LONDON: Liverpool extended their perfect start to the Premier League season as Mohamed Salah inspired an impressive 3-1 win over Arsenal, while Manchester United suffered fresh penalty woe through Marcus Rashford in their shock home defeat against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Jurgen Klopp´s title challengers made it three successive victories thanks to Joel Matip´s opener and a brace from Salah, one a stunning solo effort.
Liverpool sit at the top of the Premier League with the last 100 percent record, three points clear of Arsenal, who saw their two-match winning streak ruined by a fatal combination of sloppy defending and poor finishing at Anfield.
Arsenal boss Unai Emery will be furious that Reds defender Matip was able to head home from Trent Alexander-Arnold´s 41st-minute corner.
And Arsenal were guilty of another needless error four minutes after half-time when former Chelsea defender David Luiz tugged at Salah, conceding a penalty that the Egypt forward drove home for his second goal of the season.
Salah put talk of Arsenal´s revival in perspective when he accelerated away from Luiz and Nacho Monreal before finishing off a superb solo strike in the 59th minute. Lucas Torreira got one back in the 85th minute, but it was too late for an Arsenal escape act. “We were full of power, energy and greed, passion, all what you need to have against a good team like Arsenal,” Klopp said. “We were a bit too greedy and didn´t split the runs a bit, which we talked about, but overall we were really in charge of the game.”
On Monday, Manchester United were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Wolves after Paul Pogba´s penalty was saved by Rui Patricio when the France star insisted on taking over spot-kick duties from Rashford.
But Rashford fared no better when he hit a post from the spot in the second half against Palace at Old Trafford, putting United on course for their first defeat of the Premier League season as Patrick van Aanholt grabbed the visitors a 2-1 win in stoppage-time.
Palace took the lead in the 32nd minute as Jeffrey Schlupp flicked on to Jordan Ayew, who was played onside by the slow-to-react Harry Maguire and side-footed past David de Gea for Palace´s first goal of the season.
