Liverpool’s absurd, spectacular, record breaking 2018/19 season continued with a fantastic 5-1 win over Arsenal at Anfield on Saturday.

The match was Jurgen Klopp’s fifteenth Premier League win by at least four goals, equalling the club’s modern record which is held by Rafa Benitez.

The German reached the mark in a 102 games less than the Spaniard had in charge though.

Few might’ve expected such a score line when some slack play at the back by Liverpool enabled Ainsley Maitland-Niles to give the visitors the lead, but responding well to set backs has been a theme for the Reds this season.

Liverpool have been behind for just 75 minutes in the league during this campaign. The bulk of that came at Stamford Bridge, where they trailed for 64 minutes until Daniel Sturridge’s fabulous equaliser.

But even then, Klopp’s side had three clear-cut chances following Eden Hazard’s opening goal, so could’ve drawn level far sooner.

Liverpool trailed for eight minutes at Burnley, and just three against the Gunners. This ability to bounce back swiftly, when allied to a defence which rarely concedes first anyway, has them on track to set a modern era record.

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In 2017/18, Manchester City trailed for a total of 155 minutes on their way to earning 100 points and winning the title. That’s the lowest total by any side in the last 21 seasons, yet Liverpool have so far been better on a pro-rata basis.

While Kopites wouldn’t have assumed their side would be in front within five minutes of going behind, everyone should’ve expected plenty of goals as there usually is when these sides meet.

Even prior to the game, Klopp ’s league meetings with Arsenal averaged 4.8 goals per game, the most of any of the sides he’s faced more than once. With the six goals on Saturday, the Gunners are now the club who Liverpool have scored most league goals against under their current manager – 23 – but also the team they’ve conceded most to, with 12.

Hat-trick hero Roberto Firmino was key to the Reds turning the match around so quickly.

When factoring in chance quality, the match with Arsenal was Bobby’s best for shots from his 123 league games for Liverpool. Even if we ignore his penalty it was the third best, and the Reds have won all of his top three by at least three goals.

If Firmino gets great chances, Liverpool do very well indeed. Another big part of Liverpool’s success on Saturday was that they negated the influence of one of Arsenal’s best players.

WATCH IN FULL: Klopp reacts to finishing 2018 at the top of the premier league table after Arsenal win

You’ll have probably seen by now that six of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s ten passes were kick-offs, but I’m actually referring to Lucas Torreira.

The Uruguyan has been an excellent signing for Arsenal, bringing a steel to their midfield which their fans have been desperately longing for in recent years. However, he simply couldn’t get near the Reds in the first half.

He attempted five tackles before the break, but Fabinho, Firmino, Wijnaldum and Mane (twice) got past him with the ball every time.

In his first 19 Premier League appearances, Torreira was dribbled past just nine times in total, and never more than once in a match. An impressive record, but one which Liverpool tore to shreds in an electrifying first half on Saturday.

And the Reds were certainly at their devastating, efficient best in the opening 45 minutes, scoring four goals from seven shots. By the end of the match they’d racked up 10 shots on target and five clear-cut chances (all of which were converted).

The 17 stunning pictures from Liverpool's sensational 5-1 victory over Arsenal (Image: Getty Images) View gallery

This was the 106th league match between two members of the big six since the start of 2015/16, but only the sixth where one side posted figures that strong for both clear-cut chances and shots on target.

One of the others happened to be Arsenal’s previous visit to Anfield. The manager may have changed, but the Gunners still don’t appear to have recovered from their 5-1 mauling almost five years ago.

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All eyes are now on the 107th big six clash since August 2015, when Liverpool travel to the Etihad on Thursday.

With City having conceded more league goals in their last five games than the Reds have all season, Kopites have ample reason to be confident ahead of the crunch encounter.