Premier League: Salah brace, Matip header gives Liverpool 3-1 win over Arsenal

Arsenal lost at Anfield for their fourth straight visit in the Premier League as Mohamed Salah inspired Liverpool to a 3-1 win.

Published : Aug 25, 2019 00:21 IST

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring a goal.
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring a goal.
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Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring a goal.

Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool maintained its 100 per cent Premier League record by beating Arsenal 3-1 at Anfield.

Joel Matip's header and Salah's second-half brace ensured the Reds moved three points clear at the top of the table, with the Gunners staying second despite suffering a fourth straight away defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League.

Although Lucas Torreira recorded an 85th-minute reply, Liverpool's victory means it has won 12 consecutive Premier League matches, breaking the club's record in the competition, while it is now up to 42 home league games without defeat.

As it Happened

Adrian's gaffe in the 2-1 win against Southampton did not cost Liverpool last time out but he was at fault again in the early stages, racing out of his goal to slice a clearance straight to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who could only lob a bouncing ball just wide.

Mistakes continued to come at both ends. Dani Ceballos gifted Sadio Mane a chance but the forward fired his shot too close to Bernd Leno, then Jordan Henderson's lapse allowed Nicolas Pepe to race away, though he could not beat Adrian.

Liverpool took the lead in the 41st minute, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and David Luiz distracted by Virgil van Dijk and leaving Matip to meet Trent Alexander-Arnold's right-wing delivery, with another corner from the full-back headed over by Sadio Mane before the break.

Arsenal was unable to cope with Liverpool after the restart, David Luiz pulling back Salah in the box with the forward hammering the resulting penalty into the top-left corner.

Salah then span away from the Brazilian centre-back on Liverpool’s right flank, cut inside and slotted a trademark left-footed finish across Leno to make it 3-0.

Only Liverpool easing up prevented further Anfield misery for Unai Emery's men, with substitute Torreira beating an unsighted Adrian from inside the box for a late consolation.

What does it mean? Arsenal's false dawn

Battling victories over Newcastle United and Burnley indicated Arsenal had finally found a way to grind out wins, but this was much more like its brittle old selves. Liverpool cut them open time and time again, with Aubameyang and record buy Pepe cut adrift in attack.

As for Liverpool, it was business as usual in this fixture. It has now scored 25 times in Arsenal's last seven Premier League visits and Jurgen Klopp's European champions look strong title contenders once again.

Salah in the groove

The Egypt superstar did not have a huge impact in the first half but burst into life following the resumption. Salah's penalty was emphatic and he eviscerated David Luiz for his third Premier League goal of the season.

Back to earth with a bump for Ceballos

Ceballos recorded two assists against Burnley last time out in a star performance that had some hailing him as the successor to Santi Cazorla. But, facing a side who press as ferociously as Liverpool, the on-loan Real Madrid midfielder gave the ball away in poor positions far too often.

What's next?

Liverpool go to Burnley next Saturday in its final game before the first international break of the season, while Arsenal must bounce back when it hosts Tottenham in the north London derby.

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