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.
When Scott McTominay was fouled, Rashford, who had scored a penalty against Chelsea in the first game of the campaign, took the ball as Pogba looked on, but the England striker’s spot-kick cannoned back off the woodwork.
Former Swansea midfielder Daniel James looked to have spared Rashford’s blushes when he bagged his second goal for United with a fine finish in the 89th minute.
But a terrible blunder by United ‘keeper De Gea proved decisive in the third minute of added time as the Spaniard allowed van Aanholt’s shot to squeeze under him at the near post.
Missed opportunities
It was Palace’s first league win over United since May 1991 and their first league victory at Old Trafford since December 1989.
“Two games, two missed penalties. It’s part and parcel of it. If we keep putting ourselves in those positions we will get more penalties and we will score,” United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said.
“We weren’t clinical enough in front of goal. We defended poorly at times and it cost us.”
Tammy Abraham fired Chelsea to their first win of the Frank Lampard era as the young striker’s double clinched a 3-2 victory against Norwich.
Lampard had gone three games without a victory in all competitions since he took over as Chelsea manager, but the Blues legend finally got off the mark thanks to his faith in Abraham.
Abraham had failed to score in his three previous appearances this term, but the 21-year-old striker bagged his first goal for the club to put Chelsea ahead at Carrow Road.
A pulsating encounter saw Todd Cantwell equalise for Norwich before Mason Mount restored Chelsea’s advantage.
Teemu Pukki’s fifth goal in three games this season brought Norwich back on level terms before half-time, only for Abraham to give Chelsea the points with his predatory second-half finish.
Leicester got their first victory of the campaign as they beat Sheffield United 2-1 at Bramall Lane.
Sebastien Haller’s first goals for West Ham ensured his side cruised to a 3-1 victory at Watford, while Southampton won 2-0 at 10-man Brighton.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!