On August 27, 2017, Liverpool faced Arsenal in a Premier League match at Anfield. Liverpool delivered a dominant performance, winning 4-0 in what was a one-sided contest, highlighting their attacking prowess and exposing Arsenal’s defensive vulnerabilities.
Key Statistics and Analysis
- Scoreline and Goal Timings:
- Liverpool: 4 (Roberto Firmino 17′, Sadio Mané 40′, Mohamed Salah 57′, Daniel Sturridge 77′)
- Arsenal: 0
- Possession:
- Liverpool had 47% possession, while Arsenal had 53%. Despite Arsenal’s slight edge in possession, Liverpool’s aggressive pressing and quick transitions made them far more effective when in control of the ball.
- Shots:
- Liverpool registered 18 shots, with 9 on target, reflecting their attacking intensity and efficiency in front of goal. Arsenal managed 8 shots, with only 2 on target, struggling to break through Liverpool’s defense and create meaningful opportunities.
- Passing Accuracy:
- Liverpool had a passing accuracy of 82%, completing 338 passes out of 411 attempts. Arsenal had a passing accuracy of 84%, completing 405 passes out of 481 attempts. Despite Arsenal’s higher number of passes, Liverpool’s directness and counter-attacking style caused more problems for Arsenal’s defense.
- Defensive Statistics:
- Liverpool made 19 tackles compared to Arsenal’s 20, reflecting both teams’ efforts to win back possession quickly. However, Liverpool’s defense, led by Joël Matip and Dejan Lovren, was solid throughout, keeping a clean sheet and neutralizing Arsenal’s attacks.
- Set Pieces:
- Liverpool’s first goal came in the 17th minute when Roberto Firmino headed in from a Joe Gomez cross, taking advantage of poor marking by Arsenal’s defense. Sadio Mané doubled Liverpool’s lead in the 40th minute with a superb solo goal, cutting inside from the left and curling a shot past Petr Čech. In the second half, Mohamed Salah capitalized on an Arsenal mistake to score on a counter-attack in the 57th minute. Daniel Sturridge, coming off the bench, added the fourth goal in the 77th minute with a header from Salah’s cross.
- Individual Performances:
- Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah were outstanding for Liverpool, using their pace and direct running to terrorize Arsenal’s defense. Firmino played a key role as well, scoring the opener and linking up well with his attacking teammates. For Arsenal, goalkeeper Petr Čech made several crucial saves to prevent a heavier defeat, while the rest of the team struggled to contain Liverpool’s relentless attack.
- Tactical Overview:
- Liverpool, under Jürgen Klopp, employed a 4-3-3 formation, focusing on high pressing, quick transitions, and exploiting the space behind Arsenal’s defense. Arsenal, managed by Arsène Wenger, used a 3-4-3 formation but were overwhelmed by Liverpool’s pace and pressing. Arsenal’s defense was repeatedly exposed, and their midfield was unable to cope with Liverpool’s intensity.
- Disciplinary:
- The match saw two yellow cards, both for Arsenal (Granit Xhaka 53′, Shkodran Mustafi 82′). These fouls were mainly tactical, aimed at breaking up Liverpool’s counter-attacks and preventing further chances.
- Corners and Offsides:
- Liverpool won 5 corners compared to Arsenal’s 2, reflecting their dominance in the final third. Both teams were caught offside once, showing their attempts to exploit defensive gaps and create scoring opportunities.
Summary
Liverpool’s 4-0 victory over Arsenal was a dominant display of attacking football, with the Reds showcasing their high-pressing style under Jürgen Klopp. Goals from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah, and Daniel Sturridge underlined Liverpool’s attacking depth, as they overwhelmed Arsenal with pace, intensity, and clinical finishing.
Arsenal, despite having more possession, were repeatedly undone by Liverpool’s aggressive pressing and quick counter-attacks. Arsène Wenger’s side struggled to contain Liverpool’s front three, and their defensive frailties were brutally exposed throughout the match.
Liverpool’s ability to transition quickly from defense to attack, combined with the pace of Salah and Mané, caused constant problems for Arsenal, who were unable to mount any meaningful response. The win kept Liverpool unbeaten early in the season and highlighted their potential as serious title challengers, while Arsenal’s performance raised questions about their ability to compete with the top sides in the Premier League.
