Liverpool’s chances of breaking into the Premier League’s top four have all but ended, after a humiliating eight minute spell at the end of the first-half helped Arsenal to 4-1 victory at the Emirates.
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(Video) Goal! Olivier Giroud caps fine display to make it Arsenal 4-1 Liverpool
(Video) Arsenal 4-1 Liverpool Premier League Highlights: Mesut Ozil & Olivier Giroud among the goals as Gunners sweep past visitors
Here is how the players got on:
GK- Simon Mignolet 5
Made a couple of good saves early on to deny both Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez, and could do nothing about Hector Bellerin’s precise finish for the opening goal. However, he should have done better for Mesut Ozil’s free-kick which doubled the lead. Difficult to blame him for Sanchez’s rocket which made it 3-0, and made a decent reaction save from Olivier Giroud in the second half.
CB- Emre Can 4
The centre-back was sent off to cap a disappointing performance. His first yellow came from a late challenge on Cazorla, and he was then dismissed after stupidly attempting to tackle Danny Welbeck from behind.
CB- Mamadou Sakho 5
Sakho was lucky not to be booked for a clumsy foul on Ozil. For most of the game, he was sloppy and looked out of his depth.
CB- Kolo Toure 4
Struggled back at his former club. Gifted Aaron Ramsey with a glorious chance in the first five minutes after making a mistake, and that summed up his afternoon.
RM- Jordan Henderson 6
Scored the penalty to give the Reds a glimmer, but failed to make an impact from a wide position.
CM- Joe Allen 5
Failed to have an influence in the centre of the park, and was overrun by the Gunners midfield.
CM- Lucas 5
Gave the ball away far too frequently. His most positive influence on the game was somehow winning a free-kick in the second half when Arsenal had a chance to counter.
LM- Alberto Moreno 5
Should have made much more of an effort to stop Bellerin’s run into the box that led to the opener. As it was, the Spaniard let his countryman run right through.
RW- Lazar Markovic 5
Did the unselfish thing when he was played through in the first-half, but his pass that was meant to leave Raheem Sterling with nothing else to do other than tap the ball home was too heavy, and the chance came to nothing.
ST- Raheem Sterling 6
Caused Arsenal’s defence a few issues, and won the penalty. He played a wonderfully-weighted cross in the first-half into the space, but Henderson was unable to run onto it. He should have shown more desire to get to Markovic’s pass, but was not anticipating the ball coming his way.
LW- Philippe Coutinho 6
His pass played Markovic in for Liverpool’s best chance, and he looked liked he could do something. There was an opportunity when he was surrounded early on in the game to slide Moreno in down the left, however, he tried to do it himself, and the opportunity went begging.