As Liverpool prepare to host Arsenal at Anfield this weekend, it’s an opportune time to reflect on a memorable previous victory for the hosts against the Gunners, with Brendan Rodgers’ side hitting five in the fixture back in March 2014.
The visitors had gone into the match full of confidence at the top of the table, but saw their title bid derailed by a brutal first-half mauling on Merseyside, as the Reds hit four in the opening twenty minutes, before adding a fifth just after the break.
A late penalty from current boss Mikel Arteta proved a mere consolation for Arsene Wenger’s men, with the result sparking an 11-game winning run for the home side, who narrowly missed out on a first Premier League title in the closing weeks of the campaign.
Ahead of Saturday’s meeting, here’s a look back at Liverpool’s starting XI on that memorable day back in 2014.
Goalkeeper: Simon Mignolet
Liverpool have had a significant upgrade in the goalkeeping department in recent years after the arrival of Brazilian stopper Alisson, with Simon Mignolet failing to truly convince during his time at the club, after joining from Sunderland in 2013.
The often erratic Belgian almost endured a moment to forget in the first-half of the victory over Arsenal, after punching a clearance into his own defender.
Although beaten by Arteta’s spot-kick at Anfield, Mignolet enjoyed an impressive penalty saving record with the Reds and saved eight during his time with the club.
The 33-year-old departed in 2019 and currently plies his trade for Club Brugge.
Right-back: Jon Flanagan
Injuries and off-the-field incidents saw the full-back’s career suffer a real nosedive, with the 2013/14 campaign the high point in an otherwise underwhelming Liverpool career for Flanagan, who made 23 Premier League appearances that season.
The academy graduate made just five more league appearances across the following seasons, spending time on loan at Bolton Wanderers and Burnley, before a move to Rangers in 2019.
After a solitary season at Belgian side Charleroi, he retired after a short spell at Danish club HB Koge in 2022.
Centre-back: Kolo Toure
It proved a relatively easy afternoon for the Reds defence as their attacking stars ran riot, with Kolo Toure essentially watching on as his former club were put to the sword. The Ivorian had been part of the Gunners’ famed ‘Invincibles’ side, before joining Manchester City in 2009.
Another title followed at the Etihad before the centre-back made the switch to Anfield, proving a popular –ย albeit error-prone – figure over the next three seasons, before reuniting with Rodgers at Celtic in 2016.
Toure spent time as part of Brendan Rodgers’ coaching teams at Celtic and Leicester after retirement. He was most recently manager of Wigan Athletic.
Centre-back: Martin Skrtel
Martin Skrtel netted two of his seven Premier League goals that season in the victory, poking home from a Steven Gerrard free-kick inside the opening minute, before adding a second ten minutes later with an expertly taken header from another Gerrard set-piece.
A lethal presence in the opposition box, the Slovakian was somewhat shaky in his own area, emphasised by a record four own goals scored during the 2013/14 season, with Liverpool’s defensive fragility contributing to their failure to win the title.
THAT header. THAT celebration! ????????
There's no forgetting Skrtel's goal against @Arsenal! โ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/q6hf2xTvBB
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 23, 2019
The centre-back spent eight years at Liverpool between 2008 and 2016, before enjoying spells at Fenerbahce and Istanbul Basaksehir, helping the latter side to a maiden Turkish title in 2019/20.
Left-back: Aly Cissokho
A forgotten man in this side, Aly Cissokho spent just a solitary season on loan at the club from Valencia, making 15 Premier League appearances before joining Aston Villa the following season on a permanent deal.
Something of a European journeyman, with spells in France, Spain, Portugal and Turkey among others, the 34-year-old left-back currently plays for Thai side Lamphun Warrior.
Midfield: Steven Gerrard
For so long the driving force at Liverpool in a stellar career, Steven Gerrard was coming towards the end in 2014, but made a fine transition into something of a midfield quarterback under Rodgers, in contrast to his previous all-action style.
A fine campaign for the Englishman – in which he netted 13 Premier League goals – would end in heartbreak as his slip against Chelsea ultimately contributed to the club missing out on the title, with his time on Merseyside ending a year later with a notable void in his silverware collection.
Arguably the best midfielder of his generation and one of the greatest the Reds have ever produced, he departed in 2015 for LA Galaxy after 710 appearances for his boyhood club.
Midfield: Jordan Henderson
The eventual successor to Gerrard as captain, Jordan Henderson endured a tough start to life at Liverpool after joining from Sunderland in 2011, with suggestions Rodgers had been keen to use him in a swap deal for Fulham’s Clint Dempsey just a year later.
Henderson turned down an exit in favour of fighting for his place, with the 2013/14 campaign a real breakthrough season as the Englishman earned rave reviews for his energetic and relentless midfield displays.
