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Rio Ferdinand slammed Arsenal central midfielders Francis Coquelin and Granit Xkaha for their first half performance at Liverpool.

The Anfield side poured forward and raced into a 2-0 lead thanks in part to some sloppy defending from the Gunners.

Roberto Firmino opened the scoring from a Sadio Mane cross which eluded a handful of Arsenal defenders and midfielders.

And during the half-time break on BT Sport, former Manchester United defender Ferdinand laid into the Gunners midfielders.

"As a midfielder you've got to have defensive head on you. You've got to think the centre-halves are going to miss the ball," he said.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: REUTERS)

"[Granit] Xhaka has to get goal side of the ball of Lallana because he's the one playing in the hole.

"The two central midfielders for Arsenal don't have a defensive bone in their body.

"One team looks like a well-drilled machine and the other team looks like a bunch of players thrown together.

Coquelin was taken off at half-time by Arsene Wenger and replaced by Alexis Sanchez.