Well, how about that then? Thanks for your company. Now feast your eyes on Paul Wilson’s match report from Anfield:

Jürgen Klopp talks. “For sure today with the Tottenham result there are people saying we acted on that but there was absolutely no reaction, no smiles on the face,” he says. “It is not allowed to have any influence on our game.” Asked about Manchester City, Klopp adds: “We have three days to prepare for the game, we need the time to recover but now we will prepare, clearly.” A dejected Unai Emery says: “I think we started well with the first goal and then they had the difference with attacking moments, determination and quality. We couldn’t stop this moment. The second half we wanted to little by little impose ourselves to find one goal but another penalty closed the match. [It is a] Bad result. This loss we can use to be better. We know we need to defensively get better. Liverpool have progressed a lot and it is an example for us. We need to do this progress.”

Read Paul Wilson’s match report from Anfield:

It seems Pep Guardiola might be wrong about Liverpool feeling the pressure now they are out in front in the Premier League – all the slip-ups and chokes are currently coming from the teams immediately below them, with the leaders sailing serenely on.

Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson react. Asked what is possible in 2019, van Dijk replies: “Anything. That is how we should go out and play as well. Anything is possible, we are in a good way, it’s a great time to be a Liverpool player and fan as well. We still need to improve a lot of things but obviously we are very happy with the situation at the moment. We want to keep going, keep working hard and keep the intensity.” Of Thursday’s trip to Manchester, Robertson adds: “It’s a huge one, it’s one that everyone has been looking at. We go into the new year and we look forward to it. City is going to be a big game, but we have a healthy lead and know we have to be prepared for it. The way we are playing just now, we believe we can win every game.”

Jürgen Klopp’s men move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, with an emphatic victory at Anfield. Liverpool were in devastating mood, ripping apart a suspect Arsenal back line. They were too good, too powerful, too quick, too strong, too clever, too smart for Unai Emery’s side. For Arsenal, that was embarrassing, especially defensively. That Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the league’s top scorer completed 10 passes in 70 minutes speaks volumes. Even worse, six of those came from kick-off. Food for thought for Arsenal. Liverpool are nine points of clear of Spurs, 10 in front of Manchester City, who they face on Thursday. On this evidence, only one team will head into that with trepidation. That was majestic.

90+2 min: A final Liverpool flurry, led by Clyne earns a corner. Before that, fans had started to ‘Ole’ each pass.

90+1 min: A rousing rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone breaks out round Anfield. What a win this is, and what confidence they will take into Thursday’s trip to Manchester. Liverpool mean business, don’t they?

90 min: Three more minutes until Arsenal are put out of their misery. Liverpool are heading nine points clear in some considerable style.

89 min: Arsenal must just long for the final whistle. This has been a chastening experience, soul-destroying even.

88 min: Henderson has a crack – and his effort darts just past the post! Alexander-Arnold did well, cutting inside from the right before passing inside to the Liverpool skipper. Henderson’s effort was powerful and low, but ultimately just wide. Still, the party atmosphere at Anfield remains in full swing.

87 min: Arsenal break through Lacazette, who feeds Iwobi but Virgil van Dijk nips to wallop the ball clear. No nonsense by the Dutchman. And now Liverpool fans are singing a rendition of Come Ol Ye Faithful, spreading the festive cheer and all that.

85 min: Into the final five minutes we go.

83 min: Time for a couple of killer stats, while Anfield rises to its feet to applaud Andy Robertson, who has been replaced by Nathaniel Clyne. Robertson has been a class act – again. First up, Arsenal v Liverpool is now the highest scoring Premier League fixture in the history of the competition and secondly, also via Opta, Firmino has become the third Brazilian player to score a Premier League hat-trick, after Robinho (Man City v Stoke in Oct 2008) and Afonso Alves (Middlesbrough v Man City in May 2008).

80 min: Andy Robertson does superbly, ushering the ball out of play for a Liverpool goal-kick, and at the same time shackling a frustrated Xhaka. The Arsenal midfielder looks a deep shade of red, doubtless reeling inside.

79 min: Arsenal win a corner, after Sokratis plays a wonderful angled ball up to Lacazette. The Frenchman jinks inside, shaping to shoot but his effort is deflected wide. And now Guendouzi is on, in place of Sead Kolasinac, who has struggled.

77 min: When Arsenal have the ball, they seem to want to hang on to it for fear of losing possession and allowing Liverpool to strike again. It’s all very slow and predictable by Arsenal, knocking the ball around defence as if they are 5-1 up. They look bewildered and lost. Another reason why perhaps Matteo Guendouzi is going through the final formalities on the touchline. He’s coming on.

