Arsenal produced some of their best football of the season to rout Liverpool 4-1 at the Emirates today.

The Gunners had four different goalscorers on the scoresheet, with Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez firing them to a 3-0 halftime lead before Olivier Giroud's late second-half strike rounded off the scoring. Raheem Sterling won a second-half penalty, which was converted by Jordan Henderson.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers went into the game without a striker, with Raheem Sterling, Lazar Markovic and Philippe Coutinho as a front three. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger went with Olivier Giroud ahead of Danny Welbeck alongside Alexis Sanchez.

The two teams opened in exciting fashion, trading blows before Bellerin hit a superb opener after being fed by Aaron Ramsey.

Before that 37th minute opener, Markovic should have played Sterling into an open goal, but hit his square pass just beyond the free Reds forward.

Ozil put the Gunners 2-0 ahead on 40 minutes with a wonderful free-kick, having also played a part in Bellerin's opener.

Alexis put Arsenal 3-0 up before the break with a thumping half-volley after the visitors' midfield coughed up possession.

Rodgers threw on Daniel Sturridge for Markovic after halftime. But Arsenal always appeared in control.

Henderson's spotkick on 76 minutes was little more than a consolation and after Emre Can saw red for a loose foul on substitute Welbeck, Giroud closed out the scoring with a superb final goal.

Alexis was later named man of the match.