Arsenal kept up the pressure at the top of the Barclays Premier League as Liverpool were blown away 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium, where Reds contract rebel Raheem Sterling failed to make an impact.
All the pre-match headlines had been over Sterling’s declaration he was “not a money-grabbing 20-year-old” despite rejecting Liverpool’s offer of a new deal, said to be worth some £100,000-a-week.
However, the England forward blew his big chance to show why he is worth a pay rise, unable to convert a golden chance in the first half before Arsenal struck three goals in the space of just eight minutes to settle matters.
Hector Bellerin rolled in a superb curling effort, with Mesut Ozil’s free-kick and a blistering 20-yard strike from Alexis Sanchez effectively settling the contest before a fine late effort from Olivier Giroud sealed Arsenal’s seventh straight league victory.
Liverpool netted a consolation penalty through captain Jordan Henderson – awarded for a foul on Sterling – but then saw Emre Can sent off for two yellow cards as a second successive defeat dealt a potentially fatal blow to their hopes of a top-four finish.
