal even attempted to set up to stop Liverpool from doing so. Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott dropped to the bench, with Giroud up front, Iwobi as a central attacking midfielder, and Oxlade-Chamberlain and Welbeck – Arsenal's two most defensive wingers – on the flanks. It was more a 4-3-3 than the usual 4-2-3-1 to further congest space, and Arsenal wanted to be physical, to be more direct, to cross more to more dangerous targets.

It worked for almost nine whole minutes before being undone by a goal kick.

Mignolet punted the ball long and Koscielny charged out to win the header against Firmino. And completely missed. And now Arsenal's defensive line is broken. And now Liverpool's running at a defensive line not sure what to do when three versus three. And Lallana spreads it wide to Mané, who centers through the back line, dummied by Coutinho for a wide-open Firmino, whose first touch nearly sees the opportunity gone but whose second settles in the back of the net.

It is very hard for a leopard to change its spots.

So now Arsenal have to try to overturn a deficit with this personnel. And it's not going well. Not when Liverpool can now play its game: press in midfield, press like demons, and then break at pace. Possession's nearly equal between the sides between the 10th and 40th minutes, but Arsenal have just one shot: Xhaka from long range nowhere close. Liverpool don't have many either – Coutinho blocked and well saved from the top of the box, Mané wide from outside the box – as Arsenal defended fairly well against Liverpool's threats, but Liverpool are clearly the more threatening and clearly the more comfortable.

And I say "40th minute" because that's when Liverpool got the needed second: sustained possession in Arsenal's half before Milner's slightly fortunate to keep the ball, his pass inside deflecting off Oxlade-Chamberlain back to him, but then BAM BAM BAM. Milner down the left, inside to an open Wijnaldum because Bellerin's had to help on Milner, immediately to Firmino, immediately to a wide open Mané, and a bullet past Cech. Stretch and pull Arsenal, find space, and cut across to the other side. With low, first-time passes rather than crosses. And also have Sadio Mané there at the end.

It did not take a genius to realize that Alexis Sanchez was coming on at halftime. Even a manager as stubborn as Wenger's pulling that trigger.

His impact was immediate, with Mignolet needing to palm his dangerous cross away in the 47th, then his run drawing four Liverpool defenders a minute later, leaving acres of space for Monreal to cross to Giroud, the Frenchman's header amazingly pushed onto the bar and claimed by Mignolet.

And in the 57th, Arsenal pulled one back, unsurprisingly set up by Alexis. Liverpool's midfield and defense is caught a bit too far forward, Alexis' throughball deflects a bit fortunately for Welbeck in behind, and he skews a wide shot around a charging Mignolet and under a diving Klavan.

It is a lot harder to shut up shop against Arsenal with Alexis Sanchez than Arsenal without. Liverpool couldn't really do what they did against either City or Tottenham, when suffocating their peers with a narrow lead. The way Arsenal play, at least with Sanchez involved, coupled with Liverpool's continued proclivity for going forward, led to a more open game than we'd usually seen when protecting lead in this type of match.

Liverpool had chances on the break and set plays – most notably Matip mis-heading straight at Cech and Origi hitting the post, both from free kicks – but were clearly tiring; other than Origi, there weren't options on the bench. And Arsenal frightened, but also didn't truly threaten, with just three shots after Welbeck's goal: Mustafi's errant set play header in the 79th (which would have been given offside had it been close), and blocked shots from Perez and Sanchez, denied by Klavan and Matip respectively.

Liverpool were under pressure, but Liverpool still defended well, from Matip and Klavan to Clyne and Can and Lallana. But it also could have been very different had Can picked up what seemed a deserved second yellow in the 77th minute.

Those are the breaks. And it's not as if Liverpool haven't been on the wrong end of narrow decisions this season, from offside goals (*waves in the general direction of Manchester*) to penalties not given to players not sent off. And after that last Arsenal blocked shot in the 91st minute, Liverpool wonderfully countered at pace: Lallana driving into the center circle, a full 360 degree turn away from Mustafi before finding a just-onside Origi streaking down the right with an outside-of-the-foot pass. I'm screaming "KEEP IT IN THE CORNER." Origi's centers to Wijnaldum sprinting fastest into the box, arrowing the coffin nail into the corner. I'm an idiot. That's the game.

