Liverpool toys with Southampton in latest attacking clinic

Diogo Jota celebrated his early goal by sitting on the Anfield turf, crossing his legs and pretending to play on a gaming console.

Liverpool simply toyed with Southampton in the English Premier League on Saturday.

In another masterful display by the best attack in the league, Liverpool swept to a 4-0 win. It has scored at least two goals in its last 17 games in all competitions.

Liverpool's Diogo Jota, on the ground, reacts after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield stadium, in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP PhotoRui Vieira)

Needless to say, Jürgen Klopp’s ruthless team is comfortably the top scorer in the Premier League with 39 — no other side is within eight — and the latest victory pulled Liverpool to within a point of leader Chelsea, which doesn’t play until Sunday against Manchester United.

Jota led Liverpool with two goals — the first coming inside two minutes, with his celebration perhaps a nod to his off-field penchant for gaming. Indeed, he won a FIFA 20 tournament played by Premier League players while soccer was suspended last year following the coronavirus outbreak.

Thiago Alcantara’s deflected strike and Virgil van Dijk’s volley completed the scoring against a Southampton team whose bold approach of deploying three strikers at Anfield backfired in spectacular fashion.

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk celebrates with Andrew Robertson, right, after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield stadium, in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP PhotoRui Vieira)

Liverpool was 3-0 ahead after 37 minutes and could easily have doubled its final goals tally.

Liverpool's front-foot style is something Eddie Howe is trying to bring to Newcastle after taking over at the Saudi-controlled north-east club, but it might take some time.

A 2-0 loss at Arsenal extended Newcastle's winless start in the league to 13 games and the last-placed team fell further adrift on Saturday, with next-to-last Norwich drawing at home to Wolverhampton 0-0.

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at Emirates stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP PhotoKirsty Wigglesworth)

Meanwhile, Liverpool great Steven Gerrard's start to life as a Premier League manager couldn't be going any better.

Aston Villa has two straight wins under Gerrard, the latest 2-1 at Crystal Palace.

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Newcastle's head coach Eddie Howe leaves the field after the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at Emirates stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP PhotoKirsty Wigglesworth)

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Aston Villa's Matt Targett celebrates scoring their side's first goal during the British Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa at Selhurst Park, London, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (Jonathan BradyPA via AP)

Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus scored more goals in 53 minutes on Saturday than he had in the previous eight months in the English Premier League.

Becoming the first player in the league to score four goals in one game this season, Jesus led City to a 5-1 thrashing of Watford to open a four-point lead over second-placed Liverpool in the title race.

Liverpool can trim that back to one point with five matches left by beating Everton in the Merseyside derby on Sunday.

Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring his fourth goal, his side's fifth, during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Watford at Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (AP PhotoJon Super)

Jesus scored three goals in the league before the arrival of next-to-last Watford for a match that ended up resembling a training exercise.

The Brazil international netted twice in the first half and twice more in the opening eight minutes of the second half — one of which was a penalty to complete his hat trick.

Rodri scored the other goal for City, which used the match to give key players a rest ahead of Real Madrid's visit in the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday.

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes reacts after failing to score from a penalty kick during an English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates stadium in London, Saturday April 23, 2022. (AP PhotoAlastair J. Grant)

While City stayed on course for the title, fierce rival Manchester United likely dropped out of the race for Champions League qualification.

By losing at Arsenal 3-1, United fell six points behind its top-four rival and manager Ralf Rangnick all but called time on his team's season.

“I don’t think it’s very realistic to dream and think of the top four," Rangnick said at the end of a week when United also lost at Liverpool 4-0 and hired a new manager, Ajax's Erik ten Hag, for the start of next season.

Arsenal moved into fourth, three points above north London rival Tottenham, which visited Brentford late.

In other games, last-placed Norwich plunged closer to relegation with a 3-0 loss at home to Newcastle, while mid-table teams Leicester and Aston Villa drew 0-0.

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