Liverpool put a dent in Arsenal's Premier League title hopes with a 5-1 hammering at Anfield this afternoon.

The Reds took the lead in the first minute when Martin Skrtel turned home Steven Gerrard's delivery, before the Slovakian defender added his second of the afternoon with a looping header from the skipper's corner eight minutes later.

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Luis Suarez rattled the post from 30 yards before Kolo Toure put the rebound wide from six yards out minutes after Daniel Sturridge had clipped wide when put through one-on-one.

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The Reds had their third when Suarez squared for Raheem Sterling, who tapped home, and Sturridge capped off a remarkable 45 minutes for Brendan Rodgers's side when he slotted home after Philippe Coutinho had played his teammate through.

Sterling added his second of the game after the restart when calmly stroked home the rebound after Wojciech Szczesny had saved the first effort.

Suarez went close with a free kick, but the Polish stopper was equal to the long-range attempt, before Jordan Henderson wasted a good chance with a weak chip after Coutinho's threaded pass.

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The Gunners were afforded a consolation from a Mikel Arteta penalty after Gerrard had brought down Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the area on 68 minutes.

Suarez then had a goal ruled out after Sterling had drifted offside when playing a one-two with his Uruguayan teammate.

Sterling raced away past Kieran Gibbs and Per Mertesacker late on but he was denied the hat-trick by Szczesny's save.