Liverpool remain as the only Premier League side with a 100% record as they beat Arsenal 3-1 at Anfield on Saturday evening.
Joel Matip gave the hosts the lead just before the break as he dispatched Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner kick past Bernd Leno. Mo Salah then won and converted a penalty minutes after the break to make it 2-0.
He added another stunning solo effort just before the hour mark as he raced from the halfway line and slotted into the bottom corner. Lucas Torreira came off the bench to reduce the arrears late on but it did not mean too much as Liverpool chalked up another win.
Frantic start from Klopp’s troops
The hosts started at an extremely breathless pace and Roberto Firmino almost gave them an early lead as he stretched for Andrew Robertson’s cross but couldn’t quite reach enough to turn the ball home.
Despite Arsenal’s tricky start, the Gunners really should have seized the lead as Adrian charged out of his goal and gifted the ball to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The striker then attempted to chip the ball home from distance but it dropped just wide of the Liverpool goal.
Sadio Mane should also have continued his electric form as he picked off a sloppy pass from Dani Ceballos but could only shoot straight at Leno. Arsenal record signing Nicolas Pepe then went even closer as he whipped an effort from range just wide.
Pepe spurns another fantastic chance
A fantastic counter-attack from the former Lille man should have seen the Gunners seize the lead. From defending a Liverpool corner, the 24-year-old burst forwards until he was eventually one-on-one with Adrian. He could only shoot straight at the Spaniard though as another opportunity faded away.
The chances continued to come though and Mo Salah did extremely well to roll Granit Xhaka but sent his shot fizzing just wide.
Matip rises highest to open scoring
Ironically, for all of the chances that were being missed by attacking players in the match, it was defender Matip who showed them how it was done. The Cameroonian centre-half managed to get above everyone in the penalty area and firmly head home a corner to give the Reds the lead.
After taking the lead just minutes before the break, Liverpool had the chance to double it just after the restart as a shirt-pull by David Luiz on Salah saw a penalty awarded. The Egyptian sent the spot kick sensationally into the top corner to put the Reds into an extremely comfortable position.
Salah speeds away from Arsenal
He then added another brilliant strike to his portfolio as he picked up the ball on the halfway line, skipped past David Luiz and then finished coolly into the bottom corner to all-but seal another win for Liverpool.
Gunners’ supporters would have something to cheer late on as substitute Torreira was picked out by Aubameyang, with the Uruguayan midfielder steering the ball into the bottom corner. His strike did not seem to affect the result all to much as the Reds remain top of the Premier League table.
Final Thoughts
Liverpool really did blow the Gunners away in the opening minutes and despite weathering that storm, the goals either side of half-time flattened them. To their credit, their performance was not as bad as in recent seasons which will encourage Emery but in the end, the Reds deserved their victory.
Match Report
Liverpool: Adrian (6); Robertson (7), van Dijk (7), Matip (8), Alexander-Arnold (7); Henderson (7), Fabinho (6), Wijnaldum (7) (Milner (6), 69′); Mane (6) (Oxlade-Chamberlain (N/A), 77′), Salah (9), Firmino (7) (Lallana (N/A), 86′).
Arsenal: Leno (6); Monreal (5); Luiz (5), Sokratis (6), Maitland-Niles (6); Willock (6) (Lacazette (N/A), 81′), Xhaka (5), Guendouzi (6) (Mkhitaryan (N/A), 86′); Ceballos (6) (Torreira (7), 61′), Aubameyang (6), Pepe (6).
Goals: Matip (41′), Salah (PEN 49′, 58′), Torreira (85′)
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Yellow Cards: Luiz (48′), Fabinho 990+3′)
Red Cards: N/A
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