So, yes, that was a wonderful performance from all involved, especially Mané, Firmino, and Lallana. Liverpool got a little help from Arsenal's starting XI, but Liverpool still had to take advantage. And it's a much needed result which puts Liverpool into third, at least for now, as 4th-place City, 5th-place Arsenal, and 6th-place United all have at least one game in hand.

But there, lingering in the backs of our brains despite today's euphoria, is that doubt. For how good this was, we all still know it ain't where Liverpool's problems lie.

Liverpool v Arsenal 03.04.17

12:30pm ET, live in the US on NBC Sports

Last four head-to-head:
4-3 Liverpool (a) 08.14.16
3-3 (h) 01.13.16
0-0 (a) 08.24.15
1-4 Arsenal (a) 04.04.15

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 1-3 Leicester (a); 2-0 Tottenham (h); 0-2 Hull (a)
Arsenal: 2-0 Sutton Utd (a); 1-5 Bayern (a); 2-0 Hull (h)

Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Mané 11; Firmino 8; Lallana 7; Coutinho, Milner 6; Origi 4; Can, Wijnaldum 3; Lovren, Sturridge 2; Henderson, Matip 1
Arsenal: Alexis 17; Giroud, Walcott 8; Özil 5; Iwobi 3; Cazorla, Koscielny, Oxlade-Chamberlain 2; Chambers, Mustafi, Perez, Xhaka 1

Referee: Bobby Madley

Guess at a line-up:
Mignolet
Clyne Matip Lovren Milner
Lallana Can Wijnaldum
Mané Firmino Coutinho

So, are we still reactionary BURN IT ALL DOWN after last Monday's disaster or optimistic because hey it's Liverpool against someone decent and Liverpool at home and everything just might be alright again, at least for a week.

It can be both. Because Liverpool really are both.

In theory, it's not the match to ring changes. The squad's basically going to be the same as against Leicester. Henderson and Sturridge remain out, although Lovren's back in training and will hopefully be available. If not, please Klavan and not Lucas because Alexis Sanchez is pretty fast too.

Otherwise, we ain't seeing a formation switch. We ain't seeing Moreno at left-back or Milner in midfield or Origi up front. We will get the Liverpool personnel and formation we're used to, and hope that they perform as they've performed in these matches and on their ground rather than the Liverpool we got on Monday and for most of 2017.

There are no prizes for guessing where Arsenal sit in the table. Surprise! Yes, Arsenal are fourth, one point ahead of Liverpool with a game in hand. And it's February (edit: oh hell it's actually March), so Arsenal are Arsenaling.

They're on the verge of being knocked out of the Champions League. The top six are far better than they've been in recent seasons, and Arsenal's fourth-place trophy remains under serious threat despite their current league place. Wenger's under serious pressure, the rumors that this could be his last season thicker than usual.

Like Liverpool before Leicester, they've had an extended break, with no match last weekend because of Southampton's League Cup final. Which may lead to a similar rust that Liverpool suffered, but has also given them time to get players healthy. Koscielny, Ramsey, and Giroud are back in training after missing time. Elneny and Cazorla are still out injured, while Özil's questionable after a midweek illness.

There's only a couple of potential variations to the likely XI – Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Xhaka, Coquelin; Walcott, Özil, Iwobi; Alexis. Maybe Koscielny's not fit enough to start, meaning Gabriel or Mertesacker. The toughest guess in attack, because of Arsenal's options. Oxlade-Chamberlain could start centrally if Özil's unavailable, or on the flank for a more defensive option. Welbeck's finally ready to start matches after a long-term injury. Maybe Giroud plays up top as a long ball, set play, crossing option; sure, Arsenal don't really play that way but Liverpool sure are bad against it.

Liverpool currently have the best record against the other Top 6 sides, with four wins and four draws. Arsenal have the worst, with one win (over Chelsea back in September, Chelsea's last loss before switching to 3-4-3 and that massive unbeaten run), two draws, and three losses.

This seems Liverpool's ideal opposition at the ideal time, the ideal way to bounce back from Monday's calamity. A side that wants the ball and wants to play from the back and wants to go forward. A side whose full-backs leave space in behind and whose center-backs are prone to errors.

