League leaders Arsenal smashed by a title rival on the road for the second time this season. The Gunners were two points clear at the top of the table, and eight away from Liverpool, at the start of play but you'd never have guessed as Brendan Rodgers' side cut loose in the first half.
Martin Skrtle set the tone with two early goals from set pieces - the first all about the quality of the delivery from Steven Gerrard, the second owing much to the bizarre lack of marking from Arsenal.
Smelling blood, Liverpool went for the throat. Sterling was on the end of Suarez's low cross with Ozil - anonymous and grumpy throughout - appealing for a free kick that never was in back play. Then Sturridge ran onto Coutinho's through ball and slid in a fourth. We'd played just 18 minutes.
Liverpool blitzed local rivals Everton in similar style last time out on this ground and, just as they did in that match, only added one further goal in the second half with Man of the Match Sterling scoring at the second attempt after being played through on goal.
Mikel Arteta's penalty after a foul be Steven Gerrard was no consolation at all for the London side who paid the price for a sluggish, lethargic start to an away game against an in form side that had won ten and drawn one of 12 home matches prior to the start of this one. Liverpool now just five points behind saw their title odds halve in the course of the 90 minutes.
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