Diogo Jota destroys Arsenal! Liverpool takes over Emirates with ease

Closer to the middle of the table than the top of it, both Arsenal and Liverpool had an imperative to win. A draw was seen as a disappointment for both sides.

In tonight's clash at the Emirates, reigning champions deservedly took all three points to Liverpool. Final score 0-3 in a game that deserved at least a couple more goals. Man of the match - substitute Diogo Jota.

The teams analyzed each other in the first 25 minutes, with Liverpool having the ball in their feet much more.

The first opportunity happened in the 27th minute when Sadio Mane headed a precise cross towards the middle of the goal. His effort, however, was blocked by Bernd Leno, who pulled off a comfortable save.

Three minutes later Roberto Firmino got rid of his markers and tried with a powerful shot from the edge of the box that just flew wide of the right post.

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Liverpool were inarguably a more dangerous team. However, Arsenal responded in the 33rd minute - African connection, Gabonese and Ivorian, Aubameyang and Pepe. Nicolas Pepe rose high to head a nice lofted cross towards the middle of the goal. His close-range effort lacked pace and Alisson made an easy save. Unfortunately for the Gunners, that was it from the home team.

Liverpool could have taken the lead in the 35th minute when James Milner tried from the edge of the box. His curvy effort went just wide of the left sidebar.

Alexandre Lacazette, who has scored in his last three starting appearances versus Liverpool, did not have a single opportunity.

No side has conceded fewer second-half Premier League goals than Arsenal’s ten (all venues) and no club has scored more than Liverpool’s 18 on the road after half time - Liverpool's streak continued. After the 60th minute, it all changed.

Diogo Jota replaced Andy Robertson in the 61st minute in what was a strange decision by Jurgen Klopp. But just 3 minutes after stepping on the pitch Diogo Jota made it 0-1. Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped a delightful ball in from the right and Jota had the simplest of tasks, heading the ball past Leno to give Liverpool the lead. The ball by Alexander-Arnold took Holding and Chambers out of the equation.

Liverpool made it 0-2 in the 69th minute. Courtesy of the Pharaoh himself, Mohamed Salah. His 18th of the season. Fabinho played an early ball in behind the Arsenal defence. Gabriel slid in and should have won the ball, but he failed to do so and it allowed Salah in on goal. He finished with no doubt, slipping the ball through the legs of Leno and into the far corner.

It could have been a three-goal-lead just minutes after - Salah was on the end of a cross inside the box and swept the ball towards the middle of the goal, but Leno was well-positioned and managed to deal with the effort.

However, what Salah failed, Diogo Jota succeeded. He scored his second in the 82nd minute - Gabriel clipped an aimless ball out to Soares and Alexander-Arnold was onto it in a flash. He won the ball and steered it into Salah, who in turn played the ball on towards Mane. The ball ran all the way through to Jota, who showed the hunger to get on the end of it and fire past Leno.

Mane almost made it 0-4 in the stoppage time but he failed to convert another perfect cross from Alexander-Arnold.

With this victory, Liverpool jump to 5th with 49 points. Arsenal are 9th and are struggling to reach better placement and some European football next year. Their only hope at the moment is winning the Europa League.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 30

Saturday

Chelsea - WBA 2-5 (1-2)

/Pulisic 27, Mount 71 - Robinson 63, 90+1, Pererira 45+2, 45+4, Diagne 68/

Leeds Utd - Sheffield Utd 2-1 (1-1)

/Harrison 12, Jagielka og 49 - Osborn 45+2/

Leicester City - Manchester City 0-1 (0-0)

/Mendy 58, Jesus 74/

Arsenal - Liverpool 0-3 (0-0)

/Diogo Jota 64', 82', Salah 69'/

Sunday

14.00: Southampton - Burnley

16.05: Newcastle United - Tottenham

18.30: Aston Villa - Fulham

23.00: Manchester United - Brighton and Hove Albion

Monday

20.00: Everton - Crystal Palace

22.15: Wolverhampton - West Ham Utd