Liverpool have scored, early and often, in these types of matches, and you only have to go back to August to see how Liverpool's front three can take advantage of Arsenal's defensive set-up. You only have to go back two-and-a-half weeks to see how Arsenal can "defend" against a potent attack, starting strong against Bayern before collapsing and conceding four in the second half.

But Arsenal are also very good going forward, and we know what Liverpool's defense is capable of. Arsenal are battling their own demons and need the win as much as Liverpool.

Liverpool cannot be complacent. Complacency's punished the side against the "weaker" teams in the division and complacency hasn't been an issue against the stronger. But Liverpool also can't expect to suddenly turn it back on either. It ain't automatic. And Monday's demons still linger.

Visualized: Liverpool 4-3 Arsenal

Match data from Stats Zone, except average player position from Liverpool FC.

"It was a game of contrast between two halves but I felt as well that mentally we kept going and we have been absolutely remarkable on that front. But I believe that the first goal was a big shock for us because we didn’t see that coming in the first half and maybe we didn’t recover from that." – Arsene Wenger

Not really.

No matter how bad Liverpool seemed in the first half – and it was pretty bad! – Arsenal didn't do much to Liverpool. Yes, Arsenal pressed effectively, taking advantage of Liverpool's struggles playing out from the back and the unfamiliar and underwhelming midfield. But Arsenal took fewer shots. Arsenal struggled to get its out-of-position lone striker into the game far more than Liverpool did. Arsenal created just one clear-cut chance: Walcott's penalty, completely unnecessary and unforgivable from Moreno. Arsenal's goal came from another self-induced horror show, with Lallana conceding possession and Moreno charging heedlessly upfield.

Meanwhile, Liverpool still had decent chances from Firmino (both missed), Mané (blocked), Klavan (blocked), and Wijnaldum (saved). 0-0 wouldn't have been an undue scoreline, far more deserved than the unfathomable 0-0 in this fixture last season where both sides where vastly better.

So if 0-0 would have been merited, it's hard to complain about 1-1. Yes, Liverpool needed an absolutely mind-boggling free kick from Coutinho to level matters, and yes, that probably did knock Arsenal for a loop (although they did have the same 15-minute break that Liverpool had to recover). But then Liverpool had that second half, as thoroughly dominating Arsenal in the opening 20 minutes as anyone's thoroughly dominated Arsenal, permanently camped in Arsenal half, with six shots to none, three goals to none, and something like 65% possession. From Coutinho's opener to Mané for Liverpool's fourth, Liverpool didn't put a single shot off-target: five shots on-target (four goals), two blocked.

For the most part, the match was even: from 1' to 45' and from 65' to 90'. But in those 20 minutes, Liverpool blew Arsenal completely out of every body of water. And that's why Liverpool deservedly won the match.

Arsenal were out-shot at home just three times last season: narrowly by Tottenham and Chelsea in a 1-1 draw and 0-1 loss respectively, and massively in a 2-1 win against Manchester City, where Arsenal scored two first-half goals and proceeded to hold the the defending champions at arm's length.

Two of those three matches – 0-1 Chelsea and 2-1 City – were the only two times that Arsenal were held under 10 shots at the Emirates last season. Despite conceding those three goals, Liverpool – for the most part – did well at both ends of the pitch, even if the middle was a bit shakier (especially in the first half).

As I've frequently mentioned, Liverpool's shot selection was fairly terrible last season, routinely settling for (or forced to take) too many shots from distance. Only 53.9% of Liverpool's 629 shots came inside the box last season, only five teams had a lower proportion of inside-the-box shots.

12 of Liverpool's 16 shots yesterday – 75% – came from inside the box, a proportion equalled or bettered in just three league matches last season: 1-3 at United (where Liverpool took just eight shots), 1-1 at Everton, and 1-0 against Swansea.

To be fairer, Liverpool were usually better in this regard against tougher opposition. 73% inside the box at Arsenal last season (15 shots), 62% at Chelsea (16 shots), 71% at City (14 shots). But not in all of the away games, with just 33% at Tottenham (12 shots) and 36% at Leicester (14 shots).

