Toure made the points secure after the re-start, galloping on to Van Persie's through-ball and threading the ball beneath Reina for his first league goal since February 2004.

Liverpool nearly pulled one back minutes later when Zenden sent a powerful header over the bar from a Gerrard free kick.

But they did not look like turning the game around and left France's Gallas completely unattended in the six-yard box to head home Arsenal's third from a Van Persie corner.

Substitute Craig Bellamy summed up their day by having a late strike ruled offside as Liverpool slumped to their biggest defeat by Arsenal since a 4-0 drubbing in the old first division in April 1992.

Earlier on Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur's 10-game unbeaten run came to an end when Reading came from behind to beat them 3-1 at the Madejski Stadium.

A week after beating champions Chelsea, Spurs started well and led with a Robbie Keane penalty after 24 minutes.

But Nick Shorey and Steve Sidwell put Reading ahead before halftime and Kevin Doyle got a breakaway third 11 minutes from time to take the promoted club above the Londoners to 11th.

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