Arsenal win a huge three points – Lallana

Adam Lallana hailed Liverpool’s 3-1 Premier League win against Arsenal at Anfield on Saturday as a huge three points that shows the team is moving in the right direction.

Roberto Firmino opened the scoring for Liverpool in the first 10 minutes, with Sadio Mane doubling the hosts’ lead before half-time.

An improved Arsenal reduced the deficit when Danny Welbeck slotted home from Alexis Sanchez’s pass, but Georginio Wijnaldum struck in stoppage time to wrap up the points and Lallana felt Liverpool’s second league win in eight games was vital.

“It’s a huge three points,” Lallana told BT Sport. “It was similar to the Spurs game and we knew we had to perform.

“We let people down on Monday [losing 3-1 at Leicester City] and it went a little way to put it right. We still have a massive 11 games to achieve something.

“We went in at half-time 2-0 up pleased with how we performed but it changed in the second half. They have top players on the bench and Sanchez came on and improved them. But it shows that in this game you can’t take anything for granted. We had to dig in at 2-1.

“We’re still young and learning, we’re disappointed with our consistency since Christmas and need to put it right. But if we keep going the way we are we’re moving in the right direction.”

A solid shift. pic.twitter.com/kS5x2qFKWz

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 4, 2017

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech conceded the title is now out of reach for his side, with Arsene Wenger’s men 13 points adrift of the league leaders, his former team Chelsea.

“Three points would have kept us in the chase for the title but now we are too far and I don’t think Chelsea will lose so many points from their great position,” Cech told BT Sport.

“We need to concentrate and make sure we finish as high as possible for the Champions League spots.”

0 – Liverpool are unbeaten in their nine Premier League games this season against the current top six (W5 D4). Occasion.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 4, 2017

Arsenal struggled to cope with Liverpool’s intensity in the opening period, but Cech insisted his side did not change their tactics at the interval.

“Believe it or not the game plan was the same in the first and second half,” Cech said. “We executed better and played more aggressive with purpose and started winning 50-50s which was the biggest difference between the first and second half.

“It is disappointing to lose always, but it’s disappointing for the two goals as we were not in danger and had men behind the ball and managed to leave the player free and they found the opening.

“We had a game plan and obviously the boss told the players to execute the plan because we didn’t have a league game last week so we had time to prepare. Unfortunately in the first 45 minutes we didn’t match them for intensity and lost 50-50 duels so we didn’t have a chance to win the game.”