By Adedapo Adesanya
Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool beat Arsenal 3-1 to open up a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Joel Matip headed Liverpool in front four minutes before the break, rewarding their first-half superiority from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner.
Arsenal went forward a couple of times when new signing Nicholas Pepe looked lethal in front of goal but couldn’t pull an equaliser. The Ivory Coast international bent one effort just wide of the far corner after a fabulous break from Joe Willock and saw another effort from distance comfortably saved by Adrian.
Pepe then had a golden chance to open his Arsenal account, breaking with electric pace from inside his own half to get through on goal. The new boy did everything right, but his finish let him down – shooting tamely at the keeper from the edge of the box.
This dragged on as both side looked promising but could not find the back of the net, till the referee Anthony Taylor signalled for the first half break at Anfield, the home ground of the Reds.
Liverpool doubled their lead four minutes after the restart when David Luiz grabbed Salah’s shirt following a delicious touch from Roberto Firmino. The Egyptian ‘magician’ swept home from the penalty spot and secured Liverpool’s third straight victory after 58 minutes.
The former Chelsea and Roma playmaker left his former teammate at The Bridge, David Luiz, trailing in his wake before bursting into the area and finishing unerringly.
Arsenal’s good start to the league was well and truly gone, but substitute Lucas Torreira struck a consolation five minutes from time to give the Gunners some cheer as they return to London.
Dipo Olowookere