$ 0 0 Liverpool has made a mockery of Arsenal's status as Premier League leaders by thrashing them 5-1 at home in Anfield on Saturday. Liverpool continue an impressive pursuit of a top-four place and a return to the Champions League and they are now only five points behind Arsenal, which arrived on Merseyside high on confidence at the top of the table. According to the BBC, Liverpool reduced a shell-shocked Arsenal's confidence to tatters in a devastating opening 20-minute burst by scoring four, with Martin Skrtel turning in two set-pieces and Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge also hitting the target. Although the hosts were unable to maintain that level of dominance in the second half, but Sterling added his second before Mikel Arteta pulled a goal back for Arsenal from the penalty spot. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger must now rebuild morale and belief before Wednesday's home meeting with Manchester United and an FA Cup fifth-round tie against Liverpool next weekend, leading into the Champions League confrontation with holders Bayern Munich, the report added.