Responding to Liverpool's win at Bournemouth, Arsenal defeated Manchester City 5-1 and midfielder Declan Rice had a strong message. Whilst appreciating the Reds' efforts, he warns his side are there to 'hunt them down'.

Crossing into February, the Premier League is approaching the threshold of the title race becoming well and truly active. As things stand Arne Slot's Liverpool, who saw off high-flying Bournemouth 2-0 away from home with two Mohamed Salah goals, are the pace-setters with 56 points.

Reigning champions Man City have been severely lacking this season though had the opportunity to give the Reds an incidental helping hand playing Arsenal on Sunday.

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Instead, Pep Guardiola's side crumbled in north London and lost 5-1 to the Gunners. As a result they move onto 50 points.

"There is still such a long way to go. We beat them today, we now go on to Wednesday which is massive," Rice told Sky Sports afterwards. Like Liverpool, their rivals have a deficit to overturn in their own Carabao Cup semi-final this midweek.

But for when league action resumes next weekend, the England international added: "We have got to keep pushing, we are still a couple of points off the top and that is where we want to be so we have to keep going.

"Liverpool are still quite far in front especially with the game in hand, with them winning yesterday we know going into the game that you have to win these games. We will be there, we keep pushing.

"Liverpool, credit to them they have been really good so far, they have top players and it’s down to us to hunt them. Respect to them but we obviously know the goal we want - to hunt them down and win the Premier League."

As Arsenal cruised to their latest victory, their supporters inside the Emirates Stadium were heard chanting: "Are you watching Merseyside?"

February is set up to be a critical month in the race as Liverpool play the game in hand they have held since the Merseyside derby's postponement in early December. Victory against Everton at Goodison Park would extend the advantage at the top to nine points, a draw to seven points, or a second defeat of the entire season would leave the gap at six.