Liverpool's shooting, Liverpool's scoring, and Liverpool's result yesterday weren't completely out of the ordinary away from home against good opponents under Jürgen Klopp. I'm sure you remember 3-1 at Chelsea and 4-1 at Manchester City. Liverpool drew 0-0 with Tottenham in Klopp's first match. Klopp's sides have now travelled to Stamford Bridge, the Etihad, White Hart Lane, and the Emirates, and are unbeaten, with three wins and one draw, with a +6 goal difference (11 scored, five conceded). I'm quite tempted to say "bring on Old Trafford and Goodison," but you know how I feel about tempting fate.

Nonetheless, this was the first time Arsenal conceded four goals at the Emirates in more than seven years, since a 4-1 loss to Chelsea in May 2009. These are the only two matches where Arsenal conceded four at the Emirate since the stadium opened a decade ago. As mentioned in the match review and in numerous other places, it's only the second time that Liverpool have won at Arsenal in the last 16 seasons, in both league and cup competition.

Liverpool scored from a set play – having scored just two direct free kicks in all competitions last season. Liverpool scored twice from extended, patient, probing build-up, including that unbelievable, 19-pass, 1:17-long third goal. And Liverpool scored from a counter-attack blitz, winning possession then letting Mané do Mané. The goals were varied, and the attacks were varied, and Liverpool profited immensely.

And while Liverpool's scoring feats, especially in the 20-minute post-halftime blitz, garnered all the headlines, Liverpool's killing of the game after conceding a third was nearly as impressive.



Liverpool mostly restricted Arsenal to the middle third and the right flank, keeping Arsenal out of dangerous positions. Liverpool weren't massively out-possessed, doing reasonably well in maintaining possession once winning possession and trying to get into Arsenal's half. But at the same time, when Liverpool had to hoof clear, Liverpool were happy to hoof clear and regroup. Liverpool took the only two shots during this stretch: Firmino and Henderson's apparently on-target efforts necessarily blocked.

And Liverpool's secure defense wasn't down to a supreme tackling or intercepting performance, with Arsenal forced to make more defensive actions to stop potential Liverpool attacks rather than vice versa. Liverpool were simply well-organized, with two solid bands of five and four in midfield and defense. Liverpool stayed in position and stayed compact without dropping too deep. Klavan and Lovren were both impressive, heading and hoofing multiple crosses clear. And Liverpool made sure not to give away stupid, dangerous free kicks, committing just three fouls – all deep in Arsenal's half – while winning four time-wasting free kicks in the middle third.

But Liverpool would still need help. Arsenal twice made it into Liverpool's box in added time. Walcott stood on the ball and fell over in the first instance (albeit with three Liverpool defenders in position to possibly block or tackle); Cazorla's cross hit Monreal in the back after a lay-off in the second instance. Luck's good and being good is good, but it's always best to be lucky and good.

Yes, Arsenal have been consistently poor on opening day for a while now, with a record of 1W-3D-3L since 2010-11. Yes, Arsenal missed Koscielny, Mertesacker, and Gabriel in defense, and Özil and Giroud in attack. Yes, Liverpool have been better away from home against good sides, especially compared to Liverpool's record – both home and away, but more so away – against the lesser lights who won't and don't give Liverpool space to play or space to counter. Yes, Liverpool still have multiple areas where improvement's needed.

But this is still a very welcome way to start the campaign. The next goal is making those phenomenal 20 minutes happen more regularly. Liverpool need to hit these heights – heights we infrequently saw last season, but saw nonetheless – with much more consistency.

Liverpool 4-3 Arsenal

Goals:
Walcott 31'
Coutinho 45+1' 56'
Lallana 49'
Mané 63'
Oxlade-Chamberlain 64'
Chambers 76'

If we're in for 38 matches like there, I'm not gonna make it. None of us will. No one gets out of here alive.

That was bananas. And wholly unexpected after a tire fire of a first half. Arsenal were no great shakes – not atypical in an opening day match – but Liverpool's midfield was broken, Liverpool couldn't piece together few-and-far-between bits of promise in attack, and Liverpool continued to do some incredibly dumb things in its own half.

It started, unsurprisingly, with Alberto Moreno, our new favorite scapegoat. And, at times, rightfully so. Like when he brainlessly dives in on Walcott after Henderson's failed clearance on the edge of the box, a clear, needless penalty.

