Arsenal produced a superb display to hammer Liverpool, stay in the Women’s Super League title race, and cut the gap on leaders Chelsea to five points.
In front of a crowd of 35,628 at Emirates Stadium, the Gunners dominated throughout with their football, a joy to behold.
It took 28 minutes for Arsenal to score their first goal, which came from Caitlin Foord when she netted from close range after Liverpool failed to clear a right-wing corner.
The hosts doubled their lead 90 seconds later when Alessio Russo released captain Kim Little, whose pullback was steered into her own net by Jasmine Matthews.
The impressive Mariona Caldentey made it 3-0 in the 44th minute, curling a fine strike into the far corner from just inside the penalty area.
Substitute Beth Mead produced an instant impact when her cross was diverted into the net by the unfortunate Matthews for her second own goal.
That meant Arsenal became the first side in WSL history to score at least four goals in six successive home matches—also beating Brighton 5-0 in November, Aston Villa 4-0 in December, Crystal Palace 5-0 in January, Tottenham 5-0 in February, and West Ham 4-3 this month.
The only surprise on Saturday was they did not score even more.
Frida Maanum also hit the post twice, England skipper Leah Williamson hit the side-netting and had an effort tipped over, and England striker Russo was unlucky to see a deflected effort go just wide.
Chelsea have won the WSL title for the past five seasons and Arsenal will be hoping the Blues slip up in a tricky game on Sunday at Manchester City (14:30 GMT).
Gunners end tough week with big win
Victoria Pelova (right) made her comeback from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained last summer
For Arsenal, it was a fine end to a tough week in which their Champions League hopes were left in the balance following a 2-0 defeat by Real Madrid on Tuesday in the first leg of their quarter-final.
That match took place at Real’s Estadio Alfredo di Stefano training ground, on a pitch Gunners legend Ian Wright called “a disgrace.”
There were no such problems at the Emirates, with this game proving the perfect warm-up for the second leg against Real on Wednesday.
Liverpool beat Arsenal 1-0 this month in the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals, but never looked like gaining another victory in Amber Whiteley’s fourth game in interim charge since the sacking of Matt Beard.
The Reds had a shout for a penalty when the game was goalless, but while Taylor Hinds’ cross did hit the arm of Megan Fox, it was across the chest of the defender.
Liverpool had won their past three games under Whiteley but failed to have a shot on target, with a lofted attempt from Sophie Roman Haug that went well over one of their few opportunities.
The only negative for Arsenal was a fifth booking of the season for left-back Katie McCabe, who will now miss their next league game—at home to bottom side Crystal Palace on 30 March.
But there was another huge boost for the Gunners when midfielder Victoria Pelova made her first appearance of the season since sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while on international duty for the Netherlands in June, 308 days ago.
Pelova received a great reception from the Arsenal fans, who will still be dreaming of a WSL title.
