Reds give champs the blues as Hornets sting Hammers
advantage in the 56th minute when Lallana met Giorgino Wijnaldum’s lay-off and rifled a fine shot into the top corner, before Firmino added a late fourth from a searing counterattack after Schmeichel underestimated Mane’s speed and was caught in no man’s land.
Watford staged a superb recovery to beat West Ham 4-2 and secure Italian manager Walter Mazzarri’s first win since taking charge in the close season.
The Hammers looked in control after Michail Antonio scored with a pair of headers in the fifth and 33rd minutes at the London Stadium.
But Odion Ighalo netted for Watford in the 41st minute, Troy Deeney equalised in first-half stoppage time and Etienne Capoue put the visitors ahead in the 53rd minute before Jose Holebas made it four 10 minutes later.
At the Emirates Stadium Arsenal eased the pressure on Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. Wenger, who gave debuts to Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi and Spanish forward Lucas Perez, has been questioned over his transfer dealings and Arsenal’s slow start to the season.
The critics were sharpening their knives when Arsenal fell behind in the 18th minute through a Petr Cech own goal after Dusan Tadic’s free kick deflected off the goalkeeper. But Arsenal equalised 11 minutes later thanks to a spectacular overhead kick from France defender Laurent Koscielny.
Santi Cazorla secured Arsenal’s second win of the season when the Spanish midfielder stroked home a controversial penalty awarded for Jose Fonte’s tackle on Olivier Giroud in the 94th minute.
“It is a relief because we missed many chances and they had one or two opportunities having thrown everything forward,” Wenger said.
Tottenham swept to a 4-0 victory at bottom-of-the-table Stoke as South Korea midfielder Son Heung-min sparkled on his first appearance of the season.
Son volleyed Tottenham in front just before half time and netted again with a fine finish from 16 yards in the 56th minute.
Dele Alli bagged Tottenham’s third in the 59th minute and Harry Kane sealed the rout with his first goal of the season in the 70th minute.
Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson secured his side’s first win of the season as his clever backheeled finish in the 79th minute saw off West Bromwich Albion 1-0 at Dean Court.
England midfielder Jack Wilshere started on the bench for Bournemouth following his shock loan move from Arsenal and eventually made his debut after an hour.
Crystal Palace ended a threematch winless run as Christian Benteke’s first goal for the club inspired a 2-1 success at Middlesbrough.
Former Liverpool striker Benteke headed home in the 16th minute, with Daniel Ayala’s 38th-minute header drawing Middlesbrough level before Wilfried Zaha restored Palace’s lead two minutes after the interval.
Robert Snodgrass rescued a 1-1 draw for Hull at Burnley as the Scotland midfielder’s 95th-minute strike cancelled out Steven Defour’s first Clarets goal in the 72nd minute. —