Salah’s shot puts Liverpool over edge
Penalty problems continue for Man U in loss to Crystal Palace
Mohamed Salah was just inside Arsenal’s half when he collected the ball, befuddled David Luiz with a nonchalant jink and homed in on goal from the right wing.
The Liverpool star made the finish look easy, too, whipping the ball into the bottom corner.
With one of the best goals so far this season, Salah capped Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Arsenal in a one-sided game between the top two teams in the Premier League.
Liverpool will be the only team to end the third round of games with a maximum nine points. The Reds appear well set for another tilt at an English top-flight title they haven’t won since 1990.
Arsenal’s David Luiz has established a reputation as a classy but error-prone defender, and he made a big mistake in the second half against Liverpool. The Brazil defender tugged the jersey of Salah as a ball was slipped through to the Liverpool forward, setting up a penalty that Salah dispatched in style, right in the top corner, giving Liverpool a 2-0 lead. Joel Matip had put the hosts in front with a header from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s outswinging corner.
Salah’s stunning solo effort — his second goal of the game — made the points safe for Liverpool, with Luiz’s defending leaving a lot to be desired. Crystal Palace 2, Manchester United 1: Man U got a reality check with a loss at home that exposed the deficiencies that still exist with the team.
United is no closer to solving its penalty woes, either, with Marcus Rashford reclaiming spot-kick duties after Paul Pogba’s miss against Wolverhampton on Monday and also failing to score.
United conceded a weak goal to go1-0 down when a goalkeeper clearance was flicked on for Jordan Ayew to run free and slot home in the 32nd minute.
Daniel James curled a brilliant equalizer in the 89th minute, seemingly earning United a point, only for Palace left back Patrick van Aanholt to squeeze a shot under the body of goalkeeper David de Gea at the end of a counter-attack in the second minute of stoppage time. Cheslea 3, Norwich 2: Frank Lampard finally has a win as Chelsea manager. Tammy Abraham scored twice and another young English player, Mason Mount, added a third in the win at Norwich.
Lampard, Chelsea’s all-time scorer who took over from Maurizio Sarri this off-season, has shown faith in youth in his early weeks at the helm and was rewarded with the goals from Abraham and Mount.
Chelsea had lost 4-0 at Manchester United and was held 1-1 by Leicester in its opening two league matches, while also losing the UEFA Super Cup to Liverpool in a penalty shootout.