Liverpool maintained their perfect start to the season, while ending Arsenal’s, as the Premier League champions came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory at Anfield on Monday Night Football.
Alexandre Lacazette capitalised on Andrew Robertson’s mistake to give Arsenal a surprise lead on 25 minutes, but Sadio Mane swiftly restored parity before Robertson made amends for his error to give the Reds a deserved half-time lead.
Lacazette spurned a glorious chance to draw an improved Arsenal level midway through the second half and his miss was compounded on 88 minutes when summer signing Diogo Jota’s first goal for the club sealed a third straight win of the season for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
The result lifts the champions above Merseyside rivals Everton on goal difference into second in the Premier League, while Arsenal remain fifth after tasting defeat for the first time.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp posited his team’s victory was merited based on the good performance.
“We had so many big moments but I know we can’t finish off every chance, but we played a super game and were 1-0 down. It would’ve been incredible had we lost but we won, and it’s completely deserved.
“Could we have scored more goals? Yes. Could they have scored? Yes, because of the quality that they have. We played a constant high line. We stuck to the match plan and if you are that high, of course there is a risk.
“We like to try to win the ball back as high as possible, so I wasn’t frustrated or disappointed. I was in the game, and it could’ve gone either way.
“We had to be brave ourselves to cause them problems – that’s what we tried and sometimes it worked. We didn’t stop, and my worry was at half-time that we couldn’t keep it going but we did and that’s a really good sign.”
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta was left rueing the chances clear-cut missed by his team against a “difficult side.”
“It’s a tough place to come for anybody in the world. They set incredible standards, they dominate every aspect of the game.
“In the second half we corrected a few things, we were much better. We had some problems still with the ball and we had the best chance in the game and when it comes to Anfield you’re not going to get 10 chances.
“When you get through one against one against the keeper, you have to score if you want to get something out of the game.”
Aston Villa won away in the Premier League for the first time since New Year’s Day, easing past Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage.
Thanks to some miserable Fulham defending, Villa raced into a 2-0 lead within 15 minutes, first netting through Jack Grealish at an angle from John McGinn’s fine through ball before Conor Hourihane slotted low from 12 yards from another McGinn assist.
Villa got a third just three minutes after the break as Tyrone Mings broke Fulham’s offside trap from a Hourihane free-kick, poking home low, unmarked, while Fulham had a Bobby Reid goal disallowed by VAR after a foul by Aleksandar Mitrovic in the build-up.
Fulham have now lost all three opening Premier League games, conceding 10 goals, while Villa have won away in the Premier League upholding their 100 per cent record this season.
