Gunners sunk by Crouch hat-trick

Peter Crouch scored a stunning hat-trick as Liverpool saw off Arsenal 4-1 at Anfield in the Premiership.

The lanky striker proved the difference between the sides which are contesting third place in the table.

The win puts Liverpool on 57 points, two clear of their north London rivals but Arsenal have a game in hand.

The home side went in at the break two-nil up. Having scored both, Crouch returned after half time hungry to complete his first hat-trick in Liverpool colours.

But it was Dane, Daniel Agger who put The Reds 3-0 ahead on the hour and then Arsenal's William Gallas narrowed the deficit to 3-1 in the 73rd minute.

However Crouch was not to be denied. He scored what is often described as the 'perfect' hat-trick - right foot, left foot and header.

His right footer opened the scoring as he slid in ahead of Gunners defender Kolo Toure to meet a cross from Fabio Aurelio after four minutes.

The second came in the 35th minute, a well placed header from an inch-perfect Xavi Alonso cross.

And Crouch completed the set with a left-footed finish after carving out an opening nine minutes from the end in front of the adoring Kop.

Crouch said: "It was a special moment in a massive game for us. It was a nice hat-trick and the service was fantastic. My team mates got around me and that made the job easier."

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