Liverpool humiliate Arsenal as Spurs’ miserable Wembley record continues
Liverpool tore Arsenal apart with a devastating attacking display yesterday, producing a 4-0 victory in the Premier League that exploited an error-strewn performance by the London club.
Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah spearheaded the powerful assault on the feeble visitors at Anfield. Humiliation for Arsenal was completed when Mane's replacement, Daniel Sturridge, finished off yet another counterattack to net the fourth in the 78th minute.
It was a complete and potent display by Liverpool, even without Philippe Coutinho on the pitch as the Brazilian still tries to force his way out of the club before the transfer window closes Thursday night.
Coutinho is chasing the major trophies eluding Liverpool for too long, with the league last won in 1990 and the Champions League in 2005.
While such a ruthless rout of Arsenal will raise expectations around Liverpool, it followed an underwhelming start to the league campaign that saw Juergen Klopp's side draw the opener at Watford then claim a narrow win at Crystal Palace.
But victory capped a week when Liverpool secured its return to the Champions League after a three-year absence, a competition Arsenal will be missing from for the first time in 20 years.
Arsene Wenger secured a new Arsenal contract despite that Champions League qualification failure. But judging by the capitulation at Liverpool, with Arsenal's shortcomings resurfacing for a second loss in three matches, it could be another troublesome season.
Burnley stunned Tottenham with a stoppage-time equalizer as Chris Wood clinched a 1-1 draw in the Premier League to prolong the north London club's miserable record at Wembley Stadium.
Tottenham has only managed two wins in 12 matches in the last decade at English soccer's national stadium, which is being used as the team's temporary home for this season while White Hart Lane is being redeveloped.
Persistent pressure had paid off at the start of the second half when Dele Alli put Tottenham in front. Christian Eriksen's corner was flicked on by Eric Dier at the near post and Alli scrambled the ball into the net in the 49th minute.
But Tottenham wasted chances to put the game out of the reach of the northern visitors and was punished right at the end when Wood marked his Premier League debut with his goal in the second minute of stoppage time.
Cesc Fabregas and Alvaro Morata guided Chelsea to a 2-0 victory over Everton as the Premier League champions further banished memories of their opening-day loss.
Fabregas put Chelsea in front after 27 minutes and Morata headed in a second goal before halftime.
Everton offered little to show that it could win at Chelsea for the first time in the league since 1994, a run which now spans 23 matches.
Chelsea, champions in May, lost on the opening day to Burnley, prompting suggestions of crisis with manager Antonio Conte seeking further squad strengthening and striker Diego Costa in exile.
Fabregas, back from a onematch suspension, and Pedro returned in place of Andreas Christensen and Tiemoue Bakayoko. And both Spaniards were influential. Pedro's pace and movement tested the Toffees and Fabregas' guile proved instrumental with N'Golo Kante dominating midfield.
Wayne Rooney, concentrating on domestic duty following his England retirement, cut a frustrated figure at times as he tried to rouse Everton, which might have been reduced to 10 men inside 10 minutes.
Willian, on the right, played the ball in for the Spaniard, who played a one-two with Morata. The return reached Fabregas at the second attempt after a ricochet off Ashley Williams and he struck the ball on the volley inside the far post.
Morata went down inside the area and Williams remonstrated with him before offering a hand to help him up.
Substitute Peter Crouch took advantage of a terrible defensive mix-up to earn Stoke a 1-1 Premier League draw at West Bromwich Albion yesterday.
The 36-year-old Crouch was gifted the easiest of chances in the 77th minute when defender Ahmed Hegazi seemed to fail to heed a call from Ben Foster and sliced his clearance almost out of his goalkeeper's hands.
It was a comical way for the home side to concede its first league goal of the season, and one which had not looked like coming as the Baggies kept their opponents at arm's length, with Gareth Barry typically effective in his holding midfield role.
Jay Rodriguez's first league goal for West Brom had earlier looked like maintaining their 100 percent start to the season, after the offseason signing from Southampton headed home in the 61st minute.