Liverpool overcome Arsenal to maintain perfect start

Liverpool, reigning English Premier League (EPL) champions, on Monday night defeated Arsenal 3-1 at Anfield, thanks to goals from Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson and Diogo Jota.

Mikel Arteta’s team had won the last two encounters against Liverpool in the FA Cup and Community Shield, but the Reds affirmed their superiority with a dominant display and come-from-behind victory that preserved their perfect start to the season.

The win maintains Liverpool’s 61-game unbeaten run at home in the league.

Despite a near-total dominant start to the match with 72% possession for Liverpool, it was Arsenal who took the lead through Alexandre Lacazette on the 25th minute.

A miscued clearance from Andy Robertson landed at Lacazette’s feet and the French striker’s scuffed shot found the back of the net beyond Alisson Becker’s dive to hand the Gunners a 1-0 lead.

Liverpool, however, responded three minutes later with the equaliser through Mane.

The Senegalese was left with an easy task of tapping the rebound into the net after Bernd Leno, Arsenal goalkeeper, had diverted Mohamed Salah’s shot into his path.

The second goal arrived in the 34th minute through Robertson who made amends for his earlier error. The Scottish left back controlled Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross before dispatching beyond Leno.

While they continued to dominate, there would be no other goal in the first half as the Reds went into the break with a 2-1 lead.

Jurgen Klopp’s men continued to create more than the visitors but had to wait until the 88th minute to ensure victory through Diogo Jota, their new signing.

The former Wolves winger, who came on as a substitute in the 79th minute, controlled David Luiz’s poor clearance and drilled a shot into the bottom corner with Leno motionless.