Mignolet saved Walcott's mediocre spot kick, but we weren't out of the woods. Ball don't lie, etc. Barely a minute later, Lallana turned into traffic when trying to play out of defense and is cleverly robbed by Coquelin, his tackle falling to Iwobi, who found Walcott in miles of space where Moreno should have been. To be slightly fairer to our new favorite scapegoat, his job is often to burst forward quickly, providing width and an outlet down the left, but you can't help but think he should be smarter in that position. Maybe wait under Liverpool actually establish some semblance of possession? This time, Walcott made no mistake with this finish, arrowed into the far corner under Lovren's attempted block and a sprawling goalkeeper.

But Coutinho single-handedly redeemed the half, winning a foul on 45 minutes before smashing in an unstoppable free kick from 30 yards out. Our magical unicorn, once again attempting to score Liverpool's goal of the season in the first match of said season, for the second year running. Level at intermission and lucky to be so.

And there was that second half. That's what Liverpool are capable of, for both good and evil. Three goals in less than 15 minutes and nearly a fourth. Then two goals conceded in 11 minutes, from switching off and then a set play.

Coutinho remained the epicenter of everything good in attack, first releasing Wijnaldum with a typically tricky blind outside-of-the-boot throughball. Wijnaldum crossed to Lallana, seemingly losing the opportunity by taking it on his chest but actually creating the space to get away from Monreal and somehow beat Cech at the near post. Seven minutes later, Coutinho finished off a 19-pass move, charging into the box to convert Clyne's low cross in front of a slow-to-react Rob Holding. And two minutes after that, he should have had a hat-trick, but a shot similar to his previous goal was a foot too close to Cech.

Thankfully, Mané soon got Liverpool's fourth, a move that almost immediately justified both his price tag and hype. Lallana's pass over the top found him in space, his speed taking him behind both Monreal and Chambers before his footwork took him around and through Monreal and Chambers, cutting in from wide right before unleashing a rocket left-footer. That's what he was bought for: a release valve over the top, pace, trickery, and goals goals goals with either foot.

Liverpool would need that fourth.

That should have been it. Liverpool were three up against a demoralized Arsenal, who had also lost both Iwobi and Ramsey through injury. But, because Liverpool, it wasn't, and because Arsenal, it was the accidental substitutes who changed the game.

First, with Liverpool still glorying in their fourth goal, Oxlade-Chamberlain broke down Liverpool's right, released by the other substitute Cazorla, somehow cutting between Clyne and Lallana before a deflected shot squirmed past Mignolet. Then, with Arsenal actually almost starting to believe, and at least reasserting possession and control, Liverpool failed when defending a set play. To be fair, it was immaculate delivery by Cazorla and Chambers jumping highest; well-taken and well-scored. There was little that Liverpool could do about it aside from not conceding the free kick in the first place. Shit happens. But shit happens to Liverpool too often.

Sigh. There were still 15 minutes plus injury time to go. Liverpool were rocking, and all the memories of Southampton, Newcastle, etc. from last season came roaring back.

But for all the nail-biting and heart palpitations, Arsenal didn't take a shot after scoring their third. Substitutes Can and Origi were a massive factor in that: the former calming and solidifying the midfield, the latter both a bother and holding play up well when Liverpool hoofed clear. The back four looked miles better, especially Klavan and our new favorite scapegoat, making sure the speedy Walcott and Bellerin had little space on that flank. Liverpool won free kicks and corners and Liverpool time-wasted. By hook and by crook, Liverpool held on.

Deep breaths. It was the best of Liverpool and the worst of Liverpool, the back-to-back 90 minutes against Barcelona and Mainz smashed into a single match. It was Liverpool's potential up front but Liverpool's terror at the back, but it was also the same surprising ability to kill the game that we saw at Dortmund last season.

Liverpool almost never win at Arsenal. Before today, they'd done it just once in the last 15 years, in 20 visits. No matter if Arsenal were missing their three best center-backs, no matter if it's the first game of the season, no matter if Liverpool came too close for comfort to losing a three-goal lead. Any win at Arsenal is a good win.

As we saw in preseason and hoped was true, there's a real team in there. There's a very, very capable blitzkrieg attack, ability in midfield, and the defense really doesn't look bad most of the time as long as no one does something dumb. For all the flaws, this is a very promising start. But Liverpool still have quite a long way to go to put it all together.

Liverpool just scored four goals at Arsenal and won there for just the second time in 15 years, and still have that much room to potentially grow.