76 min: Wijnaldum, who has been excellent, is withdrawn and replaced by Adam Lallana.

75 min: This is turning into something of a new year’s party for Liverpool. They’re enjoying every minute, poking fun at Arsenal as they go. Liverpool’s next match? Manchester City on Thursday. They will certainly hold no fear going into that one.

74 min: Adam Lallana is being readied on the touchline.

73 min: Shaqiri has a pop from distance after a sustained spell of pressure on the edge of the Arsenal box. It’s straight at Leno, but another shot on target.

71 min: Liverpool fans are singing a ditty of the Dubliners’ Dirty Old Town, an ode to Virgil van Dijk, who has been a momentous presence once more. “He’ll pass the ball, calm as you like,” they sing. “He’s Virgil van Dijk! He’s Virgil van Dijk!”

70 min: Lacazette replaces Aubameyang. The Frenchman is not exactly chuffed to bits to be coming on, and who can blame him.

69 min: Liverpool are heading for a ninth straight league win. They are going to take some beating on this kind of form, with this kind of swagger. A nine-point lead is quite something heading into 2019.

68 min: Liverpool are in cruise control, knocking the ball around the defence, waiting to go in for the kill at any given moment. Defensively, Arsenal have been a shambles. And, as stupid as this sounds, Liverpool have been sloppy with the ball at times too, particularly in midfield. Still, Arsenal have been woeful.

66 min: This feels like an exercise in damage limitation for Arsenal. Every time Liverpool attack, Arsenal look so vulnerable, frightened to death at the pain that Salah, Firmino and co might be about to inflict. Down on the touchline, Emery is having a word with Lacazette, which seems a bit pointless now. The game is dead from an Arsenal point of view. Liverpool sense blood, and want more.

Roberto Firmino completes his first Liverpool hat-trick and, with it, Klopp’s side tighten their grip at the top of the Premier League. They’re heading nine points clear. It was a cool penalty, with the Brazilian sending Leno the wrong way.

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63 min: Another penalty to Liverpool! It looks like a clumsy barge by Kolasinac on Dejan Lovren. Michael Oliver was watching it all the way, in the perfect position. Can Firmino bag his hat-trick?

62 min: Henderson is immediately in the thick of things, charging down a poor Leno clearance. And after stealing possession, Liverpool go on the attack. Salah plays a wonderful flicked pass to Fabinho, but the Brazilian’s strike is kept out by Leno, who redeems himself. The Arsenal goalkeeper has hardly been convincing again.

60 min: Arsenal sweep upfield through Maitland-Niles, with Ramsey almost keeping the ball in down the left but that attack comes to an abrupt end. For Liverpool, a change: Henderson replaces Sadio Mane, who soaks up the warm applause from the Anfield crowd before embracing his manager.

59 min: Koscielny, of all people, is in down the left wing for a moment but Shaqiri again does well, doing the dirty work defensively to break up play. Liverpool then go back forward through Mane before Alexander-Arnold lets fly. His shot is deflected wide by Koscielny, back in position. Liverpool corner.

58 min: Shaqiri comes deep to carry the ball back to safety after Sokratis was probing forward for Arsenal. Henderson is stripped and readied for Liverpool.

57 min: Arsenal look lively in the final third, with Iwobi keeping Alexander-Arnold busy at full-back. Lacazette and Guendouzi are both warming up. Klopp has just had a word with Jordan Henderson, who could be about to enter for the hosts.

56 min: Leno palms Firmino’s effort away from danger! Liverpool continue to pour forward time and again, repeatedly reaching Arsenal’s box without breaking too much sweat. Arsenal must find a way of making life more difficult for Salah and co.

53 min: Arsenal go close! In the end the flag was up against Aubameyang but it was a really well-worked move. Iwobi does superbly, raiding down the left before a neat one-two between Xhaka and Ramsey. The latter, who was onside, shot at goal but his effort went wide, in towards the path of Aubameyang. It was a lovely sliderule pass by Xhaka, and Ramsey had made a sly run behind the Liverpool back line.

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52 min: Salah glides away from Ramsey on the edge of the box, with Arsenal entering panic mode at the back. But the Egyptian’s pass ultimately lets him down, with Arsenal going up the other end. A pocket of Arsenal supporters appeal for a penalty, with Kolasinac grounded after a challenge with Shaqiri. Kolasinac did not appeal, and replays show there was no contact.

50 min: Arsenal patiently build from the back, with Torreira doing well to slide in Iwobi. But once Arsenal get within spitting distance of the Liverpool box, Ramsey is guilty of hauling down Lovren.

