One game into the 2016/17 season and Liverpool have already served up a classic.
Kicking off away to Arsenal is never an easy start to any team’s campaign, and the Reds had to battle hard for their first three points of the season. Liverpool’s record at the Emirates is poor, and their first-half display did nothing to dispel any lingering fears among supporters that they would head back to Merseyside empty-handed. With a third of the game gone, Simon Mignolet did well to save a penalty conceded by Alberto Moreno before Theo Walcott slotted home a minute later after another defensive mistake from the young Spanish full-back.
However, a sumptuous Philippe Coutinho free kick on the stroke of half-time levelled things up, and Liverpool came out of the blocks in the second half inspired. Adam Lallana beat Petr Cech after some wonderful chest control on 49 minutes, before Coutinho scored his second of the afternoon after a superb low cross from Nathaniel Clyne. Then, 63 minutes in, debutant Sadio Mane showed exactly why Liverpool shelled out £36m for his services, scoring a sensational solo effort after a blistering run down the right wing.
Arsenal set the game up for a nerve-racking finish after pulling two back through Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Callum Chambers, but it was Liverpool who came out on top and went home with all three points in their opening game.
Here’s how I rated today’s individual performances:
