Dramatic start to top-flight life for Leeds but Reds win
MOHAMED Salah hit a hat-trick as Premier League champions Liverpool survived a major scare to overcome newly-promoted Leeds United in a 4-3 thriller at Anfield.
Reds forward Salah converted his second penalty of the game two minutes from time to settle a gripping encounter in dramatic fashion.
Leeds, back in the top flight following a 16-year exile, caused Jurgen Klopp’s hosts numerous problems with their positive pressing and levelled three times on Merseyside.
Salah opened the scoring from the spot after debutant Robin Koch was penalised for handball, before Jack Harrison latched on to Kalvin Phlllips’ searching pass to beat Trent AlexanderArnold and lash home an equaliser.
Virgil Van Dijk headed the title holders back in front but was then culpable of some uncharacteristically slack defending which allowed Patrick Bamford to calmly restore parity.
Mateusz Klich drilled Marcelo Bielsa’s visitors back on level terms for a third time in the
66th minute after Salah’s powerful finish into the roof of the net had Liverpool ahead at the break.
With an unexpected point in sight, the West Yorkshire club were painfully denied late on when Salah again kept his nerve from 12 yards after £30milion club-record signing Rodrigo, on from the bench, clumsily felled Fabinho.
Arsenal new boys Willian and Gabriel enjoyed far more memorable debuts than Spain forward Rodrigo by helping to secure a resounding 3-0 success over newly-promoted Fulham.
Former Chelsea winger Willian had a hand in all three goals at Craven Cottage and also rattled a post with a free-kick.
Alexandre Lacazette gave the dominant Gunners an early lead, before £23million defender Gabriel doubled the advantage by rising to head home a corner from fellow Brazilian Willian just after the restart.
Captain Pierre-emerick Aubameyang underlined his importance to Mikel Arteta’s side by curling home to complete the scoring, having been picked out by Willian’s fine crossfield ball.
Fulham, who were promoted through the Sky Bet Championship play-offs last month, created little during the match, and have now lost their last 11 top-flight London derbies.