Gael Clichy on Arsenal Defeat: "I can’t remember Liverpool playing that poorly"

Liverpool were second best at the Emirates on Sunday evening with Arsenal dominating a depleted and drained travelling side.

As Gael Clichy has aptly pointed out, it's difficult to remember a worse recent performance from Liverpool.

The former Manchester City fullback told Sky Sports: “When a team dominates a game like this you are always going to question whether they were that good if Liverpool were that poor. I can’t remember Liverpool playing that poorly.

“The example is Van Dijk, we are not used to seeing him like this. Very sloppy, confident, arrogant at times. That challenge for the second goal you don’t expect from someone of his status.”

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Arsenal were the better team but Liverpool alarm bells should not be ringing

Anyone feeling panicked about the Premier League title race after the Arsenal defeat needs to relax slightly.

It's Liverpool's first legitimate defeat of the season considering the only other loss on their record was the shambolic affair that was the 2-1 Spurs defeat in September.

The Reds are top of the table and still have Manchester City to play at Anfield in March which gives them agency in the title fight.

It's bitterly disappointing to throw away the chance to go further clear in the title race (especially considering City have two games in hand) but there are still months of football to play before the title race reaches its conclusion.

To be fair to Arsenal, their 4-4-2 high press is incredibly difficult to break through

While there was a lot wrong with the Liverpool performance and a lot of of reasons to explain why, it has to be said that Arsenal's high press in a 4-4-2 shape is one of the best around.

They made it incredibly difficult for Jurgen Klopp's side to escape their own half in the first half. It was especially difficult given that Darwin Nunez was on the bench so there wasn't a constantly available out ball to start with.

Cody Gakpo is a very good player but he isn't at his strongest playing as the most advanced attacker. His best work comes between the lines or as a late runner into the box but in the centre forward role, his lack of pace against two very quick Arsenal centre-backs was an issue.

Fortunately, it was only a stop-gap solution and we will soon see Mohamed Salah back in the front three.

The Egyptian is on the sidelines with a hamstring injury sustained at AFCON but with his country eliminated from the tournament in his absence, once he is fit again he will be available to Jurgen Klopp for selection again.

Salah may only return in mid-February so while the next few fixtures will be a bit easier than facing Chelsea and Arsenal back to back, it's unclear when Klopp will have his talisman back in the side.

Liverpool face Burnley and Brentford next which will give the Reds a slightly easier spell as they look to restore the momentum and rhythm back to their game.