Liverpool maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season and remained top of the Premier League with three points after defeating Arsenal 3-1 win at Anfield.
Joel Matip’s header late in the first half gave the home side the lead before Mohamed Salah took the game away from the Gunners with two goals early in the second period.
Salah converted from the spot after winning the penalty himself, then scored a fine solo goal to secure the points, although Arsenal substitute Lucas Torreira did pull one back late on.
In a match that pitted first against second, the Gunners had their chances in the first half with Nicolas Pepe, on full debut, spurning a one-on-one chance with the score still goalless.
But while Unai Emery’s team were a threat on the counter-attack, the visitors invited pressure from the outset as they attempted to play out through Liverpool’s pressing.
Attacking the Kop end, Jurgen Klopp’s side swamped the visitors from the kick-off but had no clear-cut chances until Matip connected with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s right-wing corner.
The result was still in the balance at the break but that changed when David Luiz pulled Salah back to prevent him latching onto Roberto Firmino’s clever through-ball.
Salah’s finish from the spot was emphatic but it was nowhere near as spectacular as his second that extended Liverpool’s lead just before the hour mark.
The Egypt international skipped clear of David Luiz in the right channel and powered through on goal before tucking the ball into the far corner of Bernd Leno’s net with his famed left foot.
From that point onwards, it was about damage limitation for Arsenal as Liverpool went in search of repeating the five-goal haul that they achieved in this fixture last season.
Emery will be encouraged Torreira was able to tuck one away with five minutes to go to restore some pride but this was Liverpool’s day. No clean sheet but three big points.
Samson Oyedeyi
