It was Arsenal then Liverpool then almost Arsenal, but, finally, Liverpool won the Emirates Stadium’s opening game of the Premier League 2016/17 season, winning 4-3 in a wild, frantic, mistake-riddled game that summed up everything that’s both good and mad about the Premier League.
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Arsenal went ahead in the 31st minute at The Emirates thanks to Theo Walcott’s opener just moments after the England global had seen his penalty saved by Simon Mignolet.
After a busy day of the Premier League on Saturday, there were only two games on Sunday. “We played a hard game and played really well”.
Klopp said he bore responsibility for his players switching off in the middle of the second half by encouraging a mass celebration in front of Arsenal fans after the fourth goal.
“After that we paid for a lack of experience”.
The inexperienced duo were given a torrid time by Liverpool’s clinical forward line and Wenger insists work is being undertaken to add to his squad before the transfer deadline.
There was no need for such excuses from Mourinho, whose first league game in charge of United was a far more comfortable affair.
However, Walcott gathered his thoughts and redeemed himself just 69 seconds later with an expert finish past a hapless Simon Mignolet in the Reds goal.
Meanwhile, Alexandre Lacazette has confirmed he is open to leaving Lyon as Arsenal consider making another bid for the striker.
Lallana praised Coutinho’s stunning equaliser and does not think anyone else will be on free-kick duty for Liverpool any time soon. Liverpool were level on the stroke of half-time as Holding fouled Coutinho outside the box and the Brazilian superbly curled home the free-kick.
“I think maybe we showed them a little too much respect in the first half”, Lallana told Sky Sports. The third followed shortly afterwards, Nathaniel Clyne driving a low cross into the danger area, where Coutinho arrived before Holding to knock past Cech for his second of the afternoon. Substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain gave Arsenal hope as he beat two men before seeing his tame shot beat Mignolet to reduce the deficit.
The Senegal worldwide was relentless, winning four tackles and completing as many take-ons in a stellar performance.
“It was a bit tense on the bench in the last 10 minutes but it was nice to see the final whistle and go home happy”. Over the whole 90 minutes it’s a deserved win.
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But one of Liverpool’s most testing fixtures is out of the way, on the first weekend of the season, with a win in the result column.
