Arsenal 0 - 3 Liverpool

Liverpool: Jota 62’, 82’, Salah 67’

Pre-Match

Klopp’s decision has been made, and Roberto Firmino gets his spot back and it’s Diogo Jota on the bench today as Liverpool get ready to take on Arsenal. I’m sure that the international break played into Klopp’s choice, but we’ll see. Also on the bench is Gini Wijnaldum, which will no doubt fan the flames of the transfer gossip around the player whose contract is running out.

First Half

Liverpool have kept the majority of the possession in the first 10 minutes of this match. The midfield trio of Thiago-Fabinho-Milner maintaining control of the center of the pitch. They’ve managed a few efforts on goal from distance, but none have yet been on target.

No goals yet, but Liverpool look sharp. There’s none of the usual post-internationals sluggishness. All that’s missing is the final product. At 25’, Sadio Mané gets a shot on goal, but it lacked the necessary power to get it past the keeper.

Firmino gets a strike off that goes wide for another missed opportunity at 29’.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson both look doing the work on the wings, spreading the play and getting crosses into good areas.

Arsenal get their first shot on goal, a tame header by Pepe that probably would have been called offside had it gone in. As it stood, the ball was lobbed right into Alisson’s hands.

On the other end of the pitch, James Milner should have done better on the break. Alexander-Arnold cut it back to him in space, but he couldn’t get the shot into the bottom corner.

After a break for an injury to Tierney, the half ends scoreless.

Second Half

Second half begins with the same frustrating Liverpool dominance without a result. On 53’, Ceballos fouls Thiago, giving Liverpool a long range free kick that comes to nothing. This game has Diogo Jota written all over it. Come into the game, our Portuguese savior.

Sure enough, it’s Jota on, but oddly, Robertson comes off. That must be about conserving fitness. Milner goes to left back.

GOALLLL! 63’ - DIOGO JOTA!! gets in between two Arsenal defenders and heads in Alexander-Arnold’s gorgeous cross. Finally, Liverpool have the break through that has been coming all game.

GOAAAALLLLLL! Salah 67’ - Salah gathers a pass from Fabinho, dances around the defender and nutmegs Leno to grab Liverpool’s second goal.

Wijnaldum comes on for Firmino at 76’, so there goes the hope for a Bobby goal to make this game even better.

GOALLLLLLLL! Jota 81’ - A terrible clearance from the Arsenal defense leads to a quick goal that looks like it was more about Arsenal falling apart than Liverpool doing any great work. I’ll take it though.

Final Thoughts

This could be the game that saves Liverpool’s season. We’ll see how things go. In the mean time, let’s all enjoy a good three points and clean sheet.