LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 27, 2017: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring the third goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

5 interesting stats from Liverpool’s thrashing of Arsenal

Liverpool cruised to a brilliant 4-0 win over Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, and the statistics from the game reflected fondly on the Reds.

It was a magnificent performance from Jurgen Klopp‘s side, who blew away their opponents with wave after wave of attacking football.

Roberto Firmino got the ball rolling with a precise close-range header, before Sadio Mane added a brilliant second before the break.

Mohamed Salah raced through to make it 3-0 in the second-half, capitalising on more terrible Arsenal defending, before substitute Daniel Sturridge put the icing on the cake.

Here are five eye-catching statistics to have emerged from the game.

 

Big-game Gini shines

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 27, 2017: Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Gini Wijnaldum has been accused of going missing in certain matches, but he invariably comes to the fore when Liverpool take on a rival.

He didn’t score on Sunday, as was the case at home to the Gunners last season, but he completed eight take-ons – the most he’s managed in a Premier League game for the Reds – in what was a superb performance.

 

Klopp’s Reds making new records

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 27, 2017: Liverpool's Sadio Mane prays as he celebrates scoring the second goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Last season, not a single league game saw one team have six or more clear-cut chances than their opponents, but Sunday bucked that trend.

According to Andrew Beasley, Liverpool had six Opta-defined clear-cut chances to Arsenal‘s none, outlining just how dominant they were.

 

Mane joins elite company

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 27, 2017: Liverpool's Sadio Mane celebrates scoring the second goal as the supporters on the Spion Kop sing his name during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Mane again showed that he is the Reds’ most important player on Sunday, scoring a superb strike and generally causing Arsenal all sorts of trouble.

His goal saw him become just the third Liverpool player to score in all of the first three games in a Premier League season, along with Robbie Fowler (1994/95) in Daniel Sturridge (2013/14).

 

Defensive solidity

BERLIN, GERMANY - Saturday, July 29, 2017: Liverpool's Joel Matip during a preseason friendly match celebrating 125 years of football for Liverpool and Hertha BSC Berlin at the Olympic Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool’s defence has taken endless criticism of late, but has some of the vitriol been a little too harsh?

Sunday saw Klopp’s men keep a fourth league clean-sheet in a row at home for the first time since August 2013, and a first against Arsenal at Anfield since 2006.

 

Klopp’s superb record vs. rivals continues

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 27, 2017: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp after the 4-0 victory over Arsenal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Since taking charge of Liverpool in October 2015, Klopp has ensured his side have a magnificent record against their top-six rivals, and Everton.

The weekend thrashing of Arsenal was the German’s 28th match against those six clubs, and his statistics now read: won 16, drawn 11, lost one. Sensational.

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