Anfield victory was vindication for Mikel Arteta after Fleetwood humbling. His Arsenal look the finished article, while Liverpool were authors of their own downfall, writes OLIVER HOLT

Five nights ago, less than 40 miles to the north of Anfield, Arsenal fell to one of the most humiliating reverses of their long and august history. In the teeth of a gale that blew in off the Irish Sea, they were knocked out of the League Cup by Fleetwood Town, a team that was 18th in League Two. They left with their tails between their legs, their teenage prodigy Max Dowman sent off in a melee, their heart questioned, their quality debated, their discipline an issue.