Liverpool moved to within a point of Manchester City as they overcame a tough first-half to beat Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates.
The Gunners went toe-to-toe with the visitors in the opening 45 minutes, full of confidence after a run of five straight win that has taken them into fourth.
But Liverpool’s class showed after they break as they took control, first through Diogo Jota and then Roberto Firmino, as they earned a ninth Premier League win in a row. With Liverpool and City meeting next month at the Etihad, both sides have their title destiny in their own hands.
Mohamed Salah was only fit enough for the bench at the Emirates, as he continues his recovery from a foot injury picked up against Brighton, while Arsenal were unchanged from the side that eased past Leicester in their last match.
A couple of early Liverpool corners caused the Gunners problems, with Joel Matip’s header deflecting over the bar and Virgil van Dijk then finding himself in a huge amount of space as his effort was well saved by Aaron Ramsdale from the set-piece that followed.
Gabriel Martinelli shone for Arsenal, beating Trent Alexander-Arnold with ease and putting a couple of dangerous balls into the box as the home side’s confidence was clear to see. It was Liverpool who were trying to slow things down.
Sadio Mane had arguably the biggest chance of the half with the final kick before the whistle. Alexander-Arnold played a wonderful pass over the top, but on the stretch Mane could only send the shot over the bar.
The Liverpool forward did better than then less than a minute into the second-half. Jordan Henderson played Mane through and he found the back of the net, but the offside flag swiftly went up.
Arsenal should have taken the lead themselves shortly after, when Alexandre Lacazette pounced on a loose backpass from Thiago. The Frenchman played it across to Martin Odegaard, who was brilliantly denied by Alisson.
Aaron Ramsdale has enjoyed a sensational first season in north London, but he had a moment to forget as Liverpool scored the opening goal ten minutes after the break. Thiago slid a pass through to Jota, who from a tight angle fired a left-footed strike past the Arsenal goalkeeper at the near post. Ramsdale got a hand to it but couldn’t keep the shot out.
That proved to be Jota’s final touch as Salah and Roberto Firmino were immediately introduced, and it was the Brazilian who doubled the lead just after the hour mark. Andy Robertson fired a low cross into the box and Firmino got there ahead of Ramsdale to guide a deft finish into the far corner.
There was no sign of the kind of late heroics Arsenal produced against Wolves at the Emirates last month, though Martinelli went close to getting the goal his performance deserved as he curled a shot inches wide of the far corner.
Liverpool eased through the remainder of the match on the whole as they ticked off another test and continued their relentless charge at Pep Guardiola’s side.
