Liverpool’s Premier League title bid is well and truly alive after thrashing Arsenal 5-1

LIVERPOOL re-energised its Premier League title challenge with a magnificent 5-1 rout of sorry leaders Arsenal at Anfield

LIVERPOOL re-energised its Premier League title challenge with a magnificent 5-1 rout of sorry leaders Arsenal on an afternoon of one-way traffic at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers's rampant side struck four times in the first 20 minutes, as Arsenal saw a run of 10 games without defeat in all competitions torn to shreds in brutal fashion.

Martin Skrtel scored twice in 10 minutes to spark the rout, with Raheem Sterling claiming a brace and Daniel Sturridge also finding the net before Mikel Arteta replied for Arsene Wenger's humbled Arsenal.

News_Rich_Media: Martin Skrtel bags a double for Liverpool, as the reds get on the scoresheet early against Arsenal.

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The one-sided victory lifted fourth-place Liverpool to within five points of Arsenal, a week before the sides are due to meet again at the Emirates Stadium in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Liverpool's performance, meanwhile, suggested that they cannot be discounted from the title picture despite media projections of a three-horse race between Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.

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News_Image_File: An extraordinary scoreboard.

News_Rich_Media: Liverpool defender and goal hero chats to Fox Sports Daniel Garb after their 5-1 thrashing of Arsenal

“It was an incredible performance,” said Liverpool manager Rodgers. “It's not the first time we've been outstanding at home, but everything about us today was incredible. Everything was outstanding.

“We've been getting better and better. We've got a lot of young players, developing well. But for us it's just about improving.” Seeking to return to winning ways after a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion last weekend, Liverpool went ahead inside a minute when Skrtel kneed Steven Gerrard's free-kick past Wojciech Szczesny from close range.

News_Image_File: Luis Suarez embraces Raheem Sterling.

The same combination doubled Liverpool's lead in the 10th minute, with Skrtel stooping to guide a looping header into the top-left corner from Gerrard's right-wing corner.

Sturridge lobbed wide and Luis Suarez hit the post with a blistering half-volley from outside the box before Sterling tucked in a low cross from Suarez to make it 3-0.

The fourth arrived in the 20th minute, Sturridge steering the ball past Szczesny from Philippe Coutinho's delicately weighted pass as Arsenal's travelling fans looked on in disbelieving horror.

News_Image_File: Arsenal's English midfielder Jack Wilshere looks on in dismay.

News_Rich_Media: An unimpressed Arsene Wenger states the only member of the squad that performed the full 90 was the 12th man, as Arsenal went down 5-1 to Liverpool.

Sterling scored at the second attempt in the 52nd minute to tighten the screw yet further, before Arteta netted from the penalty spot in the 69th minute after Gerrard was penalised for felling Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

“It was a very poor day,” Arsenal manager Wenger told BT Sport. “Only the fans were good for 90 minutes. All the rest on our side, we were poor — defensively, offensively — and they (the goals) were all scored in slow-motion. We have to bounce back from that, and as quickly as possible.”

News_Image_File: There were five goals and Luis Suarez didn’t even score!