EPL roundup: Arsenal, Liverpool start season with win as Salah scores historic goal

Mohamed Salah has become the player with the most opening-day goals in the English Premier League (EPL).

The Egyptian set the record after netting the second goal in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over newly promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday.

Salah, almost unrecognisable after mowing down his signature Afro hair for a crew cut, was the man of the match in the baking, early afternoon sun in Suffolk, UK.

He set up Diogo Jota for the game’s first goal before clipping the ball into the net a few minutes later to etch his name on another milestone in the annals of EPL.

Salah steers clear of Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, and Frank Lampard to become EPL’s most lethal opening-day marksman.

The goal ensured an encouraging start to the new era at Liverpool, with Arne Slot at the helm.

In London, Bukayo Saka also scored and assisted another go to lead Arsenal to a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in their first league game of the season at the Emirates stadium.

The England international of Nigerian descent was a man on form as the EPL returned for a new season. He created the first goal before sealing the victory for the title challengers.

Arsenal dominated and took the lead in the 25th minute when Kai Havertz headed home a brilliant Saka cross for 1-0, a scoreline the Gunners maintained at the break.

Saka doubled the lead on 73 minutes when he cut inside before firing into the net at the goalkeeper’s near post.

Victory is Arsenal’s seventh consecutive league win over Wolves, and also the third consecutive season Mikel Arteta’s side would win on the opening day as they seek their first EPL title in 20 years.

Elsewhere, Brighton won 3-0 at Everton, with Ashley Young sent off in the second half. Newcastle United scored and hung on for a 1-0 victory over Southampton despite Fabian Schar’s early red card.

Taiwo Awoniyi, Super Eagles striker, was a 72nd-minute substitute in Nottingham Forest’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.

RESULTS
Arsenal 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Everton 0-3 Brighton & Hove Abion
Newcastle United 1-0 Southampton
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Bournemouth
Ipswich Town 0-2 Liverpool