London, March 31:

Peter Crouch scored a hat-trick for Liverpool in a 4-1 win over Arsenal on Saturday that lifted the club into third place in the Premier League and ended a four-game losing streak against the Gunners.

Crouch scored in the fourth, 35th and 81st minutes, with Daniel Agger heading in the other goal for Liverpool. William Gallas pulled a late goal back for Arsenal. Crouch used his height well to score Liverpool’s opening goals. Alvaro Arbeloa crossed from the right and Crouch slid in front of Arsenal defender Kolo Toure to turn the ball into the goal for his first.

For Crouch’s second, he leapt up past Abou Diaby to head in a cross from Fabio Aurelio into the far corner and out of reach of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. The England striker scored his first club hat-trick when he took a cross from former Arsenal midfielder Jermaine Pennant and sidefooted it in. Agger took a cross from Aurelio, headed it down and the ball bounced into the net for Liverpool’s third goal in the 60th minute.

Gallas nudged the ball across the line for Arsenal in the 73rd. Emmanuel Adebayor missed Arsenal’s best chances. His header went just over the bar in the 15th and he hit the post in the 54th.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who scored two of England’s goals in their 3-0 Euro 2008 qualifying win over Andorra on Wednesday, had a shot pushed away by Lehmann before he was taken off in the 57th for Dirk Kuyt.

Arsenal are fourth with 55 points, with Liverpool third with 57. Arsenal have one extra game to play than the Reds.