Sadio Mane celebrates with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp during the 4-3 win over Arsenal
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Philippe Coutinho scored twice – one of which was a stunning long-range free-kick
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Arsene Wenger watches as his team lost their first game of the season to Liverpool
Coutinho scored his second from close-range, before Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane took advantage of more shambolic defending to put Liverpool 4-1 in the lead.
Arsenal fought back, with goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calum Chambers, but the Reds were able to hold on for the three points.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS
WHAT does the future hold for Daniel Sturridge? We were told he is 100 per cent fit but he didn’t even travel – is a summer move on the cards?IT is now ten years at the Emirates Stadium for Arsenal. The plan had been to join the ranks of super clubs by making the move, but it can’t escape being linked to the end of title success.ALBERTO MORENO’S future doesn’t look too bright. Overlooked for James Milner at left-back in pre-season, the Spaniard gave away a penalty and went missing for the opening goal.
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A COUT ABOVE
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Besiktas eye bid for Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho after Klopp clash
ARFA GRIFFITHS / GRIFFITHS PHOTO
Theo Walcott saw his penalty saved by Simon Mignolet
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The striker soon made up for it with the opening goal
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Coutinho then saw his brilliant strike soar past Petr CechTHEO WALCOTT’S missed penalty was the first time he has taken a spot-kick for Arsenal. He may have to go to the back of the queue again after Simon Mignolet’s save.ROB HOLDING had impressed on his debut, but he will learn from his needless foul in stoppage time on Firmino that was punished by Philippe Coutinho’s brilliant free-kick.LIVERPOOL should agree a sponsorship deal with an opticians. Boss Jurgen Klopp’s glasses went crashing to the floor again as he celebrated Adam Lallana’s goal.ADAM LALLANAmay have left his shooting boots at home for England during Euro 2016, but he was clinical as he controlled on his chest and fired home Liverpool’s second.
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Coutinho scored his second after half-time
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Adam Lallana celebrates after a close-range effort
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New boy Sadio Mane put Liverpool into a commanding lead with a brilliant solo effortHOW Arsenal fans would love to have seen their club spend £30million on a striker this summer. Sadio Mane made his mark on his Liverpool debut with a stunning strike.YOU can high press as much as you like, but if you can’t defend set-pieces you have a problem. Liverpool won’t be happy with how they let Arsenal score their third through a Calum Chambers free header.SPARE a thought for Southampton. Seven of their former stars were on display here – Calum Chambers, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Arsenal and Liverpool’s Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane.
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also scored an excellent solo effort but it was too little, too late
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Arsenal fans booed Arsene Wenger at points during the defeat
NEXT FIVE PREM FIXTURES
ARSENAL:
20 Aug – Leicester (a)
27 Aug – Watford (a)
10 Sep – Southampton (h)
17 Sep – Hull City (a)
24 Sep – Chelsea (h)
LIVERPOOL:
20 Aug – Burnley (a)
27 Aug – Tottenham (a)
10 Sep – Leicester (h)
16 Sep – Chelsea (a)
24 Sep – Hull City (h)
BIG PICTURE
SOCIAL SAYS
THEY SAID
“We are not ready physically, players have come back late after the Euros and then you are in a catch 22 situation,” said Arsene Wenger after losing Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi.
“They play when they are not quite ready, like Ramsey, and get injured.
“I just need to make sure we are fit and ready as much as we can for the next game against Leicester.”
Jurgen Klopp said: “I made a big mistake because I was involved in celebrations.
“It was the wrong sign for all of us – because we felt ‘that’s it’.
“The crowd was a bit angry, Arsenal fought back, showed character, scored the goals, but after the third goal we were back.
“Today we were far away from showing our whole quality. Lots of nice signs, that’s all.”
Dream team ratings
Arsenal: Cech 5, Bellerin 6, Holding 6, Chambers 7, Ramsey 6, Coquelin 6, Cazorla 7, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Sanchez 6, Walcott 7
Liverpool: Mignolet 6, Klavan 6, Moreno 5, Can 6, Henderson 7, Wijnaldum 7, Lallana 7, Mane 8 STAR MAN, Firmino 6
