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Liverpool come up trumps in seven-goal thriller

Jurgen Klopp’s half-time talk seemed to pay off immediately as Lallana grabbed the lead for Liverpool four minutes after the restart, controlling well and firing home from inside the area.

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But Liverpool hit back just before half time time with a stunning free kick from Philippe Coutinho.

Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Callum Chambers scored for Arsenal.

Chambers was half of a new central defensive pairing with 20-year-old Rob Holding, as Gabriel Paulista and Per Mertesacker were injured and France’s Laurent Koscielny was rested.

But Arsenal had no further goals up their sleeve and Liverpool claimed all three points.

Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno was proving a typically chaotic presence and on the half-hour his untidy, full-blooded challenge on Walcott gifted Arsenal a penalty.

Mignolet dived to his right to expertly keep out Walcott’s spot-kick but Liverpool’s joy didn’t last long.

Buoyed by that equaliser, Liverpool tore into their hosts after the break and scored three times in the first 18 minutes.

Two minutes later, Ramsey was clear on goal but his first touch let him down allowing Moreno to clear away for a corner.

Wijnaldum had a chance on 40 minutes following Callum Chambers poor pass but he couldn’t finish off Coutinho’s cut back as Cech got down well to save the goal-bound strike.

Seven minutes later, an attack from the opposite flank produced the same result, Nathanie Clyne crossing from the right and Coutinho darting in at the near post to volley home.

The home side were left stunned and quickly responded as substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calum Chambers netted to reduce the deficit, but Arsene Wenger’s men could do little to avoid their first defeat of the season.

Wenger gave new signing Granit Xhaka his debut as a replacement for Mohamed Elneny, while Coutinho came off after injuring himself as he chased a through ball, with Emre Can coming on.

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Coutinho was then forced off with an injury and the atmosphere among the home fans changed once again as Chambers flicked in Santi Cazorla’s free-kick for the seventh goal of the game.

Iwobi Assist Not Enough As Liverpool Edge Arsenal In Thriller