Liverpool’s new £45m signing Diogo Jota grabbed a home debut goal as the champions demonstrated their determination to retain an iron grip on their Premier League crown by coming from behind to record an impressive victory against Arsenal at Anfield.
Arsenal, who had won their opening two Premier League games, went ahead after 25 minutes when Alexandre Lacazette took advantage of Andy Robertson’s error to bundle a close-range finish past Alisson but ended well beaten.
Liverpool, who maintained their 100% start to the season and moved second behind Leicester City, responded instantly as man-of-the-match Sadio Mane pounced two minutes later after Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno could only push out Mohamed Salah’s shot.
And Liverpool went ahead before half-time when Robertson atoned for his earlier error by getting on the end of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross to beat Leno.
Liverpool were far superior but Arsenal will rue a great chance missed by Lacazette, who shot tamely at Alisson when he was clean through with the score 2-1 and their night was complete when Jota, making his Anfield bow following his move from Wolves, shot low past Leno from the edge of the area.
Liverpool already looking ominous
Liverpool’s response to Arsenal taking the lead sent a powerful message to anyone with hopes of challenging Jurgen Klopp’s side for the Premier League title this season.
In contrast to the collapse we saw from Manchester City once Leicester City took control at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Liverpool simply went through even higher gears after Lacazette pounced to give the Gunners the lead.
Led by the irrepressible Mane, Liverpool were back on terms within two minutes and a tidal wave of attacks saw them ahead by the interval.
Mane is the star of the show at Liverpool at the moment, outshining even Salah with his potent mixture of pace, work-rate and goal threat.
Liverpool’s squad strength was also on display, with new signing Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson missing through injury, they coped impressively and the icing on the cake was provided by Jota’s lively late cameo, in which he missed a great chance, had one taken off him by Salah and then scored in a moment which clearly delighted Klopp on the sidelines.
The challengers will have hopes of depriving Liverpool of a second successive title – but on this evidence it will take some doing.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Liverpool
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-ArnoldBooked at 49mins
- 12Gomez
- 4van Dijk
- 26Robertson
- 8KeitaSubstituted forMilnerat 79′minutes
- 3Fabinho
- 5Wijnaldum
- 11Salah
- 9FirminoSubstituted forMinaminoat 90+1′minutes
- 10ManéBooked at 3minsSubstituted forJotaat 80′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Milner
- 13Adrián
- 17Jones
- 18Minamino
- 20Jota
- 27Origi
- 76Williams
Arsenal
- 1Leno
- 16Holding
- 23David Luiz
- 3Tierney
- 2BellerínBooked at 68mins
- 25Elneny
- 34XhakaSubstituted forCeballosat 60′minutesBooked at 72mins
- 15Maitland-Niles
- 12WillianSubstituted forPépéat 68′minutes
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forNketiahat 73′minutes
- 14Aubameyang
Substitutes
- 6dos Santos Magalhães
- 7Saka
- 8Ceballos
- 13Rúnarsson
- 19Pépé
- 30Nketiah
- 31Kolasinac
Live Text
Match ends, Liverpool 3, Arsenal 1.
Second Half ends, Liverpool 3, Arsenal 1.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by James Milner.
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
Substitution, Liverpool. Takumi Minamino replaces Roberto Firmino.
Goal! Liverpool 3, Arsenal 1. Diogo Jota (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Rob Holding.
Offside, Arsenal. Kieran Tierney tries a through ball, but David Luiz is caught offside.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Andrew Robertson.
Attempt missed. Diogo Jota (Liverpool) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Mohamed Salah with a through ball.
Attempt missed. Diogo Jota (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Roberto Firmino.
Substitution, Liverpool. Diogo Jota replaces Sadio Mané.
Substitution, Liverpool. James Milner replaces Naby Keita.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Andrew Robertson.
Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool).
Bernd Leno (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.
Attempt blocked. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sadio Mané.
Substitution, Arsenal. Eddie Nketiah replaces Alexandre Lacazette.
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