Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said his over-exuberant celebrations were to blame for his team nearly throwing away victory in their pulsating 4-3 Premier League win at Arsenal on Sunday.
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A first half goal from Theo Walcott quickly smothered under a blanket of Liverpool goals, a late first half wonder free kick from Coutinho sparking what would be a second half of horror for the Gunners.
It was very soon 4-1 to Klopp’s transformed side after a superb run by Mane, who broke down the right flank and raced past two Arsenal defenders before firing a rasping left-foot shot into the far corner.
Wenger was forced to field a vastly weakened side that saw the inexperienced central defensive partnership of Calum Chambers and 20-year-old Rob Holding who was signed from Bolton earlier this summer.
“I am always under pressure”, he said when asked if losing his first game of the season would put him under pressure. The Arsenal winger picked himself up to take the resulting penalty but his spot-kick was met with an excellent diving save by goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
However, Walcott made up for his miss seconds later as the England forward drilled a low effort past Mignolet from a tight angle, 1-0.
Allan scored the second, with Philippe Coutinho netting either side of the England global and Sadio Mane lashing in a solo effort.
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. Granit Xhaka came on for his debut alongside Cazorla while Can and Divock Origi got game time for the Reds.
The former Newcastle United midfielder cut inside and lifted a cross to the back post, where Lallana chested the ball down before steering it past the outrushing Mignolet.
First Lallana chested down and finished wonderfully from a Wijnaldum pass, then Nathaniel Clyne drilled in a vicious cross for Coutinho to grab his second after 56 minutes.
The Senegal global celebrated by leaping onto Klopp’s back.
Cech saved from Coutinho just moments later to prevent the lead becoming even greater, after Firmino had embarrassed Chambers on the right side of the area, but the veteran keeper could do nothing to keep out Sadio Mane’s incredible strike to make it four.
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“But at the end, and over the whole 90 minutes, it’s a deserved win”.
