Arsenal sink Liverpool to stake title claims

Arsenal maintained their challenge for a first trophy in nine seasons when they beat Liverpool 2-0 to open up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.

A brilliantly-taken opener from Santi Cazorla, who smacked in a rebound after 19 minutes, and an even better goal from Aaron Ramsey, a swerving shot with the outside of his right boot after 59 minutes, took Arsenal to 25 points from 10 matches.

Chelsea, who lost 2-0 at Newcastle United after winning their previous six games in all competitions, are second, level on 20 points with third-placed Liverpool.

Manchester City, who dropped England keeper Joe Hart, moved up to fourth with a 7-0 thumping of Norwich City while champions Manchester United stay eighth after a 3-1 win at Fulham with their goals coming in a 13-minute spell early in the first half.

The game began at a frantic pace and Tomas Rosicky forced Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet into an early save.

There was quickly a chance at the other end for Jordan Henderson, who robbed Cazorla and was allowed to reach the penalty area before scuffing a weak effort at goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

Arsenal's reply was to take the lead in the 19th minute through Cazorla. The Spain midfielder was first to Bacary Sagna's cross from the right and headed against the post before netting the rebound.

Liverpool were aggrieved when Henderson put the ball in the net after Suarez had played a free-kick to Daniel Sturridge, only for referee Martin Atkinson to rule that it had been taken too quickly.

A yellow card for Sagna for the initial foul did not appease the visitors and although Szczesny denied Kolo Toure from the retaken free-kick, the flag was up anyway.

Liverpool's 3-5-2 formation had left them exposed down the flanks at times, but Jon Flanagan - making his first Premier League appearance since April 2012 - had been more impressive on the right than Aly Cissokho on the other side. Rodgers changed that at half-time, with Philippe Coutinho replacing Cissokho.

It pepped Liverpool up, and Suarez in particular, as he managed to get in behind the Arsenal defence three times in quick succession, but to no avail.

Olivier Giroud should have made it 2-0 after intercepting Toure's poor pass to Martin Skrtel, but the France striker chipped into the side-netting with only Mignolet to beat.

Arsenal did not let up, however, and were rewarded with a goal from Ramsey in the 59th minute, with the Wales midfielder finding the net from 20 yards with a swerving effort after demonstrating superior technique to set himself up from Mesut Ozil's pass.

Suarez almost pulled one back, but saw his effort graze the far post. Another chance came Suarez's way late on as Arsenal switched off, but the Uruguay forward fired across goal and wide, and the hosts saw out the final few minutes with no further alarm.

FULL TIME

Arsenal have pulled off a stylish 2-0 win over Liverpool to retain the top spot in the league table going clear at the top with 25 points. The Gunners have opened up a five-point lead at the top while Liverpool slipped to third behind Chelsea.

Santi Cazorla scored his first goal of the season in the 19th minute for Arsenal while Aaron Ramsey sealed victory with a stunning volley for his sixth league in the 59th to the delight of the home fans.

90+3" Jenkinson forces a corner after some slick passing from Arsenal who take a short one.

90" YELLOW! Jenkinson is shown a yellow card for a foul in midfield.

90" Ozil fires a powerful close range shot straight at Mignolet.

89" Szczesny has grown in confidence surviving a tremendous spell of pressure from Liverpool.

88" Suarez shoots wide at the far post after a sweeping move with Sturridge expecting a cross.

87" Coutinho tries to play Sturridge in  but it doesn't come off as Liverpool press ahead.

84" Arsenal make another change as Jenkinson comes in for Cazorla.

83" Szczesny under pressure again as Liverpool swarm into the box.

82" Arsenal Szczesny closes the gap as Sturridge threatens.

81" Coutinho is still looking rusty firing wide from a distance.

78" Vermaelen comes in for the injured Gibbs.

76" Arsenal are finding space at will with Gibbs going through on the left but his cross fails to find Giroud.

75" Mignolet blocks an Ozil who fires at the near post after collecting a pass from Monreal.

73" Suarez grazes the far post from the outside of his right boot.

72" Rosicky gets a standing ovation as he makes way for Monreal.

68" SUBSTITUTION! Liverpool make another change replacing Flanagan with Moses.

