—- Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool beat Arsenal 3-1 to open up a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Joel Matip headed Liverpool in front four minutes before the break, rewarding their first-half superiority from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner.

Liverpool doubled their lead four minutes after the restart when David Luiz grabbed Salah’s shirt following a delicious touch from Roberto Firmino. Salah swept home from the penalty spot and secured Liverpool’s third straight victory after 58 minutes.

The Egyptian left Luiz trailing in his wake before bursting into the area and finishing unerringly.

Arsenal’s 100 per cent record was well and truly gone, but substitute Lucas Torreira struck a consolation five minutes from time to give the Gunners some cheer.

Despite the defeat Arsenal manager Unai Emery believes Arsenal are closer to Liverpool than last season.

Having lost 5-1 last December, the Gunners were beaten 3-1 this time but were under pressure for the vast majority of the game and faced 25 shots.

Emery said: “It was not all we wanted to do in the match because we wanted to keep the ball more, but their pressing was very strong. The second half the key was the penalty. I think (it was) very soft, I think usually it is not enough.

“But we continued our way, we opened more and they gave us more space to keep the ball. In the transition they are very strong and they scored the third goal.

“It was the moment we needed to show something different – not frustration, not (heads) going down. I think we showed character, also the impact with Lucas Torreira, with (Alexandre) Lacazatte and Mhiki (Henrikh Mkhitarayan) was good.

“Some players today made one step ahead, like (Joe) Willock, I think also it was a good match for (Nicolas) Pepe and Matteo (Guendouzi). (Dani) Ceballos struggled more than last week but it is one experience more for him.

“We need to be optimistic. I think we reduced the distance with Liverpool. At the moment it’s not enough but I think we can be, in some issues, positive.”

Emery admitted full-back Nacho Monreal, who played the full game, could leave the club before the closure of the European transfer window having been heavily linked with a move to Real Sociedad.

“With Nacho, one possibility is open and we are going to speak about that,” said the Gunners boss.

On the continued absence from the squad of Mesut Ozil, he added: “Today they are here the players who we think they were the best physically and to play today.”

United upset

Patrick Van Aanholt struck in stoppage time to give Crystal Palace their first league win at Old Trafford since 1989 as they beat Manchester United 2-1.

Moments after Daniel James struck an 88th minute equaliser for a frustrated United side, Van Aanholt gobbled up a loose ball inside the area and powered it past David De Gea.

Jordan Ayew had capitalised on a defensive mistake to put Palace 1-0 up in the 32nd minute and United were then left to rue a second costly penalty miss of the week as Marcus Rashford cannoned a shot off the inside of the post.

Rashford had replaced Paul Pogba on penalty duties after the France midfielder missed from the spot in Monday’s 1-1 draw at Wolves, but he recorded his first miss from the spot in professional football.

It was harsh on United, who enjoyed more than 70 per cent of possession and had 22 shots at Vicente Guaita’s goal, but Palace will not care as they collected their first win of the season.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was left baffled as to how his side were not awarded two more spot-kicks.

United had plenty of opportunities, taking 22 shots at goal in the match, but Solskjaer could not understand why neither Anthony Martial not Rashford were awarded penalties when they tumbled under the attentions of Martin Kelly in the second half.

He said: “I think we were unlucky with Martial because it was a clear and obvious penalty, nailed on, and I think when the referee sees the game he will know he’s not had his best.”

Asked if he was surprised VAR did not intervene, Solskjaer continued: “I am, because it’s a nailed-on penalty. He will not slip if he does not have a 100-kilo defender on his shoulders.”

Winner Lampard

Frank Lampard earned his first win as Chelsea manager at the fourth attempt, as Tammy Abraham’s brace helped his side to a 3-2 win at Norwich in a breathless Premier League early kick-off.

It turned out to be the perfect afternoon for The Blues, as the Carrow Road contest also provided Chelsea with their first win of the season and Abraham’s first goals for the club, as he started and finished the scoring.

Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki twice equalised for the hosts during an intense 45 minutes after Mason Mount had restored Chelsea’s advantage with his second of the season. But Chelsea were dominant after the break and another smart finish from Abraham proved enough for Lampard to claim his first three points.

Harvey Barnes’ spectacular second-half thunderbolt clinched Leicester a 2-1 win at Sheffield United and their first victory of the season.

Barnes, who signed a new five-year deal with the Foxes in June, crashed home a brilliant winner six minutes after stepping off the bench. It was tough on Chris Wilder’s side, for whom substitute Oli McBurnie had headed a deserved equaliser after Jamie Vardy fired the Foxes ahead with his first goal of the campaign just before half-time.

The Blades gave another good account of themselves, roared on again by a partisan Bramall Lane crowd as they poured forward in search of a second equaliser.

But Leicester were the classier side and they held on for all three points after drawing their first two matches, while the Blades tasted defeat for the first time since winning promotion back to the Premier League.

Moussa Djenepo’s stunning first Premier League goal set Southampton on course for their first points of the season as they won 2-0 at 10-man Brighton.

Substitute Djenepo, a £14million summer signing from Standard Liege, had only been on the pitch for 78 seconds when he cut in from the left to bury the ball into the top-right corner from the edge of the box. Nathan Redmond tapped home a cross from Sofiane Boufal to seal the points in time added on.

Albion played a man light for an hour after Florin Andone was sent off for a reckless tackle on Yan Valery, while Lewis Dunk had a first-half header ruled out by VAR.

West Ham’s record signing Sebastien Haller scored a brace to secure a 3-1 win and condemn Watford to a third-successive Premier League defeat this season.

Captain Mark Noble converted from the penalty spot inside the opening minutes before Andre Gray hauled the hosts level with 17 minutes gone. But Watford were made to pay for spurning a number of chances as Haller, the £45million summer arrival from Frankfurt, scored twice in nine second-half minutes to heap the pressure on manager Javi Gracia, whose side have now lost their last seven matches in all competitions.

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