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47 min: Liverpool come very close to a fifth! Sokratis makes a good, measured challenge to deny Mane from poking home. It was a slick move by the hosts, with a one-two freeing Mane to bumble into the box. The next step looked inevitable, but Sokratis slid in to prevent Liverpool from the dream start to this second half.

46 min: Laurent Koscielny on for Mustafi at the break. The Frenchman takes the captain’s armband as you would expect. Arsenal get us back under way.

Brilliant for the hosts, who are heading nine points clear, barring an extraordinary comeback. That scoreline will make grim reading for Arsenal, though. Unai Emery’s side have looked porous in defence, despite the occasional promise up front, with Iwobi and Maitland-Niles bright. Aubameyang has been superbly shackled. For Liverpool, their revered front three has fired – to devastating effect.

Salah wellies it down the middle, beyond Leno. The Arsenal goalkeeper actually gets something on it but the penalty has so much power on it that he has no chance. The penalty itself came as a result of a swift Liverpool counter upfield, kickstarted by a marvellous kick from Alisson at the other end. By the time Salah danced his way into the box, Arsenal were in real trouble.

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45 min: Sokratis nibbles at Salah in the box – and Liverpool win a penalty! The Greek defender clumsily clatters through the back of the forward, and Michael Oliver has no choice but to point to the spot. Salah will take it ...

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45 min: Maitland-Niles does well again, bombing to the byline this time before standing up an inviting cross. No Arsenal shirts can meet it, but it was a nice idea. Liverpool win it back, and look to fly forward up the other end.

43 min: Klopp goes bananas at Mane after cheaply gifting possession to Arsenal inside his own half. Arsenal surge down the right, with Ramsey, back up on his feet and moving well, attempting to hook the ball goalwards. It’s always going wide but, nevertheless, Klopp is going ballistic on the touchline.

42 min: Ainsley Maitland-Niles swivels nicely on the edge of the box, pirouetting away from Wijnaldum. But his next move is not executed quite so well, with his shot from the edge of the box arcing over Alisson’s goal.

41 min: Shaqiri plays a quick free-kick once he gets the green light from Michael Oliver for the restart, but the ball just eludes van Dijk at the back post.

39 min: Aaron Ramsey is down for Arsenal. He looks in pain, as a result of a fairly innocuous clash with Gini Wijnaldum. On comes the Arsenal physio. Down in the Arsenal technical area, a pensive Emery looks a little perplexed.

38 min: Fabinho sits in front of van Dijk and Lovren, ready to spray the ball forward. Alexander-Arnold and Robertson are on the touchline on either flank, ready to receive. Liverpool are very much bossing this now.

37 min: Arsenal have gone to pieces at the back, they look really rattled and nervous in possession, with Liverpool hounding them down at every opportunity. Going forward, Arsenal continue to show glimpses of promise, with Iwobi busy but every time Liverpool attack, Arsenal look ready to crumble, not rumble.

35 min: Alisson punches clear an Arsenal corner and Liverpool fly forward on the counter through Mane, though the move breaks down when Kolasinac intervenes. “I’ve never seen a football team look more fragile when leading than the current Arsenal crop,” says Andrew Kinghorn, via email. “At least they can relax now.”

33 min: Michael Oliver has a stern word with Granit Xhaka for kicking the ball away in frustration after Liverpool were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box as a result of his challenge. Xhaka ends up dealing with the ball in, but he was fortunate to escape a second booking, seconds after the first.

Sadio Mane strikes into an empty net. Salah puts it on a plate for his team-mate, but it all stems from a sloppy corner conceded as a result of Kolasinac’s overhit pass for Leno. He sent a wayward bouncing ball in the general direction of Leno, with the Arsenal goalkeeper forced to thrash it away. Arsenal end up conceding the corner anyway and, after clearing the initial ball in, Robertson drives a superb ball in towards the back post. From there, Salah controls it, sends in a low ball and then Mane does the rest. It was all very easy. Poor defending by Arsenal.

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30 min: Leno punts the ball downfield, and Alisson gobbles it up. Arsenal will have to do better than that. Aubameyang has been worryingly quiet for the visitors.

28 min: The move breaks down as Iwobi overcooks a crossfield pass for Maitland-Niles, but the Arsenal winger applauds the goodwill of the Nigerian. Liverpool have grown a little sloppy, with Arsenal appearing to have the upper hand in midfield – for now at least. Torreira has not had his best game but he and Ramsey are causing problems, taking hits and tackling in the middle of the park.