Henderson became a vital figure under Jurgen Klopp and captained Liverpool to host of major honours under the German, including the 2019 Champions League and 2019/20 drought-breaking Premier League title.
He is also the only player on this list to have played in the 5-1 win over Arsenal at Anfield four years later, entering the fray as a second-half substitute.
Midfield: Philippe Coutinho
The Brazilian magician produced a masterful display on the day, epitomised by his delightful threaded pass for Daniel Sturridge’s 20th-minute strike, one of seven assists he registered that season, on top of his five league goals.
The former Inter Milan midfielder emerged as arguably the club’s best player over the next few years and courted attention from a number of top sides across Europe, eventually joining Barcelona in a mammoth ยฃ142m deal in January 2018.
While Klopp’s men went from strength to strength in his absence, Coutinho’s career has stagnated since. Despite trophy successes at Barcelona and during a loan spell at Bayern Munich, he has failed to reach the levels expected. Coutinho signed for Qatar Stars League club Al-Duhail, on loan from Aston Villa, in the summer.
Forward: Raheem Sterling
The 2013/14 campaign was a standout season for Raheem Sterling as he netted nine Premier League goals in 33 appearances, with his dazzling display against the Gunners once of the finest of his Liverpool career.
The young forward tapped home to make it three following Luis Suarez’s pull back, before adding his second and the host’s fifth just after half-time, turning in on the rebound after his initial effort had been saved by Wojciech Szczฤsny.
The England international made a ยฃ49m switch to Manchester City the following year and scored 131 goals in 339 games for the Citizens, winning four Premier League titles. The England winger is currently with Chelsea, after joining the West Londoners in 2022.
Forward: Luis Suarez
Much of the ‘success’ of that season was built on the form of Luis Suarez, the controversial Uruguayan dragging the club into the title race after a stunning individual campaign, bagging 31 goals and 12 assists in the Premier League.
That included an assist for Sterling in the 5-1 drubbing, while he was unfortunate not to get himself on the scoresheet, leathering a volleyed effort onto the post from just outside the box, before almost catching out Wojciech Szczฤsny with a curling second-half free-kick.
The striker – who had almost joined the Gunners at the start of the season – signed for Barcelona in a ยฃ75m deal at the end of the campaign and won four league titles and the Champions League with the Spanish side.
He recently agreed a deal to reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba at Inter Miami, after spells with Atletico Madrid, Nacional and Gremio.
Forward: Daniel Sturridge
Suarez’s strike partner during that season was Daniel Sturridge, the two men thriving during their 18-month stint together at Anfield, following the Englishman’s move from Chelsea in January 2013.
His composed finish in the win over Arsenal – following an earlier miss – was one of 21 goals he scored that season, after netting ten in just 14 appearances at the back end of the previous campaign.
Struggling with injury issues and in the absence of Suarez, he failed to hit those heights again and largely remained on the periphery under Jurgen Klopp until his exit in 2019.
Substitutes
Joe Allen
The ‘Welsh Xavi’ – as he was affectionately named by Rodgers – joined the club in 2012 after following his former Swansea boss to Merseyside, though was largely restricted to a bit-part role in the next few years, as illustrated by his late entry as a substitute in this clash.
A starring display for his country at Euro 2016 was followed by a move to Stoke City that summer. The 33-year-old rejoined former club Swansea City in 2022.
Jordon Ibe
Plucked from Wycombe Wanderers – where he made his debut as a 15-year-old – Jordon Ibe looked set to be the next big thing after moving to Anfield in 2011, although never really made the grade at Liverpool before joining Bournemouth in a ยฃ15m deal in 2016.
In truth, he failed to repay that fee and quickly fell out of favour, eventually joining Derby County on a free transfer in 2020, although would only make one appearance for the club.
The 28-year-old, who has spoken openly on his struggles with mental health, is currently with National League club Ebbsfleet United.
Iago Aspas
The final substitution – with Allen having already replaced Sturridge and Ibe coming on for Gerrard – was Spaniard Iago Aspas, as the striker entered the fray in the 86th minute in place of Suarez.
He scored just once in all competitions during a disappointing solitary season at the club, spending the following year on loan at Sevilla.
Aspas returned to former club Celta Vigo in 2015 and has since developed into a prolific presence, scoring 147 goals in 318 games for the Spanish side. Aspas is Celta Vigo’s all-time record goalscorer, after netting 197 times across his two spells with the club. He has won the
Zarra trophy, awarded to the Spanish domestic player with the highest goal total in La Liga, on a joint-record four occasions.
Read –ย Liverpool vs Arsenal – Combined XI ahead of Anfield clash
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