65" Gibbs tries his luck with a shot from just inside the area on the left but rams into Skrtel's body

63" Arsenal sweeping forward with the Emirates stadium crowd raising their voice.

59" GOAL! Ramsey scores his sixth Premier Legue goal of the season with a spectacular strike into the top corner with his second touch after a perfect pass from Ozil.

Arsenal 2 (Cazorla 19, Ramsey 59) Liverpool 0

57" Giroud fires straight to Mignolet with a left-foot shot after a lovely pass from Cazorla after great work from Ramsey.

55" Giroud misses after intercepting a poor pass from Toure but chips from the near post.

53" Coutinho nearly find Suarez with a through pass from the left.

50" Henderson fires over from close range after a fine run by Suarez who sets it up with a fine cross from the left.

47" Liverpool have gone to a flat back four as Cissokho has gone off.

46" Arsenal get the second half underway with Liverpool making a change at half time as Countinho replaces Aly Cissokho.

HALF TIME

Santi Cazorla's 19th minute strike gives Arsenal the edge in an engaging first while Liverpool were denied by the referee who blew for a foul on Suarez who got up quickly to play Sturridge with Henderson tapping it in.

Arsenal 1 (Carzola 19) Liverpool 0

45" Carzola goes close again shooting just wide of the near post.

44" Giroud goes round Toure on the left flank and fires in a cross but no one is there.

42" Great spell of play by Liverpool but Arsenal work hard to deny them.

39" Ramsey finds space in the middle but lacks support and Carzola tries to go through but finds Toure.

35" Arsenal under pressure again from Sturridge, who beats Koscielny but runs the ball out of play.

34" Liverpool keep knocking with Sturridge going through but the flag is up.

31" Sturridge dart from midfield but his shot from 20 yards lacks power.

28" YELLOW! Cissokho is booked for a nasty challenge.

28" Ramsey left-footed shot from edge of the box is saved by Mignolet.

25" YELLOW! Foul by Sagna who fouls Suarez and the referee fails to play advantage as Sturridge went on to play Henderson in for a simple finish at the back post..

21" Carzola goes close again with Mignolet bringing off a fine save.

19" GOAL! Carzola scores with his second attempt after his header rebounded off the near post for his first goal of the season.

Arsenal 1 (Carzola 19) Liverpool 0

Sagna plays Carzola in with an excellent right-wing cross after being released by Ramsey.

16" Suarez wriggles through as the Uruguayan looks to make a mark on the game.

15" Gerrard and LSuarez try to retrieve a lost cause and Szczesny punches a cross away for a corner.

14" Liverpool force a corner following a free kick from 30 yards out by Gerrard after a foul by Koscielny.

12" Arsenal enjoy a spell of possession with some slick passing.

9" Henderson goes through from the halfway mark before firing a weak left-footed shot inside the box.

8" Liverpool coming under pressure from their goalkeeper Mignolet who kicks straight out  with Cazorla breathing down his neck.

6" First corner for Arsenal as Rosicky going across the goal with Mignolet tipping it out.

4" Arsenal clear a free-kick from Gerrard comfortably.

2" Suarez chases a long ball but the Arsenal stopper  Szczesny gathers safely.

1" Liverpool get the match between the top two underway.

Jack Wilshere misses out for Arsenal with an ankle injury and Glen Johnson for Liverpool because of illness.

STARTING XI

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Ramsey, Arteta, Rosicky, Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud.

Subs: Vermaelen, Monreal, Fabianski, Bendtner, Jenkinson, Akpom, Hayden.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Toure, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan, Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Cissokho, Sturridge, Suarez.

Subs: Brad Jones, Agger, Coutinho, Moses, Allen, Sterling, Kelly.

Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho is in line for a return to action for his side's top of the table clash against Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday.

The 21-year-old Brazilian needed surgery on his shoulder following a challenge with Swansea City's Ashley Williams in mid-September.

"He's been given the all clear by the specialist to come in," manager Brendan Rodgers told reporters at a news conference on Thursday.

"He's been training for the last few weeks, so he'll come back into the squad."

Left back Jose Enrique is a doubt, however, having missed the draw against Newcastle United and the win over West Bromwich Albion with a knee injury.

Liverpool are third in the league with 20 points, two behind Arsenal and level on points with Chelsea.

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