Bukayo Saka struck twice to return Arsenal to the Premier League summit after a hard-fought 3-2 win over Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s facet have had a disappointing begin to the season by their latest excessive requirements and misplaced additional floor on the league leaders with the slender – and barely controversial – defeat on the Emirates Stadium.
Saka’s winner got here from a penalty after the spot-kick was awarded following Thiago Alcantara’s problem on Gabriel Jesus, which contained minimal contact, with VAR upholding the choice with out sending Michael Oliver to have a second take a look at the foul so as to add additional gas to the dialogue in latest weeks over officiating consistency.
Before the England worldwide’s winner, Liverpool had come from behind twice, first by means of Darwin Nunez to cancel out Gabriel Martinelli’s first-minute opener.
Arsenal then re-took the lead simply earlier than the half-time whistle by means of Saka earlier than substitute Roberto Firmino scored his sixth objective of the season to make it 2-2.
However, Liverpool had been unable to return again once more after Saka’s 76th-minute penalty and continued their combined begin to the Premier League season, with a 3rd defeat in eight matches.
The Gunners took the lead with their first assault of the sport inside the primary minute, as Liverpool had been caught out from a intelligent transfer from Martin Odegaard.
The Gunners captain picked out Martinelli, with Liverpool’s defence caught out of place to permit the hosts’ ahead to get behind the strains. The Brazilian made no mistake in slotting the ball previous Alisson Becker and the objective was allowed to face after a quick VAR examine for offside.
There was then one other fast VAR examine for a doable penalty to Liverpool after the ball appeared to hit Gabriel Magalhaes’ arm however nothing was given.
Liverpool had been pushing for the equaliser earlier than it got here by means of Nunez within the thirty fourth minute – the Uruguayan’s first objective for the membership because the opening day towards Fulham.
Luis Diaz ran down the suitable wing, beating the Arsenal defender, earlier than crossing the ball for Liverpool’s summer time signing who slotted the ball previous Aaron Ramsdale.
At the beginning of the second half, Alisson needed to make a cease to disclaim Odegaard from the centre of the field, nevertheless it was a much less frantic begin than the primary.
Firmino levelled the rating for Liverpool within the 53rd minute with a well-struck shot previous Ramsdale into the nook of the web.
In a intelligent transfer from the guests, Diogo Jota picked out the first-half substitute, who calmly discovered the again of the web after working in fully unchecked behind Gabriel.
After the equaliser, Arsenal piled on the stress once more and Kostas Tsimikas needed to be alert to hook the ball away to stop it reaching the ready Odegaard on the road.
Liverpool had been persistently scrambling to clear their strains when Arsenal had been awarded a penalty for a foul on Jesus by Thiago.
The choice was referred to VAR nevertheless it was upheld regardless of minimal contact. The spot-kick itself was delayed resulting from an altercation between numerous gamers together with Granit Xhaka.
Saka fired the ball previous Alisson to revive the house facet’s lead, and Liverpool had been unable to degree the rating for a 3